3 takeaways from UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Rakic
Light heavyweight contender Aleksandar Rakic beat Anthony Smith via unanimous decision in the UFC Fight Night main event Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Here are three takeaways from the event.
Don't mess with Rakic
Rakic went out and beat Smith at his own game, dominating the former title challenger on the ground over three rounds.
It wasn't the most exciting contest, and this won't turn Rakic into a star overnight. But it was still an incredibly impressive performance from the 28-year-old. He came in with a fraction of the experience - he has 15 pro fights compared to Smith's 49 - yet completely shut "Lionheart" down. Rakic showed he can do a lot more than just knock people out, and that'll go a long way.
Rakic called for a title shot after beating the No. 5-ranked light heavyweight. While he's probably at least another win away from a crack at the UFC belt, he's absolutely shaping up to be a contender and a force to be reckoned with at 205 pounds.
Lawler is a shell of his former self
Former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler dropped his fourth straight fight in the co-main event to Neil Magny, and it's clear he's no longer the same guy who reigned over the division five years ago.
"Ruthless" wasn't nearly as fast or explosive as he used to be, and he was also prone to takedowns. Lawler has been known to have excellent grappling defense, but Magny dominated him on the mat, taking him down - and holding him there for long stretches - with consistency.
Even on the feet, where Lawler used to be a ferocious fighter, Magny successfully stayed on the outside and landed solid shots en route to a one-sided victory. The Lawler who won "Fight of the Year" against Rory MacDonald during his title run would not have allowed Magny to dominate, he would've pressured his opponent and landed bombs. Lawler tried once or twice, but we only saw a glimpse of his former self - and even then, he still struggled to connect.
Lawler's other recent losses came against elite competition, including Colby Covington, and the former champ looked great in the early moments against Ben Askren last year. So, there was a bit of hope going in to this one that Lawler may not quite be done. But after losing to No. 14 Magny, it's obvious that he is.
Lawler's age of 38 has officially caught up to him. The damage he's absorbed in the many wars he's been in throughout his 19-year MMA career has certainly taken a toll, as well. The Sanford MMA product's career is clearly on a downward trajectory, and it would be wise for him to call it quits before it's too late.
Lamas shows veteran grit, but on borrowed time
Former featherweight title challenger Ricardo Lamas bounced back with a "Fight of the Night" win over newcomer Bill Algeo in the opening main-card bout. Lamas was particularly impressive in the third round, dominating his younger foe on the ground to secure the decision. Still, it's clear he'll no longer beat the best at 145 pounds.
Lamas got hit more than he would've liked to in the first two rounds, with Algeo badly stunning him in the second. We need to keep in mind this was against a guy who stepped up on short notice and was a 2-1 underdog. No disrespect to Algeo, who performed well and perhaps could turn into a contender down the road, but this was a test Lamas should've easily passed.
It should be noted "The Bully" turned it up when he needed to, which is important. His veteran savvy came into play in the last round. But this was Lamas' first victory since 2018, and he's still only 2-3 in his past five bouts. Everyone's time comes to an end eventually, and while Lamas still has a bit left in the gas tank, he's definitely running low on fuel.