UFC bantamweight Elijah Smith fights Davey Grant as free agency looms
The gist
UFC bantamweight Elijah Smith faces British veteran Davey Grant on Saturday, then becomes a free agent.
Smith is 3-0 in the UFC but says the promotion never offered him a new deal.
How it unfolded
- Feb 15, 2025Smith fought Vince Morales in a bantamweight bout at UFC Fight Night at UFC APEX in Las Vegas.
- Aug 9, 2025Smith knocked out Japan's Toshiomi Kazama in a bantamweight fight at UFC Fight Night at UFC APEX in Las Vegas.
- Mar 14, 2026Smith earned a second-round submission win over South Korea's SuYoung You at UFC Fight Night at Meta APEX, moving to 3-0 in the UFC and 10-1 overall; a hand injury needing surgery then sidelined him.
Key terms
- bantamweight
- A mixed martial arts weight class grouping fighters around 126–135 pounds, varying by organization.
- free agent
- A professional athlete who is not under contract with any team and is free to sign with another.
- main card
- The list of matches scheduled for a combat-sport event, including a main event and undercard bouts.
Source: Wikipedia