Anthony Smith's Bare Knuckle Debut: Bold Prediction from Ex-Jon Jones Foe

Anthony Smith is set to make his bare knuckle MMA debut against Chase Sherman. Parker Porter, a fighter who previously defeated Sherman in the UFC, has offered his insights into this upcoming bout. Jorge Masvidal's Gamebred Bare Knuckle MMA promotion is returning with significant tournaments for heavyweight and lightweight divisions, contested under bare knuckle rules.

Porter, who secured a UFC victory over Chase Sherman in the past, believes Anthony Smith holds a significant advantage in the matchup. Smith is returning to competition after a brief retirement to face former BKFC heavyweight champion and ex-UFC veteran Chase Sherman. The fight is scheduled to take place in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Discussing the fight, Porter shared his thoughts on the matchup between Smith and Sherman in bare knuckle MMA:

“I think that’s going to be a great matchup. I’m interested to see [it]… That’s going to be really interesting to see because obviously I think Anthony Smith is an incredible fighter, super talented, very well-rounded. So to see him step up to the heavyweight division and see how he handles that difference in size and weight. He is by no means a small guy to begin with.”

“The fact that he was even cutting down to 205 [pounds] is impressive. I got the opportunity to meet him when I fought in Singapore. I think that’s going to be very much in Anthony’s favor. But then again, also, not only is he going up to heavyweight, but he’s also having the new element of taking the gloves off where that changes things a little bit. Some people don’t always respond well to that. But I would still be putting my money on Anthony Smith for that one. No, flak or smoke towards Chase Sherman. I just think Anthony’s just that good of a fighter.”

When asked if this assessment stems from Smith's ability to adapt to the unique demands of bare knuckle fighting, particularly considering the increased submission opportunities in gloveless MMA, Porter explained:

“I think more because like when you get hit with a bare knuckle versus a gloved hand, that’s a different feeling. It’s a different sensation but with somebody like Anthony who has the level of experience that he has, he’s not just going to all of a sudden crumble up and start to turn tail. Just because he got tagged a little bit different or something hurt a little bit more than what he’s experienced in the past versus a glove.”

Porter: Smith Has a Significant Advantage Over Sherman in Bare Knuckle MMA

Porter further elaborated on the strategic advantages Smith might possess in the fight:

“With [Anthony Smith] having such a strong jiu-jitsu game, taking the gloves off is a huge advantage for him. Now he can grip everything better. He can sneak his hands into tighter situations for different kinds of submissions such as rear naked [chokes] and whatnot. I think yeah, and I still think that this is going to be heavily in Anthony’s advantage.”

Reflecting on the return of Gamebred Bare Knuckle MMA, Porter expressed his relief and excitement, noting its importance for bare knuckle enthusiasts:

“100%. Yeah, I was actually really nervous when I saw that Gamebred had the big layoff that they did. I was like, “Oh no, has something gone [wrong]?” Like we got to bring that back. It’s kind of a staple in the bare knuckle world. So I’m really happy to see that they’re coming back with that show and then also having somebody like Anthony Smith versus Chase Sherman headlining that card.”