Anthony Smith made quick work of Devin Clark in the main event of UFC on ESPN 18 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas Saturday night.
Smith (34-16-0) snapped a two fight losing skid with a convincing first round submission win over Devin Clark (12-5-0), a win the No. 6 light heavyweight sorely needed to prevent being on the UFC bubble.
Smith took Clark down seconds into the bout and then slapped on a triangle choke that forced referee Herb Dean to call the bout at 2:34.
"I don't give a s*** what the media says. I don't care what the fans say. I don't care what anybody says. It's about making a statement to myself."@LionheartASmith was happy to get a bounce-back win to prove he is still a contender in the light heavyweight division. #UFCVegas15 pic.twitter.com/bmBPkchMPT
— UFC News (@UFCNews) November 29, 2020
Smith, Miguel Baeza, Su Mudaerji, and Nathan Maness earned performances of the night and a $50,000 USD bonus apiece.
💰 #UFCVegas15 POTN Bonus Winners💰@LionheartASmith @Thunder92Baeza @Mudaerji_Su
Nate Maness pic.twitter.com/IkqhxMxzjJ— UFC (@ufc) November 29, 2020
Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the main card.
In case you missed the prelims:
NATHAN MANESS DEF. LUKE SANDERS VIA SUBMISSION (RNC) R2 2:29
SU MUDAERJI DEF. MALCOLM GORDON VIA KO (PUNCH) R1 0:44
GINA MAZANY DEF. RACHAEL OSTOVICH VIA TKO (FRONT KICK AND PUNCHES) R3 4:10
ANDERSON DOS SANTOS DEF. MARTIN DAY VIA SUBMISSION (GUILLOTINE CHOKE) R1 4:35
MAIN CARD
JONATHAN PEARCE VS. KAI KAMAKA III
WHAT A PERFORMANCE by @JSPMMA!!#UFCVegas15 live on ESPNews and E+ pic.twitter.com/YZ5DfSA4qj
— UFC (@ufc) November 29, 2020
WINNER: JONATHAN PEARCE VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R2 4:28
ANDREWS PREDICTION: KAI KAMAKA III VIA UD
Andrews: JSP is for real, upsetting Pearce.
ASHLEE EVANS-SMITH VS. NORMA DUMONT VIANA
3️⃣0️⃣ – 2️⃣6️⃣ across the board for @NormaDumont5 🇧🇷#UFCVegas15 on ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/O8SK7q13bD
— UFC (@ufc) November 29, 2020
WINNER: NORMA DUMONT VIA UD (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ASHLEE EVANS-SMITH VIA UD
Andrews: Dumont missed weight and she bullied Evans-Smith here.
SPIKE CARLYLE VS. BILL ALGEO
First UFC win for @ElSenorPerfecto! #UFCVegas15 pic.twitter.com/K3ncHnBqRN
— UFC (@ufc) November 29, 2020
WINNER: BILL ALGEO VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: BILL ALGEO VIA UD
Andrews: A close fight, as expected.
MIGUEL BAEZA VS. TAKASHI SATO
Miguel Baeza forces Takashi Sato to tap late in the 2nd round! 👏#UFCVegas15 pic.twitter.com/suhcfd3bdJ
— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) November 29, 2020
WINNER: MIGUEL BAEZA VIA SUBMISSION (HEAD-AND-ARM CHOKE) R2 4:28
ANDREWS PREDICTION: MIGUEL BAEZA VIA TKO
Andrews: Another impressive performance, worth of the ‘Caramel Thunder’ nickname.
JOSH PARISIAN VS. PARKER PORTER
BIG UD win for HW prospect @Parker_Porter! #UFCVegas15 pic.twitter.com/qNvj5KtkCN
— UFC (@ufc) November 29, 2020
WINNER: PARKER PORTER VIA UD (30-27, 30-26, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: JOSH PARISIAN VIA TKO
Andrews: I thought someone would go down, but instead Porter ends up outworking the bigger man.
MAIN EVENT
#6 ANTHONY SMITH VS. DEVIN CLARK
🦁❤️ @LionheartASmith is BACK! #UFCVegas15 on ESPN and E+ pic.twitter.com/ehmdv3T0UR
— UFC (@ufc) November 29, 2020
WINNER: ANTHONY SMITH VIA SUBMISSION (TRIANGLE CHOKE) R1 2:34
ANDREWS PREDICTION: DEVIN CLARK VIA TKO
Andrews: Finally, Smith leaves no doubt and gets a good win.
