UFC declined Anthony Smith’s request to do Power Slap

Anthony Smith revealed that he asked the UFC to compete in Power Slap.

The former UFC title challenger is gearing up for his retirement fight and says he wanted to take part in a Power Slap event, but UFC brass denied him.

While many have criticized Dana White’s slap-fighting promotion and expressed their concerns over safety, Smith was one of the few who’s admitted that he enjoys watching it.

“I tried. They told me no,” Smith said on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “Straight up, I asked Hunter (Campbell,  and he told me no. He wouldn’t even bring it to Dana. I don’t know. He said no.”

Smith (38-21 MMA, 13-11 UFC) is coming off an emotional TKO loss to Dominick Reyes at UFC 310 in December. He recently lost his longtime friend and coach, Scott Morton, and couldn’t bear not having him in his corner.

But Smith did not want to go out like that. He’s preparing for one final fight, which he already has booked. Smith didn’t say against whom but confirmed that it will be in April.

“It’s one more,” Smith said. “Win, lose, or draw, that’s it.”

Smith’s fight in April will mark his 60th professional bout. “Lionheart” challenged Jon Jones for the light heavyweight title in March 2019 and holds notable wins over the likes of Rashad Evans, Mauricio Rua, Volkan Oezdemir, and Alexander Gustafsson.