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Jacobe “Cobe” Smith defeated Niko “The Hybrid” Price via Round 2 Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) on June 28, 2025, at UFC 317 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Entering the Octagon as a -2500 betting favorite—the largest recorded odds advantage in UFC history—the undefeated prospect Smith successfully avoided a massive upset while securing the first submission win of his professional career.
Fight Overview
The welterweight preliminary bout featured a clash between the elite wrestling background of Oklahoma State All-American Jacobe Smith and the notoriously chaotic, unorthodox veteran style of Niko Price. While Smith dominated the positional control and ground-and-pound, Price’s legendary durability forced the heavy favorite to work harder than expected.
| Metric | Jacobe Smith | Niko Price |
|---|---|---|
| Total Strikes Landed | 73/101 | 46/76 |
| Significant Strikes | 46/74 | 34/61 |
| Takedowns Landed | 2/2 | 0/2 |
| Submissions Attempted | 1 | 0 |
| Official Result | Winner (4:03, R2) | Loser |
Round-by-Round Breakdown
Round 1: Smith Dominates But Gets Tested Late
Smith wasted no time asserting his wrestling dominance, securing an early takedown and pinning Price to the canvas. From top position, Smith unleashed a brutal barrage of ground-and-pound strikes that opened a severe cut on Price and nearly prompted a referee stoppage. [3]
Despite taking a heavy beating, Price remained dangerous off his back, constantly throwing hammerfists from bottom position that visibly marked up Smith’s face. As Smith expended significant energy and began to look slightly gassed, Price fought back to his feet late in the frame. Price stunned the crowd by rocking Smith with a sharp late-round uppercut and a short left hand, followed by a wild spinning backfist attempt. Smith weathered the late storm, landing a stiff left jab and a head kick just as the horn saved him from further damage.
Round 2: The Slick Transition and Finish
In the second round, Smith made the necessary adjustments to avoid Price’s chaotic striking exchanges. He quickly took the fight back to the ground, asserting heavy top control. Price attempted to defend and scramble away on the mat, but left his neck entirely exposed during a transition.
Smith took full advantage of the opening, showcasing a new layer to his game by slickly wrapping his arm around Price’s neck. He locked in a deep rear-naked choke, threw his hooks in to cinch the hold, and forced Price to tap out at the 4:03 mark of the second round.