Watch Anthony Smith return from retirement to batter ex-UFC contender in Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA

Former UFC title challenger Anthony Smith returned to the win column in his first fight since leaving the leading MMA promotion.

Smith initially retired in 2025 after a dismal run contained in the UFC Octagon, during which he lost six of eight fights across a three-year period.

‘Lionheart’, who was beaten by Jon Jones in his one title shot within the organization, hung up the gloves after a brutal knockout defeat to Zhang Mingyang. Nevertheless, it didn’t take long for him to commit to a fighting return.

That took place on Friday night, and Smith didn’t appear to be the identical fighter who called it quits in a pool of his own blood last April.

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Anthony Smith dominates Chase Sherman in Jorge Masvidal’s bareknuckle MMA promotion

Many were concerned when Anthony Smith’s comeback from retirement was confirmed to be within the bareknuckle MMA realm.

He has suffered a variety of vicious TKO losses in recent times, including beatdowns by the hands of Glover Teixeira and Khalil Rountree Jr.

But that type of setback was never on the cards when Smith battled Chase Sherman in a heavyweight contest on April 10.

Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA promotion is staging a heavyweight tournament, and Smith faced Sherman within the round of 16.

The previous light heavyweight dominated the short clash, starting out by battering his rival on the feet. After being left bloody, Sherman was eventually sent down and quickly submitted via rear-naked choke after just below three and a half minutes.

‘The Vanilla Gorilla’ tapped almost immediately when ‘Lionheart’ locked in a move that he used to beat Alexander Gustafsson, Volkan Oezdemir, and Ryan Spann within the UFC.

Friday’s event in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, also included a tournament win for Thiago Santos. Like Smith, ‘Marreta’ is a former Jones foe who was trying to bounce back from a difficult period in combat sports.

Also advancing to the quarterfinal stage was Said Sowma, while Elias Santos, Jhonasky Sojo, and Ray Cooper III got through the opening round of the lightweight tournament.