Stephen A. Smith expressed exceptional concern over Justin Gaethje's return to action following a particularly devastating knockout loss at UFC 300 against Max Holloway. Smith referenced a discussion with boxing champion Bernard Hopkins regarding the long-term physical and psychological toll certain knockouts can have, cautioning that fighters sometimes take years to properly recover. Considering Gaethje's particularly brutal knockout was recently resurfaced publicly by the UFC, Smith questioned Gaethje's readiness to perform effectively in his challenging upcoming bout against the dangerous Rafael Fiziev, implying a strong recommendation to avoid investing or betting on Gaethje given the circumstances surrounding his comeback after such a severe KO.