Elijah Smith says he is open to exploring free agency after surprisingly not being offered a contract renewal ahead of his win over Davey Grant. Smith said he is "100% happy in the UFC" but wants to see what else is out there and who values him the most.
Elijah Smith says he is open to testing free agency after the UFC did not offer him a contract renewal before his win over Davey Grant, a decision he described as a surprise. Ariel Helwani reported the comments.
Smith, who maintains he is "100% happy in the UFC," said he simply wants to see what else is out there and find out who values him the most.
The timing makes the situation notable. On November 7 at UFC Fight Night: Cortes Acosta vs. Walker, Smith stopped Grant by first-round KO/TKO. It was his third straight win inside the UFC's recorded fights, following a second-round submission of SuYoung You in March 2026 and a first-round knockout of Toshiomi Kazama in August 2025.
Smith's profile
Smith is 24 years old with an 11-1 record. The Orthodox fighter stands five-foot-nine with a 71-inch reach. His grappling numbers stand out: he averages 2.98 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, while landing 4.18 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. Two of his last three recorded wins came by stoppage on the feet, and one by submission.
Grant's side of the result
Grant, a 40-year-old Englishman from Syndicate MMA, is 18-9. He had won his previous recorded bout, a unanimous decision over Adrian Luna Martinetti in April 2026, after losing by first-round submission to Charles Jourdain in October 2025. Grant lands 5.58 significant strikes per minute at 45 percent accuracy, a higher output than Smith, but the younger man's finish came early. The 16-year age gap between the two is exact: 24 against 40.
Why it matters
- Smith is coming off a knockout win over a veteran with 27 professional fights, which strengthens his negotiating position.
- His comments suggest the UFC has not yet moved on a new deal, leaving the door open to other offers.
- At 24 with a 2.98 takedown average and a finishing record, he is the kind of young prospect rival promotions could pursue.
Smith did not say he intends to leave, and he framed his openness to free agency as a way of gauging his market value rather than a desire to exit the promotion.
