Former CFFC champ Blake Smith sends passionate plea to UFC matchmakers: 'Give me a shot!'
Despite opponent's near 12-pound weight miss, Smith delivered a first-round finish at CFFC 141.
TAMPA, Florida – It was clear from the moment the two faced off at official weigh-ins that Blake Smith was not entering the cage a happy man against Enkhtur Bayartsogt.
Of course, how could you blame him? The pair were originally scheduled to meet at this past weekend's CFFC 141 in a lightweight matchup, only for Bayartsogt to request in the days ahead of the event that the contest take place at 160 pounds, instead.
Smith agreed, only for Bayartsogt to then come in at 166.8 pounds when the pair hit the scales, while "The Honeybadger" was right on the required 160-pound limit.
At that point, Smith could have easily just walked away from the fight, but after extended consideration with Head Coach Billy Quarantillo and the rest of the Gracie PAC team, the former CFFC lightweight champ decided to accept his opponent's significant weight miss.
When the two finally entered the cage at the Florida State Fairgrounds and live on UFC FIGHT PASS, Smith was a man on a mission, getting the best of the early striking exchanges before earning a takedown and simply overwhelming his opponent on the floor en route to a first-round finish.
Afterward, Smith admitted there some frustration on his side but that he wouldn't hold any longterm resentment. Getting ready for the dangerous Bayartsogt made Smith a better fighter, and that's the ultimate goal.
"It was a catchweight, and technically he was at welterweight," Smith said after the fight. "I just told him thank you for the fight, and I appreciate him. I was kind of f-cked up yesterday, but I told him it was all respect.
"Getting ready for him, all his wins are finishes, so he's dangerous. You've got to respect that, and every day, I thought about him early in the morning and when it was night, so he was the first thing on my mind, and the last."
The effort invested paid dividends at CFFC 141, and Smith believes his recent work should be enough to get him invited to the big show.
Smith did get called up to Bellator MMA in 2023 but was released after just one appearance – at featherweight, no less – and returned to CFFC. At that time, he made the move to Gracie PAC, and he's since rattled off three straight wins in the CFFC cage.
A shot at regaining the CFFC title he never lost might be on the horizon, but Smith has bigger ambitions, as well, and he spoke directly to UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby after his win.
"Mr. Shelby, I'm 3-0 with a new team, the best coaches in the world – shout out to "Billy Q," Monyette Flowers, Matt Arroyo – I could go on and on," Smith said. "Give me a shot, bro! Give me a shot!
"This is what I do. You see what I just did. Come on, man. I get better each fight."