Jacobe Smith made his UFC debut on Saturday as part of the promotion’s first card of 2025, stepping into UFC Vegas 101 on short notice against Preston Parsons.
The undefeated Smith, who had won on the Contender Series in 2024, was standing in for Andreas Gustafsson in the welterweight bout. And he made his presence felt almost immediately.
As the fight began, it didn’t take long for Smith to land some powerful kicks. Though he showcased solid wrestling, he seemed content to strike, mixing up his attacks with speed and precision. Parsons then engaged in an exchange with Smith, giving him an opening, and Smith seized the opportunity. With a perfectly timed right-left combination, Parsons floored Smith, delivering a picture-perfect knockout in Jacobe Smith’s debut. The right cross/left hook was textbook, and Smith was clearly on a high following his first UFC victory.
In his post-fight interview, Smith made it clear that he’s aiming high. “Belal Muhammad, knock knock” he exclaimed, sending a message to the promotion’s welterweight champ. Smith might be a long, long way off from a title fight (and Muhammad has a date with Shavkat Rakhmonov), but you can’t blame him for trying.
Official Result: Jacobe Smith def. Preston Parsons by knockout (punches), Round 1, 1:13
