Davey Grant Faces Elijah Smith in Las Vegas
Veteran Briton Davey Grant meets American bantamweight Elijah Smith in the octagon on Saturday.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Mixed Martial Arts
Davey Grant, 40, is set to fight Elijah Smith in Las Vegas on Saturday. Grant has fought 16 times in the UFC and won nine of those bouts, while Smith, 24, has won all three of his UFC fights.
Why it matters
The bout pits a long-serving UFC veteran against a rising young bantamweight, highlighting the sport's longevity and the next generation of contenders. Grant is the longest-serving Briton in the UFC, making the matchup notable for British fans of the promotion.
Grant's nine wins from 16 UFC bouts compare with Smith's perfect three-for-three record in the promotion. The result will add to Grant's career totals, but the record of an undefeated 24-year-old against a 40-year-old veteran remains an open question.
The players
Davey Grant
A 40-year-old British mixed martial artist from Darlington who has competed in the UFC since 2013 and is the longest-serving Briton in the promotion.
Elijah Smith
A 24-year-old American bantamweight who debuted in the UFC last year and has won all three of his fights in the promotion.
The details
Grant, who is from Darlington, debuted in the UFC in November 2013 and has since suffered multiple injuries during his tenure. He has moved to Las Vegas with his wife and children, and says his family is his motivation to keep competing.
Timeline
November 2013: Grant makes his UFC debut.
Saturday: Grant fights Elijah Smith in Las Vegas.
Season Trajectory
Grant's 16 UFC fights place him well short of Michael Bisping's 29 and Leon Edwards' 19, the benchmarks British fans often use for the promotion's Britons. Saturday's result will shape how his late-career run compares with those figures.
The bout gives fantasy and betting audiences a direct matchup between a veteran with nine UFC wins and an undefeated newcomer. For viewers, the fight is scheduled for Saturday and will be broadcast from Las Vegas.
The takeaway
Longevity in the UFC depends on sustained performance and personal motivation, both of which Grant cites as reasons to keep fighting. Watching how a 40-year-old veteran handles a fast-rising 24-year-old offers a clear measure of his skills against the next generation.
What happens next
Grant and Smith meet in the octagon in Las Vegas on Saturday, November 7, 2026.
Further reading
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