Overview
- Smith oversaw Ateba Gautier vs. Andrey Pulyaev on the prelims, then was filmed being carried backstage at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
- White told the post-fight press conference that Smith "blew" his ACL, though the exact cause has not been formally detailed.
- Fan-shot video appears to show his knee give out at the final horn, yet he stayed to raise Gautier’s hand before exiting with assistance.
- Typical ACL recovery spans six to nine months, suggesting Smith will likely miss a large portion of 2026 officiating duties.
- Smith has not issued a full statement beyond a brief Instagram message, and as a frequently assigned Nevada referee his absence impacts the rotation.