Smith, Rakic make weight for UFC Fight Night

MMA

Former light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Smith and up-and-comer Aleksandar Rakic both successfully made weight for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night main event.

Smith (33-15) was 205 pounds, while Rakic (12-2) came in slightly heavier at 205.5 during the UFC’s official weigh-in Friday inside its Apex facility in Las Vegas. The fight will consist of three rounds instead of the usual five, as it was not originally scheduled to serve as the main event.

It is the second time this year the UFC will promote a three-round main event due to changes to the card.

Smith, 32, is looking to rebound from a TKO loss to Glover Teixeira in May, when he suffered a broken orbital, broken nose and lost multiple teeth. He has repeatedly stated his injuries are fully healed, despite the relatively quick turnaround.

Rakic, 28, is coming off the first loss of his UFC career — a split decision to Volkan Oezdemir in December.

All 22 fighters scheduled to compete on Saturday’s card made weight, with the exception of strawweight Hanna Cifers and late-replacement featherweight Austin Springer.

Cifers, who will face Mallory Martin, came in 1 pound heavy and will forfeit 20% of her purse. Springer, who faces veteran Alex Caceres, was 5 pounds over the limit and will forfeit 30% of his purse.

In the co-main event, former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler will meet Neil Magny. Both welterweights came in right at the non-title 171-pound limit.

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