Top light heavyweights collide!
Former UFC title challenger Anthony ‘Lionheart’ Smith meets Johnny Walker in the co-main event of UFC Charlotte. The fight takes place in the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Round 1:
Smith and Walker don’t throw much strikes in the first minute. Smith lands a leg kick on Walker. Walker throws a headkick. Walker stuns Smith with strikes, Smith returns fire. Walker keeps Smith at bay with teep kicks to the body. Walker picks Smith with multiple leg kicks.
Walker lands a low blow on Smith, stopping the fight for a moment. Smith rocks the rushing Smith with strikes and sends Smith off balance. Smith fights for a takedown, gets it and then topples Smith on the round. Walker works his way back up after a good minute on his back. Walker turns the tables with a quick takedown of Smith at the end of the round.
CDS: 10-9 Walker
Round 2:
Smith lands a strong right hand on Walker. Walker attacks Smith with leg kicks. Smith lands a leg kick of his own, Walker returns. This happens over and over again. Smith throws a right hook. Walker pumps out his jab. Smith throws a headkick but misses. Smith isn’t able to land his jab on multiple occasions. Both fighters trade words instead of trading punches in the final minute of the rather lackluster round. They exchange a few punches in the pocket at the end of the round.
10-9 Smith
Round 3:
Smith eats leg kicks and then an accidental eye poke from Walker. Walker continues to patter the legs of Smith with kicks. Walker throws a a hard oblique kick to the knee of Smith. Smith falls to the ground not long after this. Walker lands ground and pound before the fight eventually goes up to the feet again.
Walker is constant with his leg kick attack in the final minutes of the fight. Walker throws a flying knee as the bell rings.
CDS: 10-9 Walker (29-28 Walker)
Official result: Johnny Walker defeats Anthony Smith by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
Check out the highlights below:
Drop your best captions 👇#UFCCharlotte pic.twitter.com/Simjhjqqaf
— UFC (@ufc) May 13, 2023
The biggest win of his career to date!!! 👏@JohnnyWalker earns the UD tonight!!! #UFCCharlotte pic.twitter.com/TKmpBGtrS6
— UFC (@ufc) May 13, 2023
"I'm coming."@JohnnyWalker has a message for the LHW champ! 👀 #UFCCharlotte pic.twitter.com/EdtLbMVqyg
— UFC (@ufc) May 13, 2023
