Overview
- Smith confirmed he tore his Achilles tendon and said his operation was completed without complications.
- The injury occurred during the Jan. 24 UFC 324 prelim between Ateba Gautier and Andrey Pulyaev at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
- Viral footage showed Smith being carried backstage, and he is now in the recovery phase under medical care.
- Dana White initially described the issue as a torn ACL, a claim later corrected when Smith clarified it was an Achilles tear.
- Smith did not give a return timeline, with reporting noting typical Achilles recovery spans roughly six to nine months.