Anthony Smith said goodbye to the UFC in April 2025. Nearly a year later, he said hello to Gamebred — and immediately reminded everyone what a top-15 light heavyweight at his peak actually looked like.
In the main event of Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA: Smith vs. Sherman at the Ovalo Feria Ganadera, “Lionheart” opened the promotion’s 16-man heavyweight tournament with a clinical first-round rear-naked choke submission over fellow UFC veteran Chase Sherman. The official time was 3:28 of round one.
Smith looked sharp from the opening bell. With Sherman holding a noticeable size advantage, the former UFC title challenger relied on speed, footwork, and a snapping jab that found a home almost at will. Short hooks followed. By the time the fight hit the mat, Sherman was already wearing the damage on his face. Smith took the back and finished cleanly.
The win advances Smith in the heavyweight bracket and puts him a few wins away from the tournament’s $500,000 grand prize. More than that, it answers a question that hangs over every fighter who retires from the UFC: Was there still something left? In Smith’s case — undeniably, yes.
The card also marked the long-awaited return of Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA itself, after the promotion sat dormant for over a year. Co-main event veteran Thiago Santos picked up his first win since 2021 by stopping Guto Inocente in round one. Ray Cooper III, Luis Pena, and Denis Petrov also delivered first-round finishes.
It was the kind of card that built the legend in the first place — and a strong opening chapter for what Masvidal has promised will be Gamebred’s biggest year yet.
