Anthony Smith, the UFC light heavyweight contender, made headlines during a fight with Glover Teixeira when he handed his tooth to the referee mid-fight. The incident took place during a UFC event in May 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite receiving a severe beating from Teixeira, Smith displayed remarkable sportsmanship by giving his tooth to the referee, Jason Herzog, as the fight continued.

During the fight, Smith informed his corner team that his teeth were falling out due to the strikes from Teixeira. In an astonishing moment captured on camera, Smith reached out to hand his tooth to the referee while under attack from Teixeira. Following the fight, Smith explained that he had to remove his mouthpiece due to the missing tooth and handed it to the referee during the match.

Despite the dental mishap, Smith managed to complete the fourth round but was eventually stopped 64 seconds into the final round by Teixeira. UFC CEO Dana White expressed surprise that Smith was allowed to continue fighting, given the visible damage and the missing tooth. White speculated that Smith might have a broken orbital based on his reactions to hits during the match.

Former dual-weight champion Daniel Cormier criticized Smith’s corner for not stopping the fight earlier to prevent further damage. Cormier took to Twitter to express his opinion, stating that he would have intervened to protect Smith from being finished. He highlighted the importance of corner support in safeguarding fighters during intense bouts.

The incident involving Smith handing his tooth to the referee amidst a brutal fight with Teixeira showcased the resilience and determination of the UFC fighter. Despite facing significant challenges during the match, Smith’s actions demonstrated his commitment to sportsmanship and perseverance in the octagon.