Daniel Cormier once predicted Khabib Nurmagomedov’s successful future in the UFC. Later, Khabib became one of the greatest of all time in the sport. It seems Cormier believes in one other fighter after the conclusion of Dana White’s Contender Series 73 event. Not only Cormier but even UFC CEO Dana White seemed impressed by young prospect Jacobe Smith’s fight.
The recent DWCS fight night saw several exceptional performances. Jacobe Smith’s stellar performance was one of the standouts. As such, it even earned him a UFC contract. Speaking to media members after the show, Dana White revealed that Daniel Cormier has been gushing over Smith. White said Cormier hasn’t been this complimentary of a newcomer since Khabib Nurmagomedov first signed with the UFC.
When we didn’t really know Khabib, Cormier could not stop talking about Khabib. He’s like, ‘I’m telling you, wait until this guy bursts onto the scene. Wait until this guy does this, wait until this guy does that,’ and that’s how he’s talking about Jacobe. So, we will see.
Dana White via DWCS 74 presser (Check from 3:15)
Jacobe Smith faced off against Christien Savoie. Smith was a heavy favorite in the betting odds and lived up to expectations. He dominated Savoie with his superior wrestling and secured a second-round TKO victory. Dana White seemed impressed with how Smith utilized his strengths, and Cormier even saw shades of Khabib Nurmagomedov in his performance.
This was a sweet breakdown by Jacobe Smith. But if you do this in a gym, you’re getting kicked out. pic.twitter.com/Q6Mtxnidj1
— RJ Clifford (@RJcliffordMMA) October 2, 2024
The former UFC lightweight champion was known for his exceptional wrestling skills. Throughout his illustrious career, Nurmagomedov dominated numerous opponents with his wrestling, much like Jacobe Smith did in his DWCS fight. Many people, including former two-division champion Daniel Cormier, look forward to seeing Smith fight in the UFC.
Do Jacobe Smith and Daniel Cormier have a common connection between them?
Smith, 28, excelled as an All-American at Oklahoma State University in 2018. Daniel Cormier mentored Smith after his collegiate wrestling career at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) in San Jose, California. Following that, Smith relocated to Dallas to receive training at Fortis MMA under the guidance of coach Sayif Saud.
Smith achieved All-American status in 2018 at OSU, finishing eighth at 174 pounds and winning the Big 12 championship twice. He had a record of 49-13 as a wrestler for the Cowboys. Smith moved to Stillwater from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, where he won the NJCAA national championship twice. He also won a state championship at Muskogee High School.
Jacobe Smith’s presence adds to the strong Cowboy legacy in UFC history. OSU has produced more UFC champions than any other school in the country, including two in Cormier and Randy Couture. Smith’s current MMA record is 9-0 after the win Tuesday night. That being said, now it remains to be seen how much he further excels in his career.
