Undefeated Jacobe Smith Steps Up on Short Notice for UFC 332
The 12-0 welterweight prospect takes on Octagon newcomer Bruce Whitehead in Salt Lake City on nine days' notice.
Jacobe Smith is staying busy.
The undefeated welterweight prospect has been booked against Octagon newcomer Bruce Whitehead at UFC 332 on October 3 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, per MMA Mania. Smith accepted the fight on just nine days' notice.
Smith, 30, is 12-0 as a professional and has quickly established himself as one of the most dangerous prospects in the welterweight division. His recent run includes a knockout of Josiah Harrell that earned Performance of the Night honors, a submission of Niko Price, and a 73-second stoppage of Preston Parsons. The former NCAA wrestler can finish fights in every area.
Whitehead, nicknamed "The Goose," brings an 8-2 record and a 63 percent finish rate into his UFC debut. The 29-year-old is on a two-fight winning streak and knocked out Ali Abouzalam at Fury FC 124 just 13 days before this booking. His lone notable loss came to current UFC fighter Victor Valenzuela in 2025.
Smith was originally slated to face Kevin Holland at UFC Oklahoma City in July, but Holland withdrew from that matchup. Rather than wait for a bigger name, Smith opted to stay active and take the short-notice assignment.
UFC 332 is headlined by Alex Silva vs. Jing Nan Wang, with the Salt Lake City card shaping up as a solid fall event.
Jacobe Smith is doing exactly what a young prospect should do: say yes to every fight, stay active, and keep building momentum. Nine days' notice against an unknown Octagon newcomer isn't glamorous, but it keeps your name on the card and your skills sharp.
Smith at 12-0 with finishes everywhere is the kind of fighter that should terrify the welterweight division in about 18 months. He's got wrestling, he's got power, and he clearly doesn't care about the opponent's name. That mentality is what separates the guys who make it from the guys who sit on the sidelines waiting for the perfect matchup that never comes.
Whitehead is a live dog here. Fighting 13 days after a knockout win takes guts, but the step up in competition is massive. Smith should handle this, but credit to both guys for taking a fight on short notice when the UFC called.
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