Jacobe Smith has a new opponent for UFC Houston, but still faces a stiff challenge.
The UFC announced Friday that Josiah Harrell (11-0) is stepping in on a little over a week’s notice as a replacement for
an injured Seok Hyeon Ko to fight Jacobe Smith in a welterweight bout at UFC Houston next Saturday. The change marks Harrell’s long-awaited debut after he was originally signed to the promotion almost three years ago.
Harrell, 27, was originally booked to fight Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 290 in July 2023. However, a pre-fight medical revealed a rare brain disease and Harrell was forced to withdraw a day before the event. Harrell returned to action in 2025, going 3-0 (including a first-round submission of UFC veteran Melvin Guillard) and then keeping his hot streak going with a knockout of Bekmyrza Dosmatov at an LFA event in January.
“Muscle Hamster” has won all but one of his fights by knockout or submission.
Smith, also undefeated at 11-0, has impressed in two UFC appearances since being signed off of the Contender Series in 2024. The 30-year-old made his octagon debut with a 73-second knockout of Preston Parsons and then followed that highlight with a second-round submission of veteran Nico Price at UFC 317.
UFC Houston takes place at Toyota Center on Feb. 21. Former middleweight champion Sean Strickland headlines opposite red hot contender Anthony Hernandez.
