Anthony Smith SLAMS referee Jason Herzog for “Cowardly move”
Despite the MMA community being very critical of referee Jason Herzog, light heavyweight Anthony Smith is displeased with the official for completely different reasons.
UFC Fight Night: Smith vs Teixeira went down this week in Jacksonville, Florida. The main event saw former title challengers collide as light heavyweights Anthony Smith and Glover Teixeira faced off. Heading into the bout Smith was a clear betting favourite, and he got off a good start, winning the first round. The tide started turning in the second, however, with Teixeira growing more and more dominant, and Smith seemingly outmatched.
The bout was eventually called off in the fifth round by referee Jason Herzog, though criticism was swift and harsh. Smith got completely dominated in the final rounds, and many felt that his corner could and should have stopped the fight after the fourth round. Many also felt that Herzog should have stopped the fight earlier, which led to the referee formally apologising. This did not sit well with Smith, who felt that the fight went on for as long as it needed to.
Coward move on his part, in my opinion.
— Anthony Smith (@lionheartasmith) May 17, 2020
“Coward move on his part, in my opinion,” Anthony Smith said of referee Jason Herzog, following the latter’s apology.
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I make it a point before fights to know the commands, and what he expects out of each one before every fight. I did everything he asked and responded correctly per the pre fight meeting. Don’t wilt under a little heat afterwards cause Twitter is mean. The world is soft. Man up…
— Anthony Smith (@lionheartasmith) May 17, 2020
Smith went on to accuse Herzog of wilting under pressure from the MMA community.
“I make it a point before fights to know the commands, and what he expects out of each one before every fight. I did everything he asked and responded correctly per the pre fight meeting. Don’t wilt under a little heat afterwards cause Twitter is mean. The world is soft. Man up…”
Smith has now lost two out of his last three fights, with a submission win over Alexander Gustafsson sandwiched between losses. Teixeira, on the other hand, now sits on a four fight winning streak, all but one of his victories via finish.
Do you agree wit Anthony Smith about referee Jason Herzog?
