Re: Chris Billam-Smith vs. Ryan Rozicki | Sky Sports - 6 June 2026
Posted: 07 Jun 2026, 10:39
Chris Billam-Smith and Ryan Rozicki out of hospital after ‘Rocky movie’ fight
After seven rounds of brutal action inside the Bournemouth International Centre, Chris Billam-Smith and Ryan Rozicki were both sent to hospital as a precaution.
Neither had to spend the night there.
Rozicki was released at around 3am and was “doing well” at his hotel. Billam-Smith posted a picture of him back home with his youngest child on his social media.
“I have been taken to hospital but it’s just precautionary,” said the Bournemouth cruiserweight. “I’m absolutely fine and they’re just going to do some tests, but all is well… Another unbelievable night at the BIC.”
They had put each other through hell. Both were cut and took heavy shots throughout their war.
Billam-Smith’s trainer, Shane McGuigan, posted: “I thought we were in a Rocky film! What a fight, what a tough man Ryan was, CBS did what he had to do and showed his level in a gruelling fight.”
Zuffa Boxing boss Dana White, watching from ringside, also used the Rocky analogy.
Rozicki bombed and hacked his way forward throughout, and much of Billam-Smith’s best work was done with his back to the ropes or backing up, making the violence that followed unavoidable.
“The first time I ever met Rozicki, I was like, ‘Jesus, this guy’s like the meanest Canadian I think I’ve ever met,’” White told the media afterwards. “And what a hell of a fight. An incredible fight card from top to bottom, but the main event was like a Rocky movie.”
Billam-Smith held the advantage in skill, but Rozicki wouldn’t be denied. His night only ended when his corner withdrew him, bleeding from cuts over both eyes, after seven rounds.
“You’re like, ‘God damn, this is a tough, mean kid,’ so yeah, I couldn’t see him quitting,” White said.
“We sent them both to the hospital, they’re both getting checked out. I don’t play with that kind of stuff. I mean, the fight wasn’t even over yet and I got my guy, Dave Lewis [who handles the Zuffa Boxing UK operations], and I said, no interviews, no nothing. I want both these guys to go straight to the hospital. And if there’s anything even remotely serious for either guy, I want them both med-vac’d to London. No disrespect to Bournemouth, but I’d rather have them in London if there’s anything serious. In 30 years of the UFC, there’s never been a death or serious injury. And it’s important for me to keep that run alive, especially with boxing. A lot more traumatic brain injury things happen in the sport of boxing than they do in MMA so I’m crazy about the health and safety side of it.”
Of the winner, White said: “Not just tough, super talented, talented fighter. And not just a great fighter but a tough kid in his own right. He took some big shots. Rozicki’s a knockout artist, and CBS took some big shots from him, too. We thought it was going to be a great fight. Obviously, we know how talented CBS is, and we knew going in how tough and mean Rozicki was so it had all the makings of a great fight.
“Was I surprised to see him [Rozicki] come back out [for the seventh round after a tough sixth]? No, but I was happy to see his corner call the fight. I mean, the right move, great stoppage.”
Does White want to see Jai Opetaia face Billam-Smith next?
“We’ll see. I don’t know,” said White. “I tell all the boxing guys, I don’t make fights the night of the fights. But we’ll see. We’ll see how everything plays out.”
After seven rounds of brutal action inside the Bournemouth International Centre, Chris Billam-Smith and Ryan Rozicki were both sent to hospital as a precaution.
Neither had to spend the night there.
Rozicki was released at around 3am and was “doing well” at his hotel. Billam-Smith posted a picture of him back home with his youngest child on his social media.
“I have been taken to hospital but it’s just precautionary,” said the Bournemouth cruiserweight. “I’m absolutely fine and they’re just going to do some tests, but all is well… Another unbelievable night at the BIC.”
They had put each other through hell. Both were cut and took heavy shots throughout their war.
Billam-Smith’s trainer, Shane McGuigan, posted: “I thought we were in a Rocky film! What a fight, what a tough man Ryan was, CBS did what he had to do and showed his level in a gruelling fight.”
Zuffa Boxing boss Dana White, watching from ringside, also used the Rocky analogy.
Rozicki bombed and hacked his way forward throughout, and much of Billam-Smith’s best work was done with his back to the ropes or backing up, making the violence that followed unavoidable.
“The first time I ever met Rozicki, I was like, ‘Jesus, this guy’s like the meanest Canadian I think I’ve ever met,’” White told the media afterwards. “And what a hell of a fight. An incredible fight card from top to bottom, but the main event was like a Rocky movie.”
Billam-Smith held the advantage in skill, but Rozicki wouldn’t be denied. His night only ended when his corner withdrew him, bleeding from cuts over both eyes, after seven rounds.
“You’re like, ‘God damn, this is a tough, mean kid,’ so yeah, I couldn’t see him quitting,” White said.
“We sent them both to the hospital, they’re both getting checked out. I don’t play with that kind of stuff. I mean, the fight wasn’t even over yet and I got my guy, Dave Lewis [who handles the Zuffa Boxing UK operations], and I said, no interviews, no nothing. I want both these guys to go straight to the hospital. And if there’s anything even remotely serious for either guy, I want them both med-vac’d to London. No disrespect to Bournemouth, but I’d rather have them in London if there’s anything serious. In 30 years of the UFC, there’s never been a death or serious injury. And it’s important for me to keep that run alive, especially with boxing. A lot more traumatic brain injury things happen in the sport of boxing than they do in MMA so I’m crazy about the health and safety side of it.”
Of the winner, White said: “Not just tough, super talented, talented fighter. And not just a great fighter but a tough kid in his own right. He took some big shots. Rozicki’s a knockout artist, and CBS took some big shots from him, too. We thought it was going to be a great fight. Obviously, we know how talented CBS is, and we knew going in how tough and mean Rozicki was so it had all the makings of a great fight.
“Was I surprised to see him [Rozicki] come back out [for the seventh round after a tough sixth]? No, but I was happy to see his corner call the fight. I mean, the right move, great stoppage.”
Does White want to see Jai Opetaia face Billam-Smith next?
“We’ll see. I don’t know,” said White. “I tell all the boxing guys, I don’t make fights the night of the fights. But we’ll see. We’ll see how everything plays out.”
imagine meeting him swinging an axe