UFC Houston delivered fireworks early on the preliminary card, but none burned brighter or more violently than the statement made by rising prospect Jacobe Smith on the foremost card. The undefeated phenomenon maintained his perfect record, brutally dispatching Josiah Harrell via first-round ground and pound in a performance that has all the welterweight division on notice.
JACOBE SMITH WITH THE FIRST ROUND FINISH!!! OH MY GOD #UFCHouston pic.twitter.com/08I4IStVRI
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) February 22, 2026
Smith entered the Octagon with undeniable hype, and it took him mere minutes to justify every ounce of it. From the opening bell, he established a suffocating pace, using his improving striking to make Harrell think twice about standing and trading on the feet. While Harrell attempted to search out his rhythm on the feet, Smith’s relentless forward pressure proved overwhelming. As Harrell attempted a body lock takedown, Smith used his momentum to flip over the aforementioned Harrell right into a dominant crucifix decision, and from there, the onslaught began.
Once in the highest position, Smith unleashed a terrifying display of controlled violence from his dominant crucifix, where he unleashed ground and pound that included heavy elbows and concussive strikes, completely putting Harrell out cold. Thankfully, after the onslaught was over and Harrell got here to, he was in a position to walk out of the octagon with the assistance of his corner.
The stoppage got here officially at the three:42 mark of the primary round, cementing Smith’s status as one of the dangerous rising stars within the organization, and it was the one knockout of the night up to now. For Josiah Harrell, the defeat is a harsh reminder of the unforgiving nature of the game. Despite his resilience, he was outmatched by a fighter who appears destined for the highest tier.
For Jacobe Smith, this victory is an enormous exclamation point on an already impressive resume. Remaining unbeaten, he proved that his striking is simply improving after each fight, and his grappling is amongst the very best within the division, and he’s one to observe within the welterweight division. The query now’s, who’s next for the highest prospect? Will Smith’s callout of Kevin Holland ruffle some feathers, and Holland take the bait? If not, who should the surging prospect fight next?