Anthony Smith vs. Johnny Walker is scheduled for three rounds in the light heavyweight division and is the co-main event of today's UFC Fight Night card from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Smith and Walker are heading into the Last Chance Saloon, with the winner able to keep their faint hopes for a major fight alive, whereas the loser will suffer a critical defeat that could threaten their career.
UFC odds see this as a dead heat, with both fighters listed at -110. Here are our free picks and predictions for Smith vs. Walker at UFC Fight Night, Saturday in Charlotte.
Anthony Smith vs Johnny Walker fight odds
Anthony Smith vs Johnny Walker method of victory odds
| Method of Victory | Anthony Smith | Johnny Walker |
|---|---|---|
| To win by KO/TKO | +300 | +140 |
| To win by Points | +600 | +900 |
| To win by Submission | +350 | +900 |
| Draw | +5,000 | +5,000 |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook on May 11, 2023.
Anthony Smith vs Johnny Walker picks
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Anthony Smith vs Johnny Walker betting preview
Anthony Smith has been around the top of the division for some time, and while he’s still sturdy, there’s a sense that Father Time is hot on his heels. Even so, Smith has been a reliable contender and former title challenger, with his setbacks coming against the top tier of the division like Jon Jones, Glover Teixeira, and Magomed Ankaleav.
“Lionheart” can do a bit of everything and is a phenomenal finisher. He has 34 wins inside the distance with 20 knockouts and 14 submissions. A key to Smith’s longevity and sustained viability in the division has been his strong ring IQ, and he’s shown to be more durable at light heavyweight than he was at middleweight.
Smith knows that Walker will come at him from the start. He’ll have to contend with Walker’s height and youth advantages, keeping it cool under fire and resisting the urge to trade with the stronger man. The good news is that Walker isn’t trying anything he hasn’t seen before, and that wild approach could lead to a critical opening allowing Smith to capitalize with a possible submission attempt.
Things finally seem on the mend for Johnny Walker. The Brazilian was riding high on a nine-fight win streak but saw that momentum fall apart, going 3-4 since. Walker recently bounced back with consecutive wins over Ion Cutelaba and Paul Craig and displayed his trademark striking skills.
Walker has 16 knockouts in 20 wins, and his wild striking style makes him unorthodox and unpredictable. Fighters who have had success against him have beaten him by slowing him down and messing with his timing. Smith is similar to Walker’s conquerors like Thiago Santos and Nikita Krylov, who are smart enough not to charge forward and welcome a phonebooth fight.
Whatever the case, Walker has to hope to catch Smith early. He’ll hope Smith’s leg injury from the Ankalaev fight hinders his mobility, opening him up to trade strikes. If Walker can’t get his hands on Smith or is too loose offensively and lets him off the hook early on, he’ll be in for a long night.
Anthony Smith vs Johnny Walker tale of the tape
| Anthony Smith | Johnny Walker | |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Age | 31 |
| 6-foot-4 | Height | 6-foot-5 |
| 205 lbs | Weight | 205 lbs |
| 76 inches | Reach | 82 inches |
| 36-17 (20 KO) | Record | 20-7 (16 KO) |
Anthony Smith vs Johnny Walker UFC prediction and best bet
Fight prediction: Smith ML
All Walker’s wins over Craig and Cutelaba prove is that he isn’t a total bust. I’d argue that Smith is better than both men, and his level of competition has been consistently high since 2018. Though there is reason to doubt Smith’s mobility considering this is his first fight since breaking his leg against Ankalaev, we don’t anticipate it being a factor.
There’s a risk he could be slow enough for Walker to land that money shot in the early goings, but we’ll bank on Smith’s versatility and back him to win.
Prediction: Smith moneyline (-110 at DraftKings)
Fight best bet: Smith to win KO/TKO/SUB/DQ
Smith’s stronger resume and better finishing skills stand out more than Walker’s recent success. Walker is a wild bull who can be tamed by an experienced matador, and as dangerous as he is, Smith can grind it out and find some kind of opportunity to turn Walker’s momentum against him and end the fight.
We don’t see this fight going the distance, and we’ll take the plus money on Smith scoring some variety of a stoppage inside the distance as our best bet.
Pick: Smith to win by KO/TKO/SUB/DQ (+140 at DraftKings)
