No one in the sport of mixed martial arts can ever question the heart, determination or perseverance of current EliteXC middleweight fighter Scott Smith for his constant effort to stay in and win a fight.

During his time with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, he was involved in one of the most memorable knockouts in the promotion’s history during a bout with former “Ultimate Fighter” housemate Pete Sell.

As Sell landed a thunderous body shot that seemed to crumble his opponent, Smith jumped up with a huge punch that sent Sell crashing to the canvas. After following up with another shot before the referee stopped the fight, Smith instantly fell down in the cage, still feeling the effects of the punch he endured before unloading his own fight finishing shot to his opponent.

During Smith’s title fight with current EliteXC middleweight champion Robbie Lawler, he once again showed his will to survive as he fell victim to a very tough first round that saw him end the session leaning against the cage, appearing to be out on his feet.

What happened in the second round could not have been predicted as Smith came out looking fresher and better than ever, pummeling Lawler with punches, kicks and elbows that likely won him the round on.  Unfortunately for Smith, the third round brought an end to the fight as an accidental eye poke caused doctors to stop the fight, declaring a no contest between the two fighters.

Having recovered from the eye poke and injured foot he dealt with after the fight, Smith is back and ready for round two with Lawler and he predicts the same high pace he produced in the first fight, but with better results this time around.

“I’m notorious for being a slow starter so I tried to start out quick in that fight.  I did start out fast, but not smart,” said Smith during a recent appearance on MMAWeekly Radio.  “I came out without moving around and ate a lot of shots.  I’m going to come in and try to do the same thing, start the fight out at a good pace, except just a smarter pace.”

Understanding those mistakes is what Smith believes he can change and make him the better fighter on July 26.

“Anybody that’s ever watched MMA can watch that fight and tell you that I need to move my head a little more and not get hit so much, that’s a big thing,” Smith stated. “I moved backwards to try to avoid his punches instead of side to side, that’s a big thing, head movement.  And setting things up, I threw big head kick after big head kick after big overhand right, I need to set up those punches and kicks.”

But what about Lawler’s advantages from having fought him just under 2 months ago?

“I’m thinking he’s going to be prepared for that, but it’s one of those things that it doesn’t matter if you’re prepared for it or not, if I execute it well it’s going to be devastating,” said Smith about his gameplan for the fight.

One thing is for sure that anyone who doubts Smith’s heart and determination usually come up on the losing end and the California based fighter doesn’t mind being doubted.  That just makes him work that much harder to prove them all wrong.

“I really think that first fight they put me out there as the former UFC fighter to come in and get knocked out,” Smith said.  “I think they really thought I was just tough enough to go out there and give Lawler a fight and they had no expectations of me winning.  I think after watching that first fight, they’re like ‘oh, wow maybe he can beat Lawler.’ I think they’re real excited about this fight.  It doesn’t matter if they put me out there and expect me to lose, I’m just honored to be out there and given that opportunity.”

EliteXC Video Interview: Robbie Lawler

EliteXC Video Interview: Scott Smith