Ex-UFC star Anthony Smith suffers brutal TKO defeat in bare-knuckle MMA comeback fight

Former UFC title challenger Anthony Smith suffered a stoppage defeat inside two rounds against Jordan Heiderman on Friday night in the Dominican Republic. Headlining Jorge Masvidal's bare-knuckle promotion, Smith experienced a difficult return after a competitive first round, with the referee stepping in during round two after Smith sustained cuts and curled up under pressure.

Smith's appearance on the card occurred amid controversy following recent legal issues, including charges of making terroristic threats and false imprisonment. Gamebred CEO Lex McMahon publicly defended the decision to let Smith compete, emphasizing due process and the promotion's long-standing personal relationship with the fighter.