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UFC Vegas 114: Josh Emmett vs. Kevin Vallejos continues on the prelims with a fight between Elijah Smith and SuYoung You within the bantamweight division on Saturday. Take a look at our UFC odds series for our Smith-You prediction and pick.
Elijah Smith (9-1) has looked every bit the prospect as he rides a two-fight UFC winning streak. He earned a unanimous decision over Vince Morales in his UFC debut in February 2025, then delivered certainly one of the yr’s most jaw-dropping finishes, a brutal slam KO of Toshiomi Kazama in Round 1 at UFC Vegas 109, as he comes into his fight this weekend against SuYoung You.
SuYoung You (16-3) has been a machine contained in the Octagon. The South Korean bantamweight earned a unanimous decision over AJ Cunningham in March 2025, then followed it up with one other dominant unanimous decision win over Xiao Long in August 2025, as he comes into his fight this weekend against Elijah Smith.
UFC Vegas 114 Odds, courtesy of DraftKings.
UFC Vegas 114 Odds: Elijah Smith-SuYoung You Odds
Elijah Smith: -198
SuYoung You: +164
Over 2.5 rounds: -260
Under 2.5 rounds: +195
Why Elijah Smith Will Win
Elijah Smith holds every physical advantage heading into this matchup. At 5’9″ with a 71-inch reach, “Swift” is longer and larger than SuYoung You, who has been noted for his short reach and undersized frame relative to the bantamweight division.
Smith’s explosive, well-rounded skill set is a nightmare stylistic matchup for You. He’s a four-stripe purple belt in BJJ with 4 UFC-level knockout wins, meaning You may’t simply take this fight to the mat and expect to dominate.
You has a known stamina issue that becomes glaring within the third round, especially when opponents force scrambles and blend in wrestling. Smith’s explosive pace and relentless activity are precisely the tools to reveal that weakness late within the fight.
On the feet, You may be vulnerable in hook exchanges and is liable to counters. Smith’s freestyle striking style, sharp, unpredictable, and backed by knockout power, gives him an actual path to a stoppage on the feet.
At just 23 years old, Smith is a generational prospect who has already gone viral for one of the crucial violent finishes in recent UFC memory. His youth, athleticism, and growing confidence contained in the Octagon give him every reason to go away Saturday night with one other statement performance.
Why SuYoung You Will Win
SuYoung You has the seasoning and composure of a veteran, which might be decisive against a still-developing prospect like Elijah Smith. His 20-plus fight resume across regional titles and Road to UFC pressure bouts means he has seen more styles and high-leverage situations than Smith.
You’s grappling is just not just functional, it’s systematized, built around chain wrestling and sticky top control that steadily drains opponents. If he can get Smith down early and infrequently, he can smother the American’s explosiveness and force him right into a slower, more methodical fight.
Technically, You is much more defensively responsible than the brawlers Smith has styled on. His disciplined guard, jab-first approach, and luxury in longer fights give him the tools to frustrate Smith’s bursty, kill-or-be-killed entries.
Cardio over 15 hard minutes also trends in You’s favor. While Smith leans on big moments and high-variance sequences, You has repeatedly shown he can bank rounds with control time, ground-and-pound, and positional dominance.
If this becomes a tactical, grind-heavy contest moderately than a chaos war, the South Korean has a transparent path. By minimizing risk, leaning on his wrestling, and forcing Smith to fight off his back foot, You has every likelihood at hand “Swift” his second profession loss.
Final Elijah Smith-SuYoung You Prediction & Pick
This matchup seems like a classic clash between explosive upside and seasoned consistency. Elijah Smith brings the dynamism, youth and ending ability, while SuYoung You offers veteran savvy, structure and a grinding style that wins rounds over time.
Early, expect Smith to have the more eye-catching moments. His speed, length and power should allow him to win the vast majority of striking exchanges in space and threaten with momentum-swinging sequences that sway the judges.
Nevertheless, because the fight settles, You’s persistence with takedowns and clinch entries should begin to tax Smith’s legs and arms. Even failed shots can pin Smith to the fence, slow the pace and blunt the chaos that he thrives in.
Ultimately, the query is whether or not You may consistently turn defense into control without getting detonated by an enormous counter. The read here is that Smith’s athleticism and improved takedown awareness let him stay upright simply enough to land the cleaner, more damaging shots.
This must be a competitive, swingy fight where Smith wins the important thing moments and defends simply enough grappling to remain ahead on the cards. Elijah “Swift” Smith by competitive unanimous decision in a fight that cements him as a serious bantamweight prospect.
Final Elijah Smith-SuYoung You Prediction & Pick: Elijah Smith (-198), Over 2.5 Rounds (-260)