Jacobe Smith vs. Bruce Whitehead
UFC 332 · October 3, 2026 · Delta Center · Early Prelims 4:00 PM ET
The brief
- What kind of fight
- Undefeated prospect vs. short-notice debutant
- Finish likelihood
- High
- The line
- Smith -950 · Whitehead +637BetOnline
- The stakes
- Welterweight · Early Prelims
The read
Smith's power and finishing rate against UFC-level competition make him the clear favorite over a debuting opponent who has never faced this level of opposition.
Whitehead's own habit of ending fights early gives him a puncher's chance if he can land something in the opening minute, the way he has against regional competition.
This reads as a heavy favorite spot for Smith, with Whitehead's only real path being an early finish before the gap in experience shows.
The matchup
This late addition pairs an undefeated, fast-rising UFC prospect against a regional standout making the jump on short notice.
Smith has finished all three of his UFC opponents and has real power and length advantages, while Whitehead brings a real finishing habit of his own from four years grinding through Fury FC, with most of his stoppage wins landing inside the first minute.
The step up in competition for Whitehead is steep, and the turnaround is fast, which favors the more tested UFC commodity.
Tale of the tape
| 12-0 | Record | 8-2 |
| 30 | Age | — |
| 5'10" | Height | 5'11" |
| 72" | Reach | — |
| Southpaw | Stance | — |
| United States | Country | United States |
| Fortis MMA | Team | W4R Training Center |
The numbers
Career UFC averages. Red bar = statistical edge.
The fighters
Jacobe Smith 12-0
“Cobe”
Jacobe 'Cobe' Smith is a 30-year-old undefeated welterweight out of Fortis MMA in Dallas, Texas, who has finished all three of his UFC opponents. He knocked out Preston Parsons 1:13 into his short-notice UFC debut in January 2025, choked out Niko Price in June 2025, and stopped Josiah Harrell in the first round in February 2026. He steps in on short notice for UFC 332 against Octagon newcomer Bruce Whitehead.
Has never lost.
- WJosiah Harrell · KO/TKO (ground and pound)UFC Fight Night (Houston) · February 21, 2026
- WNiko Price · Submission (rear-naked choke)UFC 317 · June 28, 2025
- WPreston Parsons · KO/TKO (punch)UFC Fight Night (Vegas 101) · January 11, 2025
Bruce Whitehead 8-2
“The Goose”
Bruce 'The Goose' Whitehead is an 8-2 welterweight out of Conroe, Texas, who spent nearly four years fighting exclusively in the Fury FC regional promotion out of Houston, piling up first-round finishes along the way, including a June 2025 setback to Victor Valenzuela sandwiched between stoppage wins. A firefighter outside the cage, he takes his UFC debut on short notice, just 13 days after knocking out Ali Abouzalam in a Fury FC main event, against unbeaten prospect Jacobe Smith.
- WAli Abouzalam · KO/TKO (knee and punches)Fury FC 124 · September 20, 2026
- WJared McLoughlin · Decision (unanimous)Fury FC 111 · November 9, 2025
- LVictor Valenzuela · KO/TKO (knee)Fury FC 105 · June 22, 2025