Davey Grant vs. Elijah Smith
UFC Fight Night · November 7, 2026 · Meta Apex · Main Card 5:00 PM ET
The brief
- What kind of fight
- Veteran gatekeeper vs. rising prospect
- Finish likelihood
- Medium
- The line
- No line posted yet
- The stakes
- Bantamweight · Main Card
The read
Smith's youth, power and finishing instincts make him the live favorite against a veteran who has slowed but never really faded.
Grant's volume and durability have been enough to frustrate younger fighters before, and if he can drag this into the championship rounds his experience is a real factor.
A step-up litmus test either way for the 23-year-old.
The matchup
This pairs a 40-year-old UFC mainstay against one of the division's most promising young prospects.
Grant is a kickboxing black belt who has been on the UFC roster on and off since 2014 and has won two of his last three, while Smith is unbeaten in the UFC at 3-0 and riding an eight-fight win streak overall built on heavy top pressure and improving striking.
Tale of the tape
| 18-8 | Record | 10-1 |
| 40 | Age | 23 |
| 5'8" | Height | 5'9" |
| 69" | Reach | 71" |
| Orthodox | Stance | — |
| England | Country | United States |
| SBG Manchester | Team | Factory X |
The numbers
Career UFC averages. Red bar = statistical edge.
The fighters
Davey Grant 18-8
“Dangerous”
Davey 'Dangerous' Grant is an English bantamweight and TUF 18 finalist who has been on the UFC roster on and off since 2014, making him one of the division's oldest active fighters at 40. He is a kickboxing black belt who works the body and legs heavily at high volume, and has won two of his last three, most recently a decision over Adrian Luna Martinetti in April 2026. He now takes on rising 23-year-old prospect Elijah Smith in a clear veteran-gatekeeper test.
- WAdrian Luna Martinetti · Decision (unanimous)UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs. Zalal · April 25, 2026
- LCharles Jourdain · Submission (round 1)UFC Fight Night: de Ridder vs. Allen · October 18, 2025
- WDa'Mon Blackshear · Decision (unanimous)UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. de Ridder · July 26, 2025
Elijah Smith 10-1
“Swift”
Elijah 'Swift' Smith is a second-generation fighter out of Factory X and son of UFC veteran Gilbert Smith, still just 23. He mixes heavy top pressure and slam offense with improving striking, and his powerbomb knockout of Toshiomi Kazama went viral in 2025. He is unbeaten in the UFC at 3-0, riding an eight-fight win streak overall, and now faces veteran gatekeeper Davey Grant, the toughest name of his career so far.
- WSuYoung You · Submission (rear-naked choke)UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Vallejos · March 14, 2026
- WToshiomi Kazama · KO/TKO (slam)UFC Fight Night: Dolidze vs. Hernandez · August 9, 2025
- WVince Morales · Decision (unanimous)UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Rodrigues · February 15, 2025