Playing the role of spoiler was Zhang Mingyang, who proved too much for Smith (37-22 MMA, 13-12 UFC) to handle. The light heavyweight fight served as the UFC on ESPN 66 co-main event at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo. Mingyang (19-6 MMA, 3-0 UFC) remained undefeated in the UFC by stopping Smith with heavy ground and pound at 4:03 of Round 1.

Anthony Smith did not get his fairytale ending. The longtime UFC veteran suffered a brutal stoppage loss at the hands of China's Zhang Mingyang in his retirement bout on Saturday in the co-main event of UFC Kansas City,

Anthony Smith, the UFC light heavyweight veteran known as “Lionheart,” officially retired from mixed martial arts after a first-round TKO loss to Zhang Mingyang in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night Kansas City on April 26 2025.