Undefeated welterweight prospect Jacobe Smith is preparing for his second fight in three weeks as he steps in on short notice to face veteran Randy Brown at UFC Vegas 123. Smith accepted the bout on a dozen days’ notice after Carlos Leal withdrew, following his 92-second victory over Bruce Whitehead at UFC 332 last month.
Wrestling Background and Division Ambitions
Speaking to Uncrowned, Smith expressed zero hesitation about the quick turnaround, stating he is ready to fight anyone. A former standout collegiate wrestler at Oklahoma State, Smith has trained in California with Daniel Cormier, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Islam Makhachev, experiences that have significantly shaped his athletic confidence.
Smith told Uncrowned, “I’ve wrestled with Islam, and I will out-wrestle him, [and everyone else] from the champ all the way until to the last dude they signed, whoever he is. I’m out-restling every last one of them.” He added that without strikes, no one in the welterweight division would beat him in a purely wrestling scenario.
Facing Randy Brown at UFC Vegas 123
Smith acknowledges that Brown represents his toughest test to date due to his length and range. However, he is already familiar with Brown, who previously helped him prepare for a scheduled fight against Kevin Holland by providing sparring rounds.
While Smith is not currently ranked, a victory over Brown would position him for a matchup against a top-15 opponent in the stacked 170-pound division. He views his progression as inevitable, stating that he is well ahead of his peers and determined to execute his career plan.
Heading into Saturday’s co-main event slot, Smith’s primary challenge is managing his energy while waiting through an entire fight card, a departure from his usual early appearances on the preliminary cards.
