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

Anthony Smith is set to make his debut in bare knuckle MMA against Chase Sherman, and a fighter with prior experience against Sherman, Parker Porter, has shared his strong prediction for the bout.

Jorge Masvidal's Gamebred Bare Knuckle MMA promotion is returning with significant tournaments for heavyweights and lightweights, contested under bare knuckle mixed martial arts rules.

Parker Porter, who secured a victory over Chase Sherman in the UFC some time ago, discussed the upcoming fight. Anthony Smith is returning from a brief retirement to face former BKFC heavyweight champion and ex-UFC fighter Chase Sherman. The event is scheduled for Friday, April 10th, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Regarding the matchup between Smith and Sherman in bare knuckle MMA, Porter commented:

"I believe it will be a great matchup. I'm eager to see it... It's going to be truly interesting because, obviously, I consider Anthony Smith an incredible fighter, highly talented, and very well-rounded. So, witnessing him step up to the heavyweight division and observing how he handles the difference in size and weight will be compelling. He's not a small man to begin with, by any means."

"The fact that he was even cutting down to 205 [pounds] is impressive. I had the chance to meet him when I fought in Singapore. I think this will be very much in Anthony's favor. However, not only is he moving up to heavyweight, but he's also facing the new element of fighting without gloves, which changes things somewhat. Some individuals don't always react well to that. Nevertheless, I would still be betting on Anthony Smith for that one. This is not to dismiss Chase Sherman in any way. I simply believe Anthony is that skilled a fighter."

When questioned if his assessment was based on Smith's capacity to adapt to the specific skill set of bare knuckle fighting, considering the increased likelihood of fight-ending submissions in this format and Smith's proven submission abilities, Porter explained:

"I think it's more because when you get hit with a bare knuckle compared to a gloved hand, it's a different feeling. It's a different sensation, but with someone like Anthony, who possesses his level of experience, he's not going to suddenly falter and retreat just because he took a slightly different kind of impact or something hurt a bit more than he's experienced in the past with gloves."

Parker Porter Believes Anthony Smith Holds a Significant Advantage in Bare Knuckle Bout

Delving further into the dynamics of the fight between Smith and Sherman, Porter added:

"With [Anthony Smith] having such a strong jiu-jitsu game, removing the gloves is a huge advantage for him. Now he can grip everything better. He can maneuver his hands into tighter positions for various submissions, such as rear-naked chokes and so forth. I believe, yes, and I still think this will be heavily in Anthony's favor."

At one point, there was uncertainty about whether Gamebred Bare Knuckle MMA would return. Porter expressed his relief and excitement that the promotion is back, providing bare knuckle fans with quality events, whether they prefer boxing or MMA.

"Absolutely. Yes, I was actually quite concerned when I saw that Gamebred had that extended break. I thought, 'Oh no, has something gone wrong?' We need to bring that back. It's somewhat of a staple in the bare knuckle world. So, I'm very pleased to see that they are returning with this event and that someone like Anthony Smith versus Chase Sherman is headlining the card."