Paul Shaughnessy said he is steering away from the heavily juiced Zhang-round-one markets and instead plans to bet Zhang Mingyang by KO in round two at +550. Paul re-watched Zhang’s Ozzy Diaz and Brenson Tocos fights and came away convinced the Chinese prospect is far more patient than his string of first-round finishes suggests. He expects Zhang to show early respect for Anthony Smith’s takedown threat, slowly pile on damage, and break a 60-fight veteran whose durability has clearly regressed. Because Smith has historically survived brutal first frames—even in losses—Paul believes sportsbooks have over-weighted the round-one knockout and left round two undervalued. His preferred play is a contrarian sprinkle on Zhang RD2 KO while still backing the money-line chalk in parlays.

Paul Shaughnessy backed Zhang Mingyang as well, dismissing worries about a 2018 submission loss, arguing tape from when Zhang was 19 is meaningless now that he’s a matured 26-year-old with significantly better skills and discipline. Paul emphasized the huge life and skill gains fighters make between ages 19–26, adding that the version of Anthony Smith in 2025 is slower, plans to retire, and has absorbed too much damage to survive Zhang’s pace. Paul re-watched Zhang’s wins over Ozzy Diaz and Brenson Tocos, highlighting that Zhang kept throwing big shots past the three-minute mark—countering narratives that he’s purely round-one or bust. With Smith unlikely to initiate takedowns and Zhang holding a seven-fight knockout streak, Paul expects an early knockout and is comfortable laying the chalk or using Zhang in parlays.

Cody Saftic laid out a fade-Anthony-Smith position and picked Zhang Mingyang to win by knockout despite the steep –500 price. Smith has already announced this is his retirement bout and looked "wonky and out of sorts" in his last two fights. Cody cited Smith’s shocking grappling stats: in 24 UFC appearances he has completed more than one takedown only once and has never attempted more than four in a fight, making it unlikely he exploits Zhang’s ground weaknesses. Smith’s only other path—working his jab for 15 minutes—seems impossible now that his speed has faded and he dislikes return fire. Zhang, 26, marches forward with a heavy southpaw left, forces exchanges, and faces a version of Smith who has absorbed a ton of damage and is 1-3 in his last four. Cody expects Zhang to back Smith to the fence and finish him, pointing to three first-round knockouts among Zhang’s recent wins and the UFC’s interest in pushing a Chinese prospect while Smith bows out.

MMA Guru doubled‑down on his earlier knockout call but sharpened the timeline, saying Zhang Mingyang will melt Anthony Smith inside the very first round. Guru argued that Smith’s game has become a predictable one‑two down the pipe followed by a sloppy high‑guard and the occasional telegraphed takedown—patterns a proactive power puncher like Zhang should punish immediately. Beyond the X’s and O’s, Guru cited non‑technical red flags: Smith is still grieving the recent loss of his long‑time coach, appeared emotional and distracted during his last walkout, and tends to ‘romanticize being beaten up’ instead of flipping a competitive switch. Guru believes that combination of mental baggage and a deteriorating body explains why even a back‑foot Johnny Walker comfortably out‑pointed Smith. Zhang, by contrast, forces exchanges with tight hooks that already starched Brendson Ribeiro and Ozzy Diaz, making him the ideal opponent to capitalize on Smith’s fragile state. Recommended wager: Zhang Mingyang by KO/TKO round 1.

MMA Guru predicted Zhang Mingyang will knock out Anthony Smith in what the tout labelled Smith’s unofficial retirement bout. He dismissed the UFC’s old tale of Smith being 6'4, remarking Zhang will actually be the larger man despite a two‑inch listed deficit. Guru loves Zhang’s proactive power—unlike "catch‑you" punchers, Zhang forces exchanges and turns over tight hooks that already flattened Brendson Ribeiro and Ozzy Diaz. Meanwhile Smith keeps serving up the same one‑two and high‑guard formula, occasionally shooting a telegraphed takedown; Guru said any half‑decent fight IQ solves that puzzle. Physically, Smith’s body “has fallen apart,” and his recent back‑foot point‑fighting loss to Johnny Walker showed the former title challenger no longer trusts his own durability. Guru envisions Zhang walking him down, ripping combinations and finding the finish inside two rounds. Betting advice: lay the KO/TKO prop on the Chinese prospect; fading a veteran on the way out is rarely wrong.

Bedtime MMA ultimately sided with Zhang Mingyang by knockout, leaning on Anthony Smith’s openly stated retirement mindset. He conceded Zhang is a "can‑crusher" who relies on early KOs and even lost to the infamous Chinese record‑faker, but argued that profile still beats a checked‑out Smith whose only remaining weapon is toughness. Smith looked lifeless versus Dominick Reyes and has spent fight week treating this bout as a farewell tour alongside desk work with Dustin Poirier. The tout noted Zhang’s seven first‑round finishes on the regional scene and believes the younger fighter’s initial burst will crack Smith before his trademark late‑fight guile matters. While his "logical brain" sees a potential Smith round‑two submission, Bedtime trusts the fade‑the‑retiree angle and wider betting consensus, predicting Zhang collapses the veteran early.