Stephen A. Smith isn’t usually a part of ESPN’s UFC coverage, but Saturday’s event was different.
UFC 246 featured the return of Conor McGregor, so Smith, one of ESPN’s heavy hitters, was brought in for the special occasion. After McGregor (22-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) destroyed Donald Cerrone in just 40 seconds, Smith weighed in on the ESPN+ post-fight show with Michael Bisping, Chael Sonnen and Jon Anik.
In his opening analysis of the main event, Smith opted not to praise McGregor’s performance. Instead, he criticized Cerrone (36-14 MMA, 23-11 UFC) and the effort he gave when it came time to fight.
“I’m quite disgusted,” Smith said. “Let me be very, very clear: I’m honored to be up here with you guys. I’m a spectator watching the sport. I expected to see more than 40 seconds. I predicted McGregor was going to win this fight inside of two rounds. I thought he would take him out.
“Here’s the deal: 15 seconds in, ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone was done. He got hit with those shoulders in the clinch, and he was done. It look like he gave up. It was just an atrocious performance on his part.”
From there, Smith admitted he looks through the outsider viewing glass when it comes to MMA. However, he still proceeded to provide analysis citing his disappointment in seeing McGregor only be hit with “a leg kick to the arm, and that’s it.”
When it was time for Smith to give secondary thoughts, he looped back around to Cerrone. Despite Cerrone’s stature as the all-time fights, finishes, and bonuses leader, Smith proclaimed Cerrone was “in over his head.”
“You know the difference between a fighter that’s calm, cool, collected, and ready for the pressure, and it’s out-weighed by somebody that’s clearly in over their head,” Smith said. “When you look at ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone, that was not a guy that was prepared to fight tonight. We knew Conor was going to be prepared.
“We knew Conor was going to be ready. We wondered whether or not he would take him out early. Obviously as the fight goes on, ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone is the bigger, stronger guy – supposedly. For him to be hurt in 15 seconds, get away from the clinch, and still just let Conor right back at him? Come on. You’re smarter than that, except for tonight.”
UFC 246 took place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
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Stephen A. Smith rips 'atrocious' Donald Cerrone performance at UFC 246: He was 'in over his head'
