Elijah Smith Enters UFC Vegas 124 on Final Fight of His Contract

Elijah Smith has won all three of his UFC fights. He has finished the last two. On Saturday, he will still walk into the cage without a new deal waiting for him.

Smith told reporters at UFC Vegas 124 media day that his bantamweight fight with Davey Grant is the last bout on his current contract. He also said the promotion has not approached him about an extension.

"After this fight, I'm a free agent," Smith said, according to MMA Junkie. "I haven't been talked to about redoing my contract, but that's the last thing I'm worrying about. I worry about the fight."

The 24-year-old admitted the lack of talks surprised him, though he expects a convincing win over Grant to settle the question. That makes an already difficult fight unusually important. Smith is protecting an eight-fight winning streak and trying to secure his UFC future in the same 15 minutes.

A prospect with results, but no renewal yet

Smith's case for another contract is easy to understand. The UFC lists him at 10-1 overall with five knockouts and two submissions. He earned a unanimous decision over Vince Morales in his February 2025 debut, slammed Toshiomi Kazama unconscious six months later, then submitted SuYoung You with a rear-naked choke in March.

That is a clean 3-0 start with three different types of wins. The Kazama knockout also brought Smith a Performance of the Night bonus and the kind of replay that can move a young fighter up a card quickly.

Smith's rise has moved fast. The UFC profile says he turned professional in 2022 after a 5-0 amateur run. He is also the son of former UFC fighter and two-time The Ultimate Fighter cast member Gilbert Smith, so the business around a fight is not entirely new to him. Even so, this is the first time his own place on the roster has become part of the story.

The numbers behind his start are useful, but the range of those victories says more. Smith has already shown he can win a full decision, create a knockout from a clinch exchange and finish from the back. He has not needed one narrow route to stay unbeaten in the Octagon.

None of that guarantees an early extension. UFC contracts, matchmaking and roster decisions do not always move on the same timetable. Smith's public comments reveal only his side of the conversation. The promotion has not publicly explained why a new agreement was not completed before fight week.

Smith is not treating that uncertainty as a grievance. He said he was "surprised a little bit," then went straight back to the job in front of him. His stated plan is to avoid chasing a finish, fight like himself and let the opening come.

Davey Grant is a rough contract fight

Grant is a strange choice for anyone who needs a tidy, low-risk performance. The 40-year-old has been in the UFC since 2013, owns black belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and kickboxing, and has nine submission wins on his record. The UFC currently lists him at 18-8 after three consecutive victories.

He is also hard to discourage. Grant throws at a high pace, accepts ugly exchanges and has enough grappling experience to punish a rushed takedown or a careless scramble. Smith is younger, faster and more explosive, but those advantages do not remove the veteran's ability to make a fight uncomfortable.

The matchup should test Smith's patience as much as his athleticism. His slam against Kazama showed what can happen when he finds leverage. The submission of You showed he can change phases and finish on the mat. Against Grant, forcing either moment could create exactly the opening the veteran wants.

What changes after Saturday

A fourth UFC victory would leave Smith with strong leverage. He would have beaten a seasoned opponent, stayed unbeaten in the promotion and completed his existing deal with momentum. If Smith's description of his contract status is accurate, other promotions would have an obvious reason to call once any applicable post-contract rights are resolved.

A loss would make the conversation less predictable. Smith would still be a 24-year-old prospect with proven finishing ability, but he would no longer be negotiating from a perfect UFC record. That is the quiet pressure underneath his insistence that every fight matters.

Smith appears comfortable with the stakes. He told reporters he wants an emphatic win but knows he cannot manufacture one. That balance will matter against Grant. The best argument for a new contract is not a reckless chase for a highlight. It is another composed performance that gives the UFC no sporting reason to let him go.

UFC Vegas 124 takes place Saturday, November 7. The promotion is advertising Smith as he tries to remain unbeaten in the Octagon, while the fighter himself says the first negotiation of his next chapter will not begin until the final horn.