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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Mike Bohn

DWCS contract winner Elijah Smith explains why it’s ‘bittersweet’ to join UFC bantamweight division

Elijah Smith thinks there’s no better division in the UFC currently than bantamweight, and he’s keen to make his mark in it.

Smith (7-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is one of the newest members of the UFC roster after earning a contract on this past Tuesday’s episode of Dana White’s Contender Series. He earned a unanimous decision win over Aaron Tau in the featured bout of the card, which he took on roughly two weeks’ notice as a replacement.

It was a historic win for Smith, became he’s the second, second-generation fighter to join the UFC roster after his father, Gilbert Smith, made one octagon appearance in 2013.

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