“Cobe” heads to Utah.
MMAmania.com The top UFC welterweight prospect has been confirmed by multiple sources today (Thursday, September 24, 2026). Jacob Smith steps in on nine days’ notice to take on the newcomer to the Octagon Bruce Whitehead at UFC 332 on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Smith (12-0) has quickly become one of the most violent prospects in the UFC’s lightweight division.
The undefeated contender gained steam Josiah Harrell UFC in Houston to earn a Night performance bonus (watch the highlights) earlier this year. Before that, Smith presented Niko Price (watch the highlights) and deleted Preston Parsons in just 73 seconds.
So far, Smith looks like exactly the type of aggressive pressure fighter the UFC loves to build.
Whitehead (8-2) steps into the Octagon just 13 days after being knocked out Ali Abouzalam Fury FC 124 in the main event.
Get ready so you don’t have to get ready, right?
“The Goose” is on a two-fight winning streak after being stopped by a current UFC fighter Victor Valenzuela in 2025. The 29-year-old has a 63 percent finish, three submissions and two knockouts.
Next week’s UFC 332 looks like this:
Natalia Silva vs. Wang Cong
Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Payton Talbott
King Green vs. Esteban Ribovics
Khaos Williams vs. Roberto Soldic
Ateba Gautier vs Roman Kopylov
Imanol Rodriguez vs. Alden Coria
Damian Pinas vs Andrei Pulyaev
Marcus McGhee vs Marcus McGhee Benardo Sopaj
Anthony Wint vs. Lucas Armand
Johnny Walker vs Mick Parkin
Rafael Dos Anjos vs. Alexander Hernandez
Marvin Vettori vs. Ismail Naurdiev
Court McGee vs. Eric Nolan
Jacobe Smith vs. Bruce Whitehead
Click for a schedule of upcoming UFC events here.
