{"id":960769,"date":"2026-11-11T16:34:11","date_gmt":"2026-11-11T16:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/960769\/"},"modified":"2026-11-11T16:34:11","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T16:34:11","slug":"rising-star-reveals-surprising-new-ufc-contract-policy-after-undefeated-ufc-run","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/960769\/","title":{"rendered":"Rising Star Reveals Surprising New UFC Contract Policy After Undefeated UFC Run"},"content":{"rendered":"

It appears that the UFC has started taking a bit of an unexpected approach with contract negotiations for some of the promotion\u2019s less-established names. <\/p>\n

Following visits to Edmonton and Abu Dhabi<\/a>, the UFC returned home to Las Vegas for back-to-back UFC Fight Night events at the Meta APEX facility the last two weekends. <\/p>\n

The world\u2019s leading MMA promotion is back on the road again this week, as New York City\u2019s Madison Square Garden is set to host a stacked UFC 334 card that features two championship bouts<\/a> at the top of the bill. <\/p>\n

UFC 334 Follows Lackluster UFC Fight Night Events in Las Vegas<\/p>\n

Most MMA fans have had UFC 334 circled on their calendars for months, especially given that the two most recent UFC cards in Las Vegas weren\u2019t exactly the most star-studded offerings from the promotion.<\/p>\n

\"Ciryl<\/p>\n

Ciryl Gane reacts after a win against Alex Pereira (not pictured) during UFC Freedom 250 at White House South Lawn. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

Last Saturday\u2019s UFC Vegas 124 event<\/a> also underwent a significant short-notice change, as the original main event between Gabriel Bonfim and Sean Brady fell through before the UFC quickly threw together a new heavyweight main event<\/a> featuring Johnny Walker and Waldo Cortes-Acosta. <\/p>\n

\"Johnny<\/p>\n

Johnny Walker (red gloves) reacts after the fight against Mick Parkin (blue gloves) during UFC 332 at Delta Center. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

The two headliners ended up taking home \u201cFight of the Night\u201d honors for a scrap that saw Walker knock out Cortes-Acosta midway through the third round, and the main card for UFC Vegas 124 also saw bantamweight Elijah Smith secure a \u201cPerformance of the Night\u201d bonus for knocking out longtime UFC veteran Davey Grant<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Elijah Smith Reveals Wasn’t Offered New UFC Contract Before Davey Grant Fight<\/p>\n

Now 4-0 in the UFC, Smith revealed this week that the Grant matchup was the last fight on his current deal and that the UFC apparently isn\u2019t always looking to try and extend unranked fighters prior to the completion of their existing contracts.<\/p>\n

BANTAMWEIGHTS BE ON WATCH \ud83d\udc40<\/p>\n

Elijah Smith finds the IMPRESSIVE finish early in RD1!<\/p>\n

[ #UFCVegas124<\/a> is LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus<\/a> ] pic.twitter.com\/Sf5v8IffcU<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 UFC (@ufc) November 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI knew that this was the last fight of my contract, and I was always told that we would probably renew a contract right before the last fight,\u201d Smith explained to Ariel Helwani<\/a>. \u201cThat didn\u2019t happen. My manager got back to me, and he said \u2018It\u2019s something that they haven\u2019t done before, and they\u2019re not doing anybody\u2019s contracts that\u2019s outside of the Top 15.\u2019 Just like everybody else, I was surprised. I was coming off of two finishes, I\u2019m young, I feel like I\u2019m marketable, and I\u2019m an exciting fighter. Fans wanna see me fight. So yeah, I was super surprised.\u201d <\/p>\n

Will the UFC Give Elijah Smith a New Deal After 4-0 Run?<\/p>\n

Although he wasn\u2019t offered a new deal ahead of the Grant fight, it would be a surprise to see the UFC not try and re-sign Smith given the success he\u2019s had in the Octagon thus far. <\/p>\n

Following a 5-0 amateur run, Smith turned pro in 2022 and knocked out back-to-back opponents before suffering what stands as his lone career loss at Fury FC 76 to kick off 2023. <\/p>\n

\u201cSwift\u201d rebounded from that setback with four-straight wins to earn a spot on Dana White\u2019s Contender Series, where he took a unanimous decision over the formerly-undefeated Aaron Tau to secure a UFC contract. <\/p>\n

HE’S FOR REAL \ud83e\udd29<\/p>\n

Elijah Smith stays perfect in the UFC with a THUNDEROUS RD1 knockout!<\/p>\n

[ #UFCVegas124<\/a> is LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus<\/a> ] pic.twitter.com\/nk3EbSbxqb<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 UFC (@ufc) November 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

After going the distance with Vince Morales in his UFC debut, Smith submitted back-to-back opponents to kick off what is now a three-fight streak of finishes that closed out his initial deal with the UFC. <\/p>\n

\"\"Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow<\/a>