Josiah Harrell Steps In on Five Days' Notice to Save Jacobe Smith Main Card Bout at UFC Houston
josiah harrell will make his long-awaited UFC debut after stepping in on five days' notice to replace a removed opponent on the main card in the welterweight (170-pound) slot. The late change reshapes a high-profile matchup between undefeated prospects and carries immediate implications for matchmaking, medical clearance and betting markets.
Development details — Josiah Harrell steps in
The matchup now pits Jacobe Smith (11-0) against Josiah Harrell (11-0) on the UFC Houston main card. Harrell accepted the fight with five days' notice and will compete at welterweight, filling the spot that was to go to another opponent. Smith, a Dallas native who stands 5-foot-10 with a 72-inch reach, has started his UFC tenure 2-0 in 2025 after earning a contract on DWCS and following with a first-round knockout and a submission win in the Octagon.
Harrell, listed at 5-foot-7 with a 67-inch reach, was previously slated to fight Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 290 in 2023 but that debut was delayed when he was diagnosed with the rare brain disease Moyamoya and required immediate surgery. He returned to competition in 2024 and compiled a four-fight winning streak in other organizations before receiving this short-notice call. Harrell’s record features six knockouts and four submissions, and the matchup will proceed pending all required medical examinations.
Odds markets reflect the late change: DraftKings lists Smith as the sizable betting favorite, a status driven by his decisive UFC wins and length advantage. Promoters have kept the bout at welterweight on the main card, preserving the slot’s structure while the replacement process concluded.
Context and escalation
Smith had originally been scheduled to face an aggressive striker in Seok Hyeon Ko but was forced to pivot when that opponent was removed. In his most recent start, Smith displayed an expanded skill set against veteran Niko Price, achieving the first submission of his career after damaging Price and taking his back to finish the fight. That performance reinforced Smith’s standing as a rapidly rising prospect in the division.
The escalation that produced Harrell’s arrival grew out of two linked factors: the sudden vacancy on the card and Harrell’s progression back to full competition after surgery. The medical intervention in 2023 interrupted Harrell’s initial path to the UFC, and his four straight wins in 2024 established the form that made him a viable short-notice replacement. What makes this notable is the convergence of a medical comeback and an urgent matchmaking need, producing a high-stakes debut under compressed timelines.
Immediate impact
The immediate consequence is that the main card retains a marquee welterweight matchup without cancellation. For Smith, the late opponent change demands tactical adjustments: analysts expect him to remain patient early, gauge distance and wait for openings rather than force exchanges, a game plan that has served him through two decisive UFC wins.
For josiah harrell, the outcome is potentially career-defining. If cleared by the promotions’ medical staff, the fight will mark his official UFC debut after the surgery that paused his earlier opportunity. The switch also affects corner planning, weight management and travel logistics on a five-day timeline, and shifts betting and promotional narratives in the run-up to fight night.
Promotional officials have maintained the bout at welterweight and kept it on the main card, preserving the event’s lineup while ensuring medical clearance is completed for Harrell. The replacement has already altered market and fan expectations, with Smith remaining the statistical favorite but facing an opponent whose recent run includes six knockouts and four submissions across his 11-0 record.
Forward outlook
The next confirmed milestones are the remaining medical examinations for Harrell and the scheduled main card date for UFC Houston. Pending medical clearance, Harrell will make his UFC debut; if he is not cleared, the bout would face further rearrangement. No additional dates or changes have been announced beyond the confirmation that Harrell stepped in on five days' notice to save the matchup.
Preparations now center on final medical sign-offs, weight confirmation and fight-night logistics. Both camps have only days to finalize game plans and adjustments. The matchup will be watched not only for its competitive stakes but for the procedural conclusion of Harrell’s comeback arc and Smith’s continued ascent in the division.
