Anthony Smith vs Johnny Walker Prediction UFC Picks 5/13

Lm Tipster
May 13, 2023, 3:08:22 AM

Anthony Smith vs Johnny Walker: Fight Preview

Two explosive light heavyweights are set to clash at UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs Almeida on May 13, 2023. Anthony Smith (36-17-0) faces off against Johnny Walker (20-7-0) in a matchup that promises to deliver fireworks. Smith, also known as Lionheart, has a height advantage over the 6'6" Walker, standing at 6'4". With a reach of 76", Smith has demonstrated impressive striking accuracy, landing an average of 2.99 significant strikes per minute with a striking accuracy of 47%. His takedown accuracy stands at 27%, while his submission average per 15 minutes is 0.7. On the other hand, Walker possesses exceptional power, knocking out seven of his twenty opponents. With a significant striking accuracy of 60%, he averages 3.38 significant strikes landed per minute. The Brazilian also has a perfect takedown accuracy of 100% and a submission average of 1.2 per 15 minutes. Both fighters have had their fair share of victories and defeats in recent fights. Smith comes off two wins over Jimmy Crute and Ryan Spann, but has suffered losses to Aleksandar Rakic and Glover Teixeira. Meanwhile, Walker's last two fights resulted in knockout wins over Paul Craig and Ryan Spann after losses to Thiago Santos and Jamahal Hill. This fight between Anthony Smith and Johnny Walker will undoubtedly be a slugfest, with both fighters possessing explosive power and impressive striking accuracy. It remains to be seen whether Smith's height advantage and submission skills or Walker's takedown accuracy and knockout power will prevail in the octagon.

Anthony Smith's Striking Ability

Anthony Smith is a veteran fighter with a record of 36-17-0, with a height of 6'4", weight of 205lbs, and a reach of 76". He is known by his nickname, "Lionheart," and is an orthodox fighter born on July 26, 1988. In terms of statistics, Smith has a significant strike landing rate (SLpM) of 2.99 and striking accuracy (Str.Acc.) of 47%. He absorbs significant strikes (SApM) at a rate of 4.37, but has a significant strike defense (Str.Def.) of 42%. Additionally, his average takedowns landed per 15 minutes (TDAvg.) is 0.44, with a takedown accuracy (TDAcc.) of 27% and a takedown defense (TDDef.) of 48%. His average submissions attempted per 15 minutes (Sub.Avg.) is 0.7. Looking at Smith's recent fights, he has had ups and downs. He won his last fight against Ryan Spann at UFC Fight Night on September 18, 2021, with a rear-naked choke submission in 13:47. Prior to that, he suffered a loss against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 277 on July 30, 2022, with a TKO via punches in 1:46. Smith's striking ability has been his bread and butter throughout his career. He has a diverse set of strikes in his arsenal, including jabs, crosses, hooks, uppercuts, and kicks. He also has good footwork, which allows him to move around the octagon and create angles to land strikes. His striking accuracy is decent, and when he lands with power, he can cause serious damage to his opponents. However, Smith's defense has been a point of concern. He absorbs a high number of strikes, which can take a toll on him as the fight goes on. Moreover, his takedown defense has been shaky at times, which has led to him being taken down and controlled on the ground. In his upcoming fight against Johnny Walker at UFC Fight Night on May 13, 2023, Smith will have to showcase his striking ability and make sure he does not get taken down, as Walker is known to be a dangerous finisher on the ground. If Smith can keep the fight standing, he has a good chance of coming out with a win.

Anthony Smith Wrestling

Anthony Smith, also known as "Lionheart," has a well-rounded skill set in mixed martial arts, including his wrestling abilities. With a record of 36-17-0, Smith has demonstrated his wrestling prowess in several fights. Smith's average takedown accuracy is 27%, and he has a takedown defense of 48%. In his recent fight against Devin Clark, he was able to secure a triangle choke submission after taking Clark down and transitioning to a dominant position on the ground. In his fight against Volkan Oezdemir, Smith showcased his grappling skills by taking down his opponent and submitting him with a rear-naked choke. He also demonstrated his defensive wrestling abilities in his fight against Rashad Evans, successfully avoiding all of Evans' takedown attempts. While Smith's striking abilities often take center stage in his fights, his wrestling skills play an important role in his overall approach to the sport. With his size and reach advantage, and well-rounded skill set, Smith is a formidable opponent in all aspects of the game.

