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How diving made Anthony Smith realize he’s not done fighting
Former UFC title challenger Anthony Smith still has some fight left in him.
Smith (38-21 MMA, 13-11 UFC) contemplated retirement after a TKO loss to Dominick Reyes last month at UFC 310. It was an emotional fight for Smith, who had recently lost his longtime friend and coach, Scott Morton.
However, a particular moment during Smith’s recent trip to Puerto Rico changed his entire outlook on the future.
“In that moment, I almost did just retire right then. But what I didn’t want to do is make a decision based on emotions,” Smith said on his “On Paper with Anthony Smith” podcast. “While I was in Puerto Rico, I was diving with a stranger, which is a little bit uncomfortable, so you’re super hyper-focused. I was 70 feet underwater, looking at this incredible scenery around me.
“And I was able to let in something small like, ‘OK b*tch, you’re down here, the world is shut out, what are you going to do?’ And that’s when I decided. It was when I was diving. It was the only time that I was able to shut the entire world out and focus on this one thing and then just let in a little bit of like, ‘What are you going to do with your life? What’s your plan?”
Smith was so overcome with emotions during his fight with Reyes that he dropped his hands and asked to be punched during the fight. Considering the circumstances he was dealing with before and during the fight, “Lionheart” would like to give himself a fair shake before calling it a career.
“My first thought was, ‘I can’t go out like that,’ like, crying on my walkout and then getting into the octagon, and I’m bawling, and I can’t look at my kids because I’m too upset,” Smith said. “Then letting a guy punch me in the face because I just want to feel something other than grief.
“You can’t retire like that. I’m not even saying I need a win. I just need some circumstances that are a little bit favorable would be nice. If I can just get a training camp where no one dies, that would be cool. That would be a positive. Go in and just give it my all for seven, eight weeks, get into the best shape I can, and go have a fun fight, see what happens, and then we get the hell out of here.”
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Diving is a sport that requires immense physical and mental strength, as well as a willingness to push oneself beyond their limits. For UFC fighter Anthony Smith, diving served as a stark reminder that he still has plenty of fight left in him.
During a recent training session, Smith decided to try his hand at diving for the first time. As he stood at the edge of the diving board, fear and doubt crept in. But as he took the plunge and felt the rush of adrenaline, he knew that he was capable of so much more than he had previously believed.
The experience of diving pushed Smith to confront his own insecurities and self-doubt, and to realize that he still has a fire burning within him to compete and succeed. It was a powerful moment of self-discovery that reignited his passion for fighting and reminded him that he is not done yet.
As he emerged from the water, dripping wet but with a newfound sense of determination, Smith knew that he had found a new source of motivation to keep pushing forward in his career. Diving had shown him that he still has what it takes to overcome challenges and achieve greatness in the octagon.
So, next time you see Anthony Smith step into the cage, remember that it was diving that made him realize he’s not done fighting – and that he’s more determined and hungry for victory than ever before.
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diving, Anthony Smith, fighting, MMA, professional fighter, career, realization, sports, determination, motivation, perseverance, athlete, mindset, competition, self-discovery, challenge, victory, resilience, strength
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