Highlights! Zhang Mingyang sends Anthony Smith into retirement with bloody TKO finish | UFC Kansas City

Dan Hiergesell is an expert voice who serves as MMAmania.com's weekend editor, covering mixed martial arts (MMA) for more than 15 years, getting featured on programs such as Countdown to UFC and SiriusXM Fight Club, among others.

Zhang Mingyang sent Anthony Smith into retirement bloody and battered last night (Sat., April 26, 2025) at UFC Kansas City LIVE on ESPN2/ESPN+ from inside T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, putting a stop to “Lionheart” with a brutal first-round TKO (elbows).

Smith was entering his 60th career fight on Saturday night and already knew it was going to be his last trip to the cage. The light heavyweight veteran had the crowd’s support as he came into the fight a sizeable underdog. Mingyang has looked like a killer so far in his UFC career and Smith already had one foot out the door. It was a recipe for a bloody mess and a bloody mess is what fight fans got.

Compliments of slicing elbows from Mingyang, Smith suffered a nasty cut on his head and blood began to spill into his eye. It clearly bothered him, but “Lionheart” kept firing away. Unfortunately for Smith, Mingyang kept throwing as well and ended up landing more elbows. Smith eventually found himself diving for a leg as Mingyang piled on more offense. Countless elbows followed and Mingyang found the TKO finish.

Check out the bloody aftermath below:

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