Anthony Smith says Dominick Reyes was ‘not that good’ however ‘then it hit me … perhaps I’m not both anymore’

Anthony Smith wasn’t himself at UFC 310.

For the primary time since struggling a loss to Dominick Reyes this previous Saturday evening, the one-time title challenger addressed his efficiency, which got here weeks after he misplaced shut buddy, coach, and coaching associate Scott Morton, who died after struggling a coronary heart assault at simply 47 years outdated. Besieged by grief within the days main as much as the combat, Smith acknowledged that he knew he wasn’t in an excellent head house to compete earlier than he ever set foot within the octagon.

“I deal with issues rather well,” Smith stated throughout his Sirius XM radio present. “I’m a f*cking gangster and I simply energy by means of it however this one is hard. I’ve by no means struggled like this earlier than.

“Once I bought to the combat, I knew immediately it was f*cked. I knew immediately. As quickly as I bought to the sector.”

Smith known as Morton “a security blanket,” somebody he might all the time rely on to be there for him throughout one of the best and worst moments all through his profession. Smith revealed that in arguably his hardest fights, he would all the time look over to his nook and discover Morton there staring again to offer him calm and charm underneath fireplace.

That wasn’t current when he fought Reyes at UFC 310 and Smith felt the distinction.

Contained in the octagon, Smith admits that he actually bought caught up within the second and finally made errors that price him within the combat towards Reyes. Talent for ability, Smith nonetheless doesn’t consider that Reyes was essentially the higher fighter, however his efficiency that evening additionally left the 36-year-old veteran questioning the place he was at in his profession.

“I bought impatient,” Smith stated. “I simply wished one thing to f*cking occur. I simply compelled it. I simply bought impatient. Nothing was occurring. He wasn’t participating. I noticed all the things.

“That was the worst half, too, I used to be in there and I used to be like godd*mn, you’re not that good. After which it hit me like f*ck, perhaps I’m not both. Possibly I’m not both anymore.”

Following the emotional loss, Smith stated his look at UFC 310 is “in all probability” the ultimate combat of his profession however he wasn’t going to announce his retirement with out placing extra thought into it.

Maybe the hardest half in regards to the loss was Smith recognizing precisely what Reyes was doing after they have been buying and selling pictures early within the combat however his response didn’t result in a constructive end result.

“The left hand wasn’t practically as quick as I anticipated it to be,” Smith stated. “I believe I overpredicted how good he was going to be on his toes. He landed a shot right here or there after which sooner or later the place I used to be like f*cking hit me or one thing. I must f*cking really feel one thing. Give me one thing right here.”

In the long run, Smith discovered himself on the bottom consuming a barrage of punches from Reyes with the referee lastly stepping in to cease the combat late within the second spherical. Smith didn’t object however he was understandably dejected by his efficiency.

Given all the things he had gone by means of, Smith in all probability shouldn’t have been there however then once more, he says preventing not less than lastly made him really feel one thing aside from the large loss that also weighs heavy on his coronary heart.

“Theo Von, who everybody is aware of clearly, had this factor that he stated one time,” Smith defined. “He stated not less than if I harm myself, then I’m the one doing it and never letting the world do it. That’s sort of how I felt. I wanted to really feel one thing aside from what I’ve been feeling.”

So far as probably competing once more, Smith says there’s a likelihood he returns for an additional combat however solely underneath the suitable situations.

“There’s a circumstance that in all probability exists the place I might do yet another,” Smith stated. “I believe that’s in all probability the reply. It must be the right state of affairs, timing, opponent and scenario.

“I hadn’t even thought of [retirement] earlier than this combat. However having the chance to have all of the those that supported me, give them the chance to come back one final time and expertise combat week realizing it’s the final time. With the ability to inform everybody in that course of what they meant to me over all these years. Like one last flight. Win, lose or draw, who provides a f*ck however one last sendoff could be cool I believe.”