Smith vs Mingyang Prediction
🔊 In the co-main event of the upcoming UFC Fight Night on April 27 at the T-Mobile Arena, Anthony Smith and Zhang Mingyang will face off in the octagon. The bout will take place in the light heavyweight division. The American fighter is going through a rough patch in his career, having won only twice in his last six fights. Opposing him is a young contender who hasn't tasted defeat since 2019 and is known for dispatching opponents in the first round. This fight will be the last in Anthony's storied career. Will "Lionheart" manage to bow out on a high note?
H2H Stats Fights and Previous Results
A. Smith Player Overview
The American athlete is a versatile fighter, with a background in kickboxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Smith has been competing professionally since 2008. After participating in around forty bouts in lesser-known local promotions, Anthony made his way to the UFC by joining The Ultimate Fighter show. His career took off quickly: he transitioned from middleweight to light heavyweight and even earned a title shot against Jon Jones.
However, Smith isn't as formidable as he once was, leading to more frequent losses. It's worth noting that Anthony has shared the octagon with nearly all the top fighters in his division, spanning different eras. Therefore, his numerous defeats shouldn't be misleading-this guy is very skilled. His record stands at 38 wins and 21 losses.
Match Results: A. Smith
Zhang Mingyang Player Overview
The Chinese fighter is versatile, boasting an impressive 100% finish rate in his career, with every victory coming in the first round. Zhang began his professional journey in 2014 with the CKF promotion. After a mediocre start (record of 7-6), Minyang made adjustments to his training regimen, which remarkably impacted his subsequent performances.
Currently, Zhang is on an eleven-fight winning streak. In 2021, the Chinese fighter became the champion of the local WLF MMA organization, which earned him an invitation to the Road to UFC event. There, he secured a convincing victory, leading to his signing with Dana White's promotion. In the UFC, "Mountain Tiger" has claimed two decisive victories, bringing his overall record to 18 wins with six losses.
Match Results: Zhang Mingyang
Editorial Prediction
Though Smith has long been considered past his prime, he might just surprise in his bout against the inexperienced Chinese fighter. Anthony is a seasoned fighter who last year took down the young prospect Vitor Petrino. Therefore, betting on the fight's outcome might not be wise. A better strategy could be to focus on round bets, as both heavyweights rarely let their matches go to the judges' decision. Based on this reasoning, we recommend betting on fewer rounds.
