Anthony “LionHeart” Smith responds back to Conor McGregor’s voice note accusing Smith of faking the injury he sustained against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 277.
That is where Smith suffered a medial malleolus break (fracture) to his leg and couldn’t continue the bout, losing in the 2nd round as a result of it.
Smith, on a previous episode of the BYM Podcast said that he is “bothered” by McGregor being able to step outside the USADA testing pool to potentially use PED’s to recover faster.
You can see McGregor’s voice note here.
Smith, as always addressed Conor from a very rational point of view, not trying to offend the fellow fighter.
In response to Smith being told he faked his injury by McGregor he responded by saying, “there was no way I could have walked out of there” and “I’m not saying mine [injury] is worse than his“.
Smith then replied to what he interepreted McGregor as saying in his voice note on why he potentially needed to use PEDs, which is “he had to it cause he wasnt healing correctly and that the break was so bad that the percentages were really low”
Smith added, “if there was something out there that could help me heal that I could do legally, I totally would“.
He then doubled down on what bothered him by saying, “what bugs me is guys like Weidman, Anderson and myself, have had lots of bad injuries and we didnt have the ability to step out the USADA pool and come back with no repercussions“.
Which he agreed to the healing properties of some PEDs stating, “some of the stuff on thats on the USADA list could help us a lot in terms of healing and getting back faster. I don’t disagree with that“.
Smith followed up with a question to his co-host asking, “did he break any rules?. You said (to Bisping) technically he isnt breaking any rules?“.
Bisping gave a rational reason for healing and healing only to step out to recover from injuries using “stuff” to heal and coming back within the alotted guidelines detailed by USADA so long as it is all done legally.
6 months of testing on return to the pool and pass 2 tests before being able to compete.
But Smith rebutted, “he isn’t followin the rules because different rules apply to him“. Referring to the Irish star being able to possibly bend the rules because of his status.
Smith then states the USADA by-laws for stepping out the USADA testing pool are when you are not in contract with ufc or you retire.
He then finished the topic by saying, “deep down Conor is still a fighter so he understand why he [Conor] is mad and how this subject is bothersome to him“.
Also adding that McGregor “still never denied it“.
