UFC 301 News: Ex-Title Challenger Accepts Callout From Unbeaten KO Artist
The UFC’s highly-anticipated return to Brazil at UFC 301 has just added a huge light heavyweight matchup.
Light heavyweights will take center stage at UFC 300 next month when Jamahal Hill returns to challenge champion Alex Pereira, and with how tumultuous the division has been in recent years there’s always room for new contenders to put themselves in the conversation for a shot at the belt.
Dana White’s Contender Series-contract winner Vitor Petrino had already established himself as a rising talent before he sent Tyson Pedro into retirement earlier this month, and following that victory the Brazilian called out former UFC title challenger Anthony Smith.
Petrino called out Smith following his second UFC victory.
(Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Apparently the UFC took Petrino’s request quite seriously, and now Laerte Viana reports that “Icão” is set to take on Smith at UFC 301 on May 4 in Río de Janeiro.
The Petrino matchup will be Smith's first fight of 2024.
(Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
A veteran with an astonishing 56 professional fights on his record, Smith snapped a two-fight losing skid when he earned his second victory over Ryan Spann last August but suffered a violent knockout loss to Khalil Rountree Jr. in his most recent outing in December.
“Lionheart” challenged Jon Jones for the light heavyweight title at UFC 235 and is sitting at #10 in the division's rankings, and the matchup with Petrino will be a pivotal bout for both men when it takes place on a UFC 301 card that currently looks like this:
• Paul Craig vs. Caio Borralho
• Anthony Smith vs. Vitor Petrino
• Joaquim Silva vs. Drakkar Klose
• Alessandro Costa vs. Kevin Borjas
• Dione Barbosa vs. Ernesta Kareckaite
• Joanderson Brito vs. Jack Shore
• Elves Brener vs. Myktybek Orolbai
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