Matt Smith is a talented wrestler and Renzo Gracie product, currently competing in the bantamweight division. Smith is good athlete who enters the sport with the reputation of being one of the top wrestlers New England has ever produced. A graduate of Timberlane Regional High School, Smith was a four-time New Hampshire State Wrestling Champion and four-time New England Champion in high school. After completing high school Smith went on to Penn State on a full Div. I wrestling scholarship where he was the number two ranked wrestler in the country. After recovering from a variety of injuries suffered during his time at Penn State, Smith transferred to Johnson and Wales where he finished his collegiate wrestling career as the number one ranked NCAA Div. III wrestler in New England at his weight division. During his collegiate career he twice earned All-American status (once at both the Div. I and Div. III levels), and also became a two-time National Champion Wrestler post-grad.

Smith is obviously a very accomplished amateur wrestler who possesses a wealth of experience on the mat as well as very sound technical wrestling skills. Smith isn't strictly your textbook double legger, as he's equipped with a wide variety of takedowns at his disposal. What's most impressive about Smith's wrestling is the beautiful way he transitions between his takedown attempts (ex. double leg shot, to single, to ankle pick) to try and secure top position on the mat. He shows very good top control and has proven difficult to keep on his back on the ground. Smith is an intelligent athlete who after being submitted in his pro fight made the decision to join the Renzo Gracie BJJ Academy where he continued working diligently at rounding out his grappling arsenal. Patient and methodical, Smith shows a good understanding of the positional ground game and will work at trying to better his positioning on the mat. He's displayed improving submission awareness over his career, and has become particularly fond of the guillotine choke. Smith works his ground and pound game methodically, choosing to control his opponent well before taking a chance to posture up and try to land his striking. Smith is a wrestler who's most comfortable from top position but he's shown improving proficiency in his guard, displaying active hips and quick armbar attempts. Smith's wrestling base and improving jiu jitsu game are a promising combination, but his technical ground game still requires attention and remains a work in progress.

A grappler first and foremost, Smith is still working on his striking. He's a quick athlete who throws a nice right cross, but technically his standup has a ways to go. Smith appears a little green on his feet and has a penchant for keeping his hands low and chin upright. Opponents are well aware of his wrestling background and will try to time his shot, often times catching him as he shoots in for a takedown attempt. Smith showed a lot of toughness in his bout with Pedro Gonzalez, but was also badly outclassed on his feet and should continue working on his standup game.