Jacobe Smith lived up to the hype and sent a message to the entire welterweight division with a memorable UFC debut on Saturday night.
The blue-chip prospect improved to 10-0 in mixed martial arts at the professional level with a highlight knockout of Preston Parsons on the preliminary card of the first Fight Night event of the year, taking him just 73 seconds to end the bout.
“Throw straight, throw easy, don’t throw hard, and just have fun,” Smith said after his win before current 170-pound champion Belal Muhammad announced. “This is my house. Thanks Dana White for the opportunity but this is my house. Belal, knock knock.”
Smith was one of several Dana White’s Contender Series alumni who competed Saturday at UFC Apex in Las Vegas in the first event in nearly a full month.
The soon-to-be 29-year-old has an excellent basic wrestling base, trains with the respected Fortis MMA team and is quickly becoming known for the power he has in his hands.
Smith patiently landed a left hook at the end of a combination that put Parsons down, and Smith said afterward that he plans to “keep it smart, keep it by the books and thank God, keep the healing energy going,” as he continues to improve. .
Speaking of knockout power, Smith’s fellow Season 8 Contender Series graduate Marco Tulio added to his highlight reel with a first-round TKO of Ihor Potieria.
Tulio walloped Potieria with a punishing combination that started on the feet and ended on the mat to improve to 13-1.
Potieria, who is 2-6 in his UFC career, had suffered multiple fouls, including a damaging low blow earlier in the round.
Fatima Kline looked solid in her return to 115 pounds, putting away Victoria Dudakova with a late second-round TKO after losing as a pro for the first time last July when she faced Jasmine Jasudavicius at 125 pounds.
Felipe Bunes picked up the first submission win of 2025 with a nice armbar of Jose Johnson in the preliminary match.
Bunes attacked Johnson’s right arm from several angles after a frantic scramble and eventually secured the tap.
Nurullo Aliev improved to 10-0 as a pro when he returned to action for the first time in roughly 23 months, winning a unanimous decision over Joe Solecki.
Thiago Moises, Ernesta Kareckaite and Bruno Lopes also took wins in the preliminaries. Official results from the preliminary card can be seen HERE.
A five-round strawweight rematch between Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas featured in the main event.
