Multiple-time UFC ‘Performance of the Night’ winner Anthony Smith will return to action for the first time in 2024 on May 4. He will lock horns with Vitor Petrino on the main card of UFC 301. Ahead of his return this weekend, we will take a look at ‘Lionheart’s training background and the people behind his success.

Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, and raised in Nebraska City, Anthony Smith had a tough time growing up. His father was not around during his younger years, and as a result, he fell under the care of his grandfather, who sadly passed away a few years later. Amid these difficulties, Smith started his MMA career in 2008. But whom did he train under? Let’s find out who his coaches are and where he trains.

The UFC veteran’s gym and coaches

When Anthony Smith began training in martial arts, he was only eight and chose to learn karate. He went on to earn a blue belt in that discipline, and then he later started training in jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai. Smith initially did his MMA training in Mick Doyle’s Kickboxing Academy and is one of the most notable fighters from that academy.

Smith turned pro at 19. In an interview he gave to John Morgan for MMA Junkie in 2012, he said, “I was just a young kid, and I didn’t have a whole lot of direction. The gym situation in Omaha at the time was a little sketchy. There was kind of a beef going between the gyms, and the place where I’m at now, Premier Combat Center, wasn’t really solidified yet.”

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Prior to his time in the UFC, he roamed the regional scenes and even had a stint in Strikeforce. But the extent of his talent was laid bare to fans once he entered Dana White’s promotion. Since his UFC debut after TUF 24 in 2017, Smith has been a part of his current gym which has churned out quite a few big names.

Since 2017, ‘Lionheart’ has been training in FactoryX Muay Thai in Englewood, Colorado. Training under coach Marc Montoya, who owns the gym ‘Lionheart’ currently trains at, he has made many teammates who fight under the UFC banner. Let’s have a look at that front.

The many teammates of Anthony Smith

FactoryX Muay Thai is filled with fighters from UFC. Some of the most notable teammates of Anthony Smith are Cody Brundage, (MMA record of 10 wins and 6 losses), Chris Gutierrez (MMA record of 20 wins, 6 losses), Brandon Royval (MMA record of 16 wins and 7 losses), and Dustin Jacoby (MMA record of 19 wins, 8 losses, and 1 no-contest), just to name a few.

Anthony Smith also has a notable teammate from UFC’s rival promotion, the PFL. Rob Wilkinson, who used to fight for the UFC and now fights in the PFL and won the light heavyweight championship in 2022, also trains with ‘Lionheart’. ‘Razor’, who has a record of 11 wins and two losses, had a brief stint in the UFC, and his two career defeats took place in Dana White‘s promotion.

The UFC 301 fight will be an important one for Smith. He has lost four of his last five fights, two by knockouts and two via decision. Smith’s opponent, Vitor Petrino, on the other hand, is yet to lose in the UFC and has racked up a 5-0 undefeated streak. It remains to be seen how the outcome on May 4th will affect both fighters.