Jacobe Smith made a statement at UFC Houston on Saturday night, scoring an impressive victory over previously undefeated prospect Josiah Harrell. With the victory, Smith not only protected his momentum, but also handed the previously undefeated Harrell the first loss of his professional career.
Smith (12-0) said Harrell’s approach and physicality came as no surprise once the fight got underway. While he recognized his opponent’s strength, he believed that style ultimately worked to his advantage over the course of the fight.
“Everything he brought, I expected. He was stronger than I expected,” Smith told reporters, including Cageside Press, during his post-fight scrum.
“I knew it would reinforce his weakness because in these UFC fights you can’t waste energy or exert yourself like that. The lesson learned for him, I think.”
Smith was also asked about the timing of the stoppage after the finishing sequence. Confident in the impact of the attacks he carried out, he left little doubt as to how he believed the ending would play out.
“If anything, I might have gotten one or two shots, but it was stopped pretty accordingly. I got hands of fucking stone. He felt it,” he said.
“I’m definitely going to get that bonus!”
When asked if he thinks he can hang with the top names at 170 pounds, Smith didn’t hesitate in his answer. Based on his early training experiences, he expressed confidence in how far his game has come since turning pro.
“I don’t think so, I know. When I first started fighting in 2021, I was in AKA, San Jose, and one of my training partners was Islam Makhachev,” he said.
“I know where I am and I wasn’t even close to where I am now. So I know. I know I can compete.”
Watch the full post-fight scrum with Jacobe Smith above.
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