LAS VEGAS – Elijah Smith made historical past at Dana White’s Contender Sequence 72.
Smith (7-1) earned a UFC contract Tuesday after he defeated Aaron Tau (8-1) by unanimous determination on the UFC Apex. Smith is the son of former UFC fighter Gilbert Smith, who made two appearances on “The Final Fighter” and competed as soon as formally within the UFC. Gilbert and Elijah Smith be a part of Randy and Ryan Couture as simply the second father-son duo in UFC historical past.
“I’m tremendous joyful and tremendous grateful as a result of I understand how laborious he labored to get this imaginative and prescient began and going,” Smith advised MMA Junkie and different reporters Tuesday at a post-fight information convention. “My dad made his personal health club again in 2009, Victory MMA, and to be his first fighter within the UFC, I do know I made him proud tonight. I do know that.”
Smith took the combat on two-and-a-half weeks’ discover towards Metropolis Kickboxing’s Tau. Whereas he’s overwhelmed with the historic second, he is aware of the laborious work begins now.
“It doesn’t cease right here,” Smith mentioned. “I perceive that the highway solely will get more durable, however we solely get higher from right here. So, to be the second (father-son duo), wow, what a journey it’s been these final four-and-a-half years.
“It’s been such a loopy, wild trip. I couldn’t even think about one thing like this again in 2019. We’re right here, I’m 22 years outdated, simply turned 22, so this was a late birthday present to myself.”
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