WATCH: Anthony Smith shocked to find out live on PPV that Dana White booked Jamahal Hill vs Glover Teixeira for UFC Brazil title fight

WATCH: Anthony Smith shocked to find out live on PPV that Dana White booked Jamahal Hill vs Glover Teixeira for UFC Brazil title fight

Anthony Smith stunned to find about Dana White's decision (Image Courtesy - YouTube/Bleacher Report)

UFC veteran Anthony Smith was heartbroken to find out that his opponent Jamahal Hill was no longer going to fight him as UFC boss Dana White decided to book the latter in a title fight for January against Glover Teixeira.

While Jamahal Hill rejoiced to find out that he was going to fight for the vacant light heavyweight title, his original opponent, Anthony Smith sat there live on stream getting to know about this devastating snub. Hill and Smith were scheduled to fight each other in a potential title eliminator fight in March 2023. However, following the fiasco at the UFC 282 main event, a frustrated Dana White announced that he is booking Glover Teixeira vs Jamahal Hill for a light heavyweight title fight at UFC 283 in January.

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It is never easy to digest news like this as a fighter. After suffering an injury in his last fight against former title contender Magomed Ankalaev, Smith was training hard to fight a rising talent in Jamahal Hill next year. The promotion’s unexpected decision led to the veteran receiving the short end of the deal. A video from the live PPV broadcast shows Smith being anguished at finding out about this news.

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The timing of this incident couldn’t have been worse. Anthony Smith was working on an ESPN broadcast while Dana White was talking to the media about the worst ending to the PPV event. In the clip, you can see that “Lionheart” was finding it tough to process this information. Jon Anik, a fellow UFC broadcaster saved the show by quickly consoling his friend on air.

Read more: Why are we getting Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno 4? Have there been any quadrilogies in the UFC?

Fans and pros bash UFC for snubbing and mistreating Anthony Smith

Magomed Ankalaev x Jan Blachowicz
Smith against Ankalaev in his last fight

The light heavyweight veteran is in a very tough spot as he is left with no opponents for a potential fight in March. Magomed Ankalaev, who believed he was robbed of the light heavyweight belt last night is not in the physical condition to fight again in March, Glover Teixeira obviously will no longer be an option, and Aleksandr Rakic who is another top contender is also injured, leaving “Lionheart” hanging without an opponent.

Several pros were devasted to know about this news. Dana White, who often claims that matchmaking is not done on the same night of a fight event surely broke his own rules and dropped the announcement of Teixeira vs Hill out of nowhere in the UFC 282 post-fight press conference. Check out some of the reactions:

Also read: “They were sh*thouse drunk” – Anthony Smith reveals Donald Cerrone teamed up with Dan Bilzerian and harassed his family

According to the UFC light heavyweight rankings, Anthony Smith is palced above the newly announced light heavyweight title contender, Jamahal Hill. This may justify the emotions of Smith from the broadcast. Props should definitely be given to the veteran for conducting himself with class during the live PPV broadcast despite knowing this shocking news. As Smith himself said in the interview, someone definitely “owes” him a favor.

Also read: Why do Russian fighters like Magomed Ankalaev and Petr Yan feel mistreated and want to leave the UFC?