Anthony Smith Discusses Brutal Hand Injury he Incurred at UFC Stockholm

Leading up to UFC Stockholm, Anthony Smith talked about taking some time off, and it looks like the light-heavyweight contender has no choice.

Smith faced longtime light-heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson at the event, and he proceeded to submit the Swedish star in round four. Early on in the bout, commentator/fighter Paul Felder questioned whether Smith may have hurt his left hand, and after the fight, “Lionheart” said he was certain that was the case.

Well, since then, Smith has confirmed that indeed, his left hand broke during the bout (see below). Not only that, while talking with MMA Fighting, the former middleweight reported this:

“…So I had the doctor’s appointment today, I have surgery on Wednesday morning and they said probably four months before I can fully start a training camp. That’s the best guess they have right now.

“So we’re looking at probably six months best case because by then I’ll have to get back into shape and get a camp going. So best case, probably six months.”

“It hurt so bad. It was terrible,” Smith said. “Right at first it wasn’t too bad. As the fight went on, it was terrible. Honestly, I told Marc [Montoya] right away, I said ‘I broke my hand’ and he said ‘all right well then we’re throwing elbows’. I said ‘nah f—k it, I’ll just keep throwing it’.

As you can see by looking at the x-ray, Smith’s left hand incurred a clean break.

Hopefully, Smith’s surgery goes well and his recovery goes smoothly. Thanks to his win on Saturday, there’s little doubt that he’ll be tapped to face another top-tier light-heavyweight when he’s ready to figh again.

Although, by the sounds of it, there’s a chance Smith might not compete again in 2019, depending on who’s available etc in December.