Anthony Smith says he is the original “No Time” — not Volkan Oezdemir

UFC light heavyweight contender Volkan Oezdemir recently adopted the nickname “No Time.” This nickname is based on his predilection for first-round finishes. Yet Oezdemir’s next opponent, Anthony Smith, feels he is more deserving of that monicker.

Anthony Smith, who battles Volkan Oezdemir in the main event of UFC Moncton on October 27, reminds that he’s produced more first-round finishes than his upcoming opponent. In fact, he’s got more first-round finishes than Oezdemir has fights.

“If you really go back, go look at my record,” Anthony Smith said on a recent episode of Submission Radio (transcript via MMANytt). “I mean, I’ve probably got over 20 first-round finishes.

“He’s got this No Time gimmick but I’m the original No Time,” Smith continued. “I mean, if that’s the way you want to look at it. I mean, I’ve got more first-round finishes than he’s got fights total. So, I don’t imagine it’s going to go to a decision [when we fight]. I’ve seen a couple of the highlights of the DC fight, I think it will be similar to that. I don’t think he likes pressure that much, and like I said, I don’t know how to fight any other way, it’s just go forward and punch people in the face”.

Smith then reiterated that he’s expecting to finish Oezdemir quickly and decisively in Moncton.

“I think that it’s another brutal finish,” he said. “I really do. I think that our styles match up perfectly for me. Volkan’s not shooting takedowns, it’s just not happening. So even if he watches this and decides, ‘alright, I’m gonna take him down because he’s not gonna be expecting it,’ it doesn’t matter because Volkan doesn’t have it in him. Not that he’s not able to, but just his style and his mentality. Volkan’s not shooting any takedowns. So, with the threat of a takedown completely off the table, I don’t think that there’s anyone at 205 that’s gonna win a striking battle with me.”

Do you think Anthony Smith should start going by “No Time” rather than “Lionheart” if he defeats Volkan Oezdemir in the first round?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 8/14/2018.