Over the weekend, UFC President Dana White announced a new light heavyweight matchup featuring top contenders that’ll go down on the second card in December. White announced that Azamat Murzakanov was out of his upcoming battle against Khalil Rountree (12-5).
Rountree needed a new opponent and he got one. White announced that former title challenger Anthony “Lionheart” Smith (37-18) would be stepping in on short notice to take on Rountree. The bout will serve as the co-main event of the December 9th card which will take place in the APEX.
Rountree has been on a roll as of late having won four straight. Three of the four wins have come via finish and he’s looked better than ever. Rountree is currently ranked 11th in the light heavyweight division and he’s looking to jump into the top ten with a win over Smith.
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Anthony Smith got back in the win column in August when he had a rematch with Ryan Spann. The fight was very close, but Smith was able to win a split decision. Had he lost that fight, it would’ve been three losses in a row on the heels of Smith getting close to a title shot at the end of 2021.
Smith is currently ranked eighth in the light heavyweight division. He’s hoping to get a win over Rountree that’ll he’ll be right back in the title picture at 205. He’s been chirping at Alex Pereira so you know that he’d love to get a chance to face the new UFC light heavyweight champion down the road.