Anthony Smith got back on track with a definitive performance Saturday and a finish of Devin Clark in the first round of the UFC on ESPN 18 main event.
Smith (34-16 MMA, 9-6 UFC) used his grappling advantage to his favor and locked in a triangle choke that forced Clark (12-5 MMA, 6-5 UFC) to give in at the 2:34 mark of Round 1.
The light heavyweight bout was the UFC on ESPN 18 main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It aired on ESPN2/ESPN+.
Smith surprised Clark out of the cage by securing a takedown within the first 15 seconds of the bout. They battled for position on the mat, and the result was Clark securing top control. Smith quickly advanced into a triangle choke, though, and forced Clark to tap out.
With the win, Smith snapped a two-fight losing skid. He admitted afterward how important it was for his career.
“It’s been a long road,” Smith said in his post-fight interview with Paul Felder. “You think you make it to the title shot and things go well and things are supposed to go super good, but that’s life. I’m not going anywhere. Don’t sleep on me.”
Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 18 results include:
- Anthony Smith def. Devin Clark via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 2:34
- Miguel Baeza def. Takashi Sato via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 2, 4:28
- Parker Porter def. Josh Parisian via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 29-28)
- Bill Algeo def. Spike Carlyle via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Norma Dumont def. Ashlee Evans-Smith via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
- Jonathan Pearce def. Kai Kamaka III via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:28
- Anderson dos Santos def. Martin Day via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 4:35
- Gina Mazany def. Rachael Ostovich via TKO (body kick) – Round 3, 4:10
- Su Mudaerji def. Malcolm Gordon via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:44
- Nate Maness def. Luke Sanders via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:29
