Aleksandar Rakic vs Anthony Smith — Fight recap

Aleksandar Rakic defeated Anthony Smith via unanimous decision over three rounds on August 29, 2020, at UFC Fight Night, with referee Herb Dean officiating. Rakic dominated the striking exchanges, landing 44 of 57 significant strikes (77%) while Smith managed only 9 of 21 (42%).

The Serbian light heavyweight showcased superior accuracy across all ranges, particularly with his leg strikes (21 of 21) and body work (7 of 8), while also scoring a knockdown to punctuate his control. Smith's wrestling proved ineffective, failing both takedown attempts and accumulating just 36 seconds of control time compared to Rakic's 12:14.

The bout established Rakic as a legitimate contender in the light heavyweight division, with his striking precision and range creating problems Smith couldn't solve. The performance positioned Rakic closer to the division's elite and raised questions about Smith's competitive level at 205 pounds.