Anthony Smith's Bare Knuckle MMA Debut: Bold Prediction from Parker Porter

The upcoming bare-knuckle MMA clash between Anthony Smith and Chase Sherman has drawn a prediction from Parker Porter, a fighter with prior UFC experience against Sherman. This event marks the return of Jorge Masvidal's Gamebred Bare Knuckle MMA promotion, featuring two $500,000 tournaments for heavyweight and lightweight divisions under bare-knuckle rules.

Parker Porter, who secured a victory over Chase Sherman in the UFC some years ago, shared his insights on the matchup. Anthony Smith, coming out of a brief retirement, will face former BKFC heavyweight champion and ex-UFC veteran Chase Sherman in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Porter expressed his anticipation for the bout, stating, "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."

He further commented on Smith's move to heavyweight and the bare-knuckle format: "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 questioned about Smith's capacity to adapt to the bare-knuckle skill set, Porter emphasized experience: "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."

Parker Porter Believes Anthony Smith Has a Significant Edge in Bare-Knuckle Bout

Elaborating on the tactical aspects of the fight, Porter added, "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."

Porter also expressed his relief and excitement about the return of Gamebred Bare Knuckle MMA, 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."