Smith Claims UFC Fans Are ‘Stupid’

“Honestly, me and my friends play a game, ‘What kind of crazy sh*t can I say to see what the fans will say.’ And they just play into it.”

Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger, Anthony Smith, has a lot to say about reigning 205-pound champion Alex Pereira.

“Lionheart” expected “Poatan” to “have problems” with some of the division’s bigger fighters after leaving the middleweight class because the Brazilian is no longer the “large, scary monster” he was at 185 pounds.

Pereira fans continue to bash Smith for his chatter, amplified by his role on UFC programming, where Smith serves as analyst, as well as his current gig as co-host on the “Believe You Me” podcast with former middleweight champion Michael Bisping.

“Some of it is the position I put myself in as being an analyst,” Smith said during the UFC 301 media day. “The fans are stupid, they are. You guys write an article and they don’t read the article. They just read the headline and just make up the rest in their head. If they actually read it, almost everything I say makes a lot of sense. Every once in a while maybe I have some crazy takes, but it’s not that often. Honestly, me and my friends play a game, ‘What kind of crazy sh*t can I say to see what the fans will say.’ And they just play into it.”

Sounds like Pereira also played into it.

“They can’t separate me as an analyst and me as an athlete,” Smith continued. “When I’m talking about someone as an analyst, I don’t put myself into that. I can talk about Alex Pereira all I want. I’m not talking about how it would be with me. I’m not even saying I’m better than he is. How I feel about myself personally has nothing to do with what I’m talking about. I’ve said he’s a fantastic striker — no lies there. I said he’s probably not a great grappler. Does anybody in this room think he’s a black belt grappler? C’mon.”

He may be a black belt wrestler after watching this video.

“I’m not being disrespectful. ‘DC’s’ loud ass out there said the exact same thing and nobody said sh*t,” Smith said. “But as soon as I say it, because I’m still competing they have a problem with it. I’ve just gotten to the point where I don’t really care. It doesn’t matter. The fighters know I’m speaking the truth. You don’t see anybody coming up in hallways trying to fight me about it. They know I’m right.”

Smith returns to the cage as part of the UFC 301 pay-per-view (PPV) this weekend in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, tasked with turning away undefeated up-and-comer Vitor Petrino (more on that fight here). As for Pereira, he’s expected to make his next light heavyweight title defense within the next few months.

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 301 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN2/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 301: “Pantoja vs. Erceg” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive events archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 301 fight card and ESPN+ lineup click here.