Anderson Shuts Down ‘Lionheart’ Fight

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Jon Jones has already picked out Dominick Reyes to be the next challenge for his Light Heavyweight throne, leaving top contender, Corey Anderson, with the option to take another fight in the interim or wait it out.

One of the top candidates for Corey should he choose to compete is Anthony Smith (No. 3), a man he’s been linked to in the past. But according to “Overtime,” Smith’s chance to face him has passed after not taking the opportunity he had early on.

“I have no interest in fighting Anthony Smith,” Anderson said on “The Luke Thomas Show” (via MMA Junkie). “I called Anthony Smith out after I fought at 232, and he answered back like two minutes later and said no, so now this time, he got to wait.”

Indeed, there was a time when Corey was pining for a fight against Smith, but “Lionheart” was quick to tell him he hadn’t earned it yet. Fast forward to present day and the tables have turned, as Corey is now a bit closer to a championship bout than Smith is, which prompted Anthony to tell Corey to sign on the dotted line soon after knocking Johnny Walker out at UFC 244 (see it again here).

Anderson, however, simply won’t budge. Furthermore, when he looks further down the line at 205 pounds, Corey says there really isn’t anyone else he has to beat in order to punch his ticket to the big dance.

“I don’t see anyone in front of me,” Anderson said. “That’s the point. I beat Jan Blachowicz, I’ve beat everybody that’s fought for a title. I beat all of these guys, you know? Just give me my due, and I’ll let my manager figure out the rest of it. I’m just here to fight. I’m going to train and I’ll be ready,” he concluded.

If and when Jones vs Reyes gets booked, it probably wont happen until February or march, leaving Corey to wait a little while before he gets his first-ever crack at UFC gold. Unless UFC comes with an offer for “Overtime” to face Smith that is too good to pass up.