LAS VEGAS – Elijah Smith beat Vince Morales with a unanimous choice Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC Battle Night time 251 on the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Have a look contained in the struggle with Smith, the son of former UFC fighter Gilbert Smith, who received his promotional debut.
Elijah Smith def. Vince Morales
End result: Elijah Smith def. Vince Morales by way of unanimous choice (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Up to date data: Smith (8-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Morales (16-9 MMA, 3-7 UFC)
Key stats: In a back-and-forth struggle that was nearly even from an odds standpoint heading in, Smith and Morales have been neck-and-neck in placing, takedowns and management time, too.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 15: (R-L) Elijah Smith punches Vince Morales in a bantamweight struggle throughout the UFC Battle Night time occasion at UFC APEX on February 15, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photograph by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Smith on the struggle’s key second
“I didn’t understand the uppercut that lower him clear. I knew it landed clear, however I didn’t understand it lower him. I heard (Daniel Cormier) say, ‘Oh, that lower him,’ after which after I began smelling the iron and the blood … once we lastly received as much as the toes and I noticed his face, I used to be like, ‘All proper, now let’s begin focusing on that. Let’s begin throwing out some jabs and following up a bit of.’
“… I need to say I used to be prepared for (his choke makes an attempt), however I saved discovering myself in these positions. In order that’s one thing that we’re undoubtedly going to return and work on. There was a when he had the anaconda – man, that was fairly tight. That was fairly tight at one cut-off date. I did wheeze a bit of. I considered tapping, however I simply couldn’t. I used to be like, ‘No, no – we’re going to powerful this out,’ as a result of I do know what it feels prefer to have an anaconda choke in … your arms are getting burned out. That’s what occurred to me on the Contender Collection. I felt his arms begin loosening up, and it simply takes a bit of little bit of house. As soon as I felt that, I used to be like, OK – we’re good. I simply needed to be actual calm in that place – actually calm.”
Smith on the sport plan
“On quick discover, I believe this time round we undoubtedly recreation deliberate the right recreation plan. We went over some code phrases and issues simply to guarantee that once we got here into this struggle, we have been profitable. I at all times felt like I used to be actually good at being coachable, whether or not it was my pops or someone else – simply being coachable. I discovered at a younger age enjoying soccer and wrestling the perfect athletes are those who’re in a position to be coached.”
Smith on what he needs subsequent
“2025, I need to no less than get two extra fights. I’ve at all times been a fairly lively fighter. If I don’t have any accidents, I need to go on the market and present all people Elijah ‘Swift’ Smith. I really feel like I haven’t proven that but, though this was my debut for the UFC. I need to present Elijah ‘Swift’ Smith and what meaning is I need to go on the market and get a end.”
To listen to extra from Smith, take a look at the video of the complete post-fight interview above.
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC Battle Night time 251.
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