UFC Houston: Jacobe Smith Finishes Josiah Harrell, Ref Criticized for Late Stoppage

"Smith has been touted as a future star by the promotion, who has put him front and center and media days early in his career. Harrell was actually signed by the UFC in 2023, but a brain scan detected an abnormality, and his career was iced for a time. After undergoing complex brain surgery and being on the mend for a year, he worked his way back to fighting, and back to the UFC, stepping up to replace Seok Hyeon Ko on short notice in the fight against Smith."

"Round one opened with Harrell shooting first, but Smith easily shrugged it off and immediately started finding success with heavy outside leg kicks. Smith mixed in a clean body kick and briefly got the fight to the mat before securing another takedown moments later, tossing Harrell down with authority. Harrell refused to settle on bottom and worked to create scrambles, clearly bothered by the damage to his lead leg. He shot for his own takedown and completed it, but Smith instantly reversed the position. From side control, Smith unleashed a barrage of brutal elbows. Harrell was out cold from the strikes, and the referee (Kerry Hatley) stepped in late to wave it off."

"Real late, and when he did, he physically shoved Smith with considerable emphasis to get him out of the way. Hatley appeared irked with Smith initially, but in reality, the call was late. Not a great call, and not a popular one online among fans. Added to some bad stoppage and a slow stoppage in Edwards-Cornolle, it was not a good night for officiating at UFC Houston."

Jacobe Smith and Josiah Harrell entered UFC Houston both undefeated at 11-0, arriving via very different career paths. Smith received heavy promotion early, while Harrell recovered from a 2023 brain-scan abnormality and complex surgery before returning to competition and stepping in on short notice. In the opening round Smith landed heavy outside leg kicks, a clean body kick, and secured multiple takedowns. Smith established top control and unleashed elbows from side control that rendered Harrell unconscious. The referee stepped in late, prompting online criticism and contributing to an overall negative assessment of officiating at the event.

Read at Cageside Press