DWCS 72 winner Elijah Smith grateful to follow dad's footsteps to UFC: 'What a journey it's been'

LAS VEGAS – Elijah Smith made history at Dana White’s Contender Series 72.

Smith (7-1) earned a UFC contract Tuesday after he defeated Aaron Tau (8-1) by unanimous decision at the UFC Apex. Smith is the son of former UFC fighter Gilbert Smith, who made two appearances on “The Ultimate Fighter” and competed once officially in the UFC. Gilbert and Elijah Smith join Randy and Ryan Couture as just the second father-son duo in UFC history.

“I’m super happy and super grateful because I know how hard he worked to get this vision started and going,” Smith told MMA Junkie and other reporters Tuesday at a post-fight news conference. “My dad made his own gym back in 2009, Victory MMA, and to be his first fighter in the UFC, I know I made him proud tonight. I know that.”

Smith took the fight on two-and-a-half weeks’ notice against City Kickboxing’s Tau. While he’s overwhelmed with the historic moment, he knows the hard work starts now.

“It doesn’t stop here,” Smith said. “I understand that the road only gets tougher, but we only get better from here. So, to be the second (father-son duo), wow, what a journey it’s been these last four-and-a-half years.

“It’s been such a crazy, wild ride. I couldn’t even imagine something like this back in 2019. We’re here, I’m 22 years old, just turned 22, so this was a late birthday gift to myself.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for DWCS 72.