MMAPLAY365 EXCLUSIVE:
The UFC are working on a huge Light Heavyweight fight with Aleksandar Rakic vs. Anthony Smith.
Per sources, both fighters have signed to fight on August 29th in Las Vegas.#UFC #UFCFightNight pic.twitter.com/ZZ2pk7LCdb— mmaplay365 (@mmaplay365) June 19, 2020
Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app. A key light heavyweight matchup is being planned for the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s Aug. 29 event.
According to a report from betting odds site MMAPlay365 on Friday, Anthony Smith (33-15) will square off against Aleksandar Rakic (12-2) at the UFC’s event on Aug. 29. The card is scheduled to go down at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and it is unclear whether this bout will serve as the headliner.
Both men will be looking to rebound from losses. Smith suffered a fifth-round knockout at the hands of Glover Teixeira in May to halt the momentum “Lionheart” was building to pursue another title shot. A finisher by trade, 91 percent of the Factor X fighter’s wins have come by stoppage, including each of his last seven victories. Throughout his career, the Nebraskan has notched wins over names like Alexander Gustafsson, Volkan Oezdemir, Mauricio Rua and Rashad Evans.
Rakic saw his 12-fight win streak come to an abrupt halt when he dropped a contentious split decision to Oezdemir in December. Before this controversial defeat, the Austrian lamped Jimi Manuwa with a head kick in under a minute and finished Devin Clark in the opening round. Additionally, his one-sided drubbing of Justin Ledet in July 2018 ranked among the greatest striking differentials in promotional history, with “Rocket” outlanding his opponent by over 230 strikes.
The UFC Fight Night card on Aug. 29 does not currently have a headliner scheduled, although its planned destination is the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Also appearing on this card is a rescheduled flyweight match between Alexa Grasso and Ji Yeon Kim, who were originally planning on throwing down in June.