Anthony Smith Tells Volkan Oezdemir He’s The Original ‘No Time’
Anthony Smith is riding a two fight win streak and will be looking to make it three wins out of four when he faces Volkan Oezdemir at UFC Fight Night 138 on October 27.
Earlier this week, Smith offered to step in and replace Glover Teixeira who pulled out of his fight with Jimi Manuwa set for UFC Fight Night 137 on September 22. With that now looking unlikely, Smith’s attention has been turned back to Oezdemir and speaking to Submission Radio this week, Smith spoke about his expectations for the fight and how he thinks the Swiss fighters’ nickname isn’t deserved.
“No, I don’t imagine it’s gonna go to a decision at all. And I kind of did feel bad for him for his joke as well. I think he’s kind of in the same position as a lot of those media guys. Like, if you really go back, go look at my record. I mean, I’ve probably got over 20 first-round finishes.
“He’s got this ‘no time’ gimmick but I’m the original ‘no time’. I mean, if that’s the way you want to look at it. I mean, I’ve got more first-round finishes than he’s got fights total. So, I don’t imagine it’s going to go to a decision. I’ve seen a couple of the highlights of the DC fight, I think it will be similar to that. I don’t think he likes pressure that much, and like I said, I don’t know how to fight any other way, it’s just go forward and punch people in the face”.
With two first round finishes against Rashad Evans and Mauricio Rua now in a row, Smith is expecting similar fireworks when he faces Oezdemir in October.
“I think that it’s another brutal finish. I really do. I think that our styles match up perfectly for me. Volkan’s not shooting takedowns, it’s just not happening. So even if he watches this and decides, ‘alright, I’m gonna take him down because he’s not gonna be expecting it,’ it doesn’t matter because Volkan doesn’t have it in him. Not that he’s not able to, but just his style and his mentality. Volkan’s not shooting any takedowns. So, with the threat of a takedown completely off the table, I don’t think that there’s anyone at 205 that’s gonna win a striking battle with me.”
“I think the first round is gonna probably be a feeling out process. We’re two guys that are swinging hammers, I don’t think either one of us are gonna dive right in right away. I imagine there’s gonna be a feeling out process and we’re gonna be checking each other’s timing and speed and see what everything looks like, and I think that round two I think that we really start letting them fly.”
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