Chokehold Challenge: Anthony Smith Counters Pereira’s Grappling Gamble
UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith (38-19 MMA, 13-9 UFC) silenced the doubters and earned a hefty payday at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro. But the victory over Vitor Petrino with a first-round submission wasn’t the only story coming out of Smith’s night.
Prior to the event, current light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira (7-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC), issued a public challenge to Smith. Pereira, known for his devastating striking in kickboxing and MMA, offered a $50,000 grappling match with a twist: Smith would start in a dominant position, specifically mount (with hooks in).
This proposition clearly piqued Smith’s interest. Fresh off his submission win, “Lionheart” confidently addressed Pereira’s challenge at the UFC 301 post-fight press conference.
“Alex Pereira said he would put up [$50,000], but I could start on his back?” Smith scoffed. “I could start on his back, hooks in, and I got five minutes to finish him, and he wants to put $50K up for it? I’ll take his $50K. I’ll take his money,” he declared.
Adding emphasis, Smith continued, “If I start on his back, I’ll choke the sh*t out of him, 100 percent.”
The challenge sparked intrigue for several reasons. First, it came after Smith entered the Petrino fight on a downward slope. He had lost three of his last four fights, including a stoppage defeat to Khalil Rountree.
Second, Smith entered as a significant underdog against the undefeated Petrino. So, a submission win over Pereira, a champion known for his striking prowess, would be a significant upset, both competitively and financially.
Beyond the money, the challenge also reignited a simmering debate between the two fighters. Smith, known for his analytical approach to fights, has previously commented on Pereira’s grappling abilities. Some in the MMA community interpreted these comments as trash talk, suggesting Smith questioned Pereira’s legitimacy as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt.
Smith, however, maintains his stance is purely analytical. At the press conference, he clarified his position on Pereira’s black belt.
“I don’t know what I meant when I said that, [but] I would never call anybody’s black belt fraudulent,” Smith explained.
He elaborated, “Maybe I meant, I don’t know, like, I don’t believe that Alex Pereira is probably a high-level black belt in the gi. I don’t think he’s, probably, like crazy competitive, like a in an IBJJF format, but I would never call anybody’s jiu-jitsu black belt fraudulent.”
“He’s probably put the time in, and if it’s from Glover Teixeira, I’ve got a tough time really arguing with that too much. I think there’s levels to black belts, you know what I mean? But I would respect his black belt just like I would anybody else’s.”
Smith’s comments acknowledge the prestige of a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, while suggesting Pereira’s expertise might lie outside the competitive IBJJF circuit and more in a traditional academy setting under a renowned instructor like Glover Teixeira.
Whether or not the UFC facilitates the grappling match remains to be seen. There’s a certain novelty to the champion offering a challenge outside his usual domain. However, the UFC might be hesitant to endorse a high-stakes grappling match between two fighters from different weight classes, particularly considering Pereira’s upcoming title defenses.
Regardless of the UFC’s decision, Smith has made his position clear. He’s not only willing to accept Pereira’s grappling challenge, but he’s also confident in his ability to dominate the champion on the ground, and potentially earn a significant payday in the process.
This potential grappling clash has become an interesting subplot within the light heavyweight division. Whether it comes to fruition or not, it has undeniably generated buzz around both Anthony Smith, the resurgent contender, and Alex Pereira, the striking champion looking to prove his well-roundedness.
