After initial reservations, Maurice Smith getting used to idea of UFC Hall of Fame membership

LAS VEGAS – Former UFC heavyweight champion Maurice Smith initially wasn’t sure how to feel about being inducted into the promotion’s Hall of Fame.

Smith felt his biggest contribution to the UFC was just another night of work in a long career. It just so happened that on that night, all the way back at UFC 14, he took the heavyweight title from Mark Coleman.

But after reflecting on that pivotal upset – and receiving his moment in the limelight this past Thursday during the UFC’s 2017 Hall of Fame induction ceremony – a reflective Smith is coming to terms with being a part of the history books.

“I have mixed emotions about it, but I appreciate who recognizes my body of work, and I’m good,” he said.

Smith (14-14 MMA, 4-3 UFC), inducted as a member of the Hall of Fame’s Pioneer wing, still identifies first and foremost as a kickboxer, a standup specialist who fell into MMA and found a successful formula for the grapplers who dominated the early action in the octagon.

Along with Frank Shamrock and Tsuyoshi Kohsaka, Smith was one-third of “The Alliance,” one of the earliest MMA teams in the sport’s history.

But as Smith notes, he wasn’t the first one to discover the sprawl and brawl formula. He wonders why Marco Ruas isn’t in the UFC Hall of Fame after chopping down Paul Varelans with leg kicks to win a tournament at UFC 7. So he’s ambivalent about his inclusion, and the promotion’s criteria in nominating fighters.

Smith doesn’t want to make a big deal about his official recognition. He’ll just accept it with a smile.

To hear more from Smith, check out the video above.

And for more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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