Undefeated UFC Finishers Collide This Weekend in Violent Thriller

Undefeated welterweight prospect Josiah Harrel gets the call up to the big leagues to compete at UFC Houston this weekend, but his Octagon debut opposite Jacobe Smith won’t be an easy one. 

UFC Houston’s Josiah Harrell Makes Octagon Debut Saturday

Following a phenomenal 11-fight winning streak on the regional scene, Harrell will attempt to make his mark on the grandest stage in mixed martial arts when he puts on the UFC gloves for the first time in UFC Houston. Other than a draw in his amateur debut, the Grove City Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy has remained flawless in his combat sports tenure.

Last seen in action in Prior Lake, MN at Mystic Lake Casino at LFA 224, Harrell had a lot to prove in his co-main event bout against the Kyrgyzstan destroyer Bekmyrza Dosmatov. Unbeaten in well over three years going into UFC Houston, Dosmatov had previously won his last eight fights in a row, which included three second round finishes. Possessing a strong grappling base, along with a stellar striking game, the Central Asian was viewed as a heavy favorite over his American adversary. 

The sports books reflected this same sentiment, with some websites listing Harrell as a whopping +260 underdog to his opponent. For much of their confrontation, Dosmatov dominated the pace with his superior wrestling, taking Harrell down at will and pelting him with ground-and-pound. Although it appeared his first loss was inevitable, “Muscle Hamster” surmounted an incredible comeback by reversing Dosmatov on the canvas, bombarding him with fierce strikes that forced the Kyrgyz’s corner to call for a stop to the contest. 

Demonstrating his heart and technical ability after being thoroughly tested, Harrell delivered an amazing comeback performance. Climbing to an incredible record of 11-0, he will not prepare to enter the cage as a bonafide UFC welterweight in his upcoming matchup at UFC Houston with the equally talented Jacobe Smith. 

UFC Houston’s Jacobe Smith Yet to Lose Since Joining Promotion in 2025

Also unblemished as an athlete at a similar 11-0, Smith holds a near 100 percent finishing rate ahead of UFC Houston, stopping all but two of his past opposition. Training out of the venerable Fortis MMA gym, “Cobe” first came to prominence as a young name competing on the Contender Series in late 2024, scoring an amazing second round knockout to earn his UFC contract. 

Recording two excursions to the Octagon last year, Smith has elevated himself as a UFC welterweight to watch, taking two stoppage victories over Preston Parsons and Niko Price. His scrap with the latter earned him the accolade of becoming just the second man to tap out Price in his near 30-bout career, making it the first time “The Hybrid” had been submitted since 2017.

Originally slated to duke it out with Seok Hyeon Ko in UFC Houston before the South Korean had to pull out because of a rib injury, Smith will now lock horns with Harrell in what will surely go down as a Fight of the Night contender. With a combined 19 finishes across both of their time as martial artists, the two men will battle it out to answer the question of who is the next great UFC welterweight prospect.