Jacobe Smith favored as Josiah Harrell steps in on five days' notice for UFC Houston
jacobe smith arrives at UFC Houston as a sizable betting favorite after going 2-0 in his first UFC appearances in 2025, while Josiah Harrell will make a last-minute debut stepping in on five days' notice to save the welterweight main card bout.
Jacobe Smith's fast start in the UFC
Smith, an 11-0 prospect from Dallas, Texas, earned his UFC contract on DWCS with a knockout and followed with a first-round knockout and a submission win in his first UFC action, leaving him 2-0 inside the promotion so far in 2025. The 5-foot-10 fighter with a 72-inch reach showed a new wrinkle against Niko Price when he damaged Price, took the back and secured the first submission of his UFC career, demonstrating both one-strike knockout power and developing grappling finishing ability.
Harrell's comeback: Moyamoya diagnosis to five days' notice
Josiah Harrell, also 11-0, fills the spot on the main card after being sidelined by a rare brain disease, Moyamoya, that required immediate surgery following an original booking to fight Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 290 in 2023. Harrell returned to competition in 2024, posted four-straight victories outside the promotion, and brings a compact 5-foot-7 frame with a 67-inch reach into the welterweight matchup.
Styles clash and immediate stakes
The matchup shifts the expected style for Smith: he had prepared for an aggressive striker in Seok Hyeon Ko but must now adapt to Harrell, a measured striker credited with six knockouts and four submissions on his record who has forced opponents' corners to stop fights with persistent pressure. Smith's game plan, his recent performances, centers on precise striking and patience — waiting for opponents to over-extend so he can land a finishing blow — while Harrell brings durability and a willingness to fight on the mat if needed.
Pending all of Harrell's medical examinations, the bout will represent a momentous UFC debut for a fighter who returned from surgery and rebuilt his record with four wins in 2024. The change in opponents also preserves the Main Card slot at welterweight for UFC Houston, keeping the scheduled fight order intact for that event.
What to watch: jacobe smith's ability to adjust from preparing for Seok Hyeon Ko to facing a short-notice, durable opponent; whether Smith leans on his knockout tools or looks to recreate the back-takedown sequence that produced his recent submission; and whether Harrell can translate his stoppage power and measured striking into a debut victory on five days' notice.
The fight remains on the UFC Houston Main Card, and officials have said Harrell must clear medical examinations before the debut is confirmed. The next confirmed milestone is the scheduled UFC Houston event, where this welterweight matchup will proceed if medical clearance is granted.
