Scott Smith

From CageWiki

1 Profile
2 Early Career
3 UFC Career and The Ultimate Fighter
4 EliteXC and Strikeforce
5 Mixed martial arts record
6 Gallery
7 External links

Profile

Scott "Hands of Steel" Smith (born May 21, 1979) is an American professional mixed martial artist and a UFC and EliteXC veteran.

He stands 6 ft. 0 in. (183 cm) tall and fights in the middleweight division. He was a TUF 4 cast member and was recently under contract to EliteXC before their collapse. His last fight was held under the Strikeforce banner.

Early Career

Scott Smith made his professional mixed martial arts debut for the IFC promotion on June 15, 2001 against Ted Stamatelos. Smith emerged victorious via submission.

Smith's next bout was against MMA virgin, Tim Kennedy, also under the IFC banner. A cut stoppage early in the first round awarded Smith his second professional victory.

After three more first round stoppages, Smith faced James Irvin at Gladiator Challenge 22. Against the much bigger and harder hitting Irvin, Smith suffered his first professional mixed martial arts loss as he was knocked out 2.21 into round 1.

Six months later, Smith rebounded from the loss with a TKO victory over John Seihan.

In October of 2005, Smith entered the World Extreme Cagefighting organization where he fought twice on the one night. Early in the night he defeated Pancrase veteran, Tim McKenzie via first round TKO and later in the night he defeated future TUF 3 cast member, Tait Fletcher also via first round TKO.

At WEC 18, Smith defeated Justin Levens via first round TKO to improve his MMA record to 9-1 with 9 first round stoppages.

UFC Career and The Ultimate Fighter

Smith's impressive start to his career earned him a contract with the UFC.

Smith made his debut at UFC 59 against recent middleweight title challenger, David Terrell. In a controversial bout, Smith was submitted by Terrell via rear naked choke in the first round. At about the three minute mark both fighters were clinching. The referee ordered the fighters to seperate, Smith complied but Terrell took the oppurtunity to seize Smith's back while Smith protested.

After a disappointing debut, Smith was signed up for The Ultimate Fighter 4: The Comeback. The fourth season of The Ultimate Fighter that was designed to give fighters who had underachieved in the UFC a shot at redemption as they battled for a UFC title shot.

Smith did not fare well on the show as he was eliminated in the first round of competition on episode four by eventual winner, Travis Lutter via rear naked choke.

At The Ultimate Fighter 4 Finale, Smith faced teammate and friend from the show, Pete Sell. In one of the greatest knockouts and comebacks in UFC history, Sell hurt Smith badly with a body shot midway through the second round the had Smith backing away in agony. Sell raced in for the kill only for Smith to unload with a huge right hand on Sell's chin that knocked him cold. Smith crumpled to the floor in pain soon after but was crowned the victor.

At UFC 67, Smith faced TUF 4 middleweight runner-up, Patrick Cote. Smith was outworked on the feet by Cote in a sometimes plodding affair that resulted in Smith's third professional mixed martial arts loss via decision.

After getting his confidence back with a fight outside of the UFC, Smith returned to the octagon at UFC 72 against TUF 3 middleweight runner-up, Ed Herman. Smith's suspect ground game was once again worked over as Herman secured the rear naked choke victory midway through the second round.

EliteXC and Strikeforce

Following the Herman defeat, Smith was released by the UFC. In his first fight after leaving, six months later, Smith scored a 22 second knockout victory over Jeff Morris at a Gladiator's Challenge event.

Shortly thereafter, Smith was picked up by EliteXC. Smith's EliteXC debut came in February of 2008 against Australian, Kyle Noke at EliteXC: Street Certified. After getting technically outworked in the first round by Noke, Smith put out Noke's lights seven seconds into round two as he unloaded with a ferocious punch.

The Noke win earned Smith a shot at EliteXC middleweight champion, Robbie Lawler on the first ever mixed martial arts card to appear on network television, EliteXC: Primetime. After two and a half very exciting and engaging rounds, Lawler caught Smith in the eye with a finger. Although Smith told the doctor he wanted to continue the bout was stopped and the fight was ruled a no contest.

An immediate rematch between Lawler and Smith was set for the second CBS show at EliteXC: Unfinished Business just under two months later. In an entertaining bout that took over where the first bout left off, Lawler proved to be the superior fighter as he stopped Smith with kicks and punches 2.35 into round 2.

Smith was slated to face Hector Lombard at an EliteXC event in November but the bout was called off when the event was cancelled due to EliteXC shutting up shop.

Although most fighters found it difficult to get out of their EliteXC contracts, Smith managed to secure a contract with the California based Strikeforce promotion. Smith headlined the Strikeforce: Destruction show that was held on the 21st of November against UFC veteran, Terry Martin. In a short lived bout, Smith scored a devastating 24 second knockout over Martin.