Johnny Walker Striking: A Potent Weapon

When it comes to striking, Johnny Walker is one of the most dangerous fighters in the UFC. With a record of 20-7-0, Walker has amassed an impressive array of striking skills that have made him a fan favorite. Walker's striking statistics highlight his prowess in this area. He lands an average of 3.38 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy rate of 60%. On the defensive side, he has a significant strike defense rate of 42%. Walker's striking repertoire is diverse, but his most notable technique is his flying knee. He famously knocked out Misha Cirkunov with a flying knee at UFC 235. In addition to the flying knee, Walker has a powerful left hook and is skilled in delivering spinning back fists and elbows. However, Walker's striking style can also leave him vulnerable to counters as seen in his loss to Corey Anderson at UFC 244. Anderson capitalized on Walker's aggressive striking style and knocked him out with a right hand. In his upcoming matchup against Anthony Smith at UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Almeida, Walker's striking skills will be put to the test. Smith is a seasoned fighter, with a reach advantage and strong grappling skills. If Walker can effectively utilize his striking skills, he can certainly come out with a win. Overall, there is no doubt that Johnny Walker's striking skills are a potent weapon in his arsenal. However, he must also remain disciplined and strategic to avoid exposing himself to counters.

Johnny Walker Wrestling Prediction

Johnny Walker is a fighter who has shown his ability inside the octagon with great striking skills and an impressive record of 20-7-0. However, when it comes to wrestling, Johnny Walker's performance has been inconsistent, as he has been taken down multiple times by his opponents in past fights. In his upcoming fight against Anthony Smith, Johnny Walker needs to focus on his wrestling defense and takedown offense to avoid being taken down and controlled on the ground. Smith is a fighter who has a strong ground game and has submitted opponents in the past. Therefore, it is important for Johnny Walker to keep the fight standing and use his striking skills to try and finish the fight. If Johnny Walker can defend takedowns and keep the fight standing, his striking skills can be a major factor in this fight. He has shown his ability to land significant strikes and has finished many of his opponents with his power punches. However, if Johnny Walker is taken down, he could be in trouble as Anthony Smith has the ability to control the fight on the ground and finish with submissions. Overall, Johnny Walker's wrestling skills will be put to the test in this fight. If he can defend takedowns and keep the fight standing, he has a good chance of finishing Anthony Smith with his powerful striking. However, if he is taken down, he will need to focus on defending submissions and getting back to his feet to avoid being controlled on the ground.

How Anthony Smith can win against Johnny Walker

To win against Johnny Walker, Anthony Smith needs to rely on his experience and well-rounded skills. He should focus on his striking accuracy and significant strikes landed per minute. Smith should also try to take advantage of his opponent's low takedown defense and look for opportunities to take the fight to the ground. In addition, Smith should try to avoid getting into a striking battle with Walker, who has a higher significant strike defense. Instead, Smith should use his grappling skills and look for submissions. Overall, Smith's game plan should be to impose his will on Walker and wear him down with a combination of strikes and grappling.

How Johnny Walker can defeat Anthony Smith

To win against Anthony Smith, Johnny Walker needs to use his striking skills and agility to his advantage. He has a significant reach and striking accuracy advantage over Smith, so he should try to keep the fight at a distance and use his long-range strikes to land significant blows on Smith. However, Walker needs to be careful not to leave himself open to takedowns, as Smith is a skilled wrestler with a 27% takedown accuracy. Walker has a high takedown defense of 58%, but he should still try to avoid getting into grappling exchanges with Smith. If the fight does end up on the ground, Walker has a superior submission game, with an average of 1.2 submissions attempted per 15 minutes. He should look for opportunities to use his submission skills to finish the fight. Overall, Johnny Walker's path to victory against Anthony Smith is to use his striking skills and keep the fight at a distance while avoiding grappling exchanges. If the fight does end up on the ground, Walker should use his superior submission game to his advantage.