“Statement That I Needed” – Elijah Smith Looks Back At His Slam KO Victory At UFC Vegas 109

The UFC on has seen some wild finishes over the years, but slam knockouts remain incredibly rare. Most fighters who attempt these wrestling style moves end up gassing themselves out or worse, getting submitted while trying to show off. It takes perfect timing, incredible strength, and a bit of luck to pull off something that spectacular. The UFC has witnessed only a handful of truly memorable slam finishes, with Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson’s legendary powerbomb against Ricardo Arona in PRIDE still standing as the gold standard for devastating slams.

22 year old Elijah Smith just joined that exclusive club at UFC Vegas 109. The son of former UFC fighter Gilbert Smith had been building momentum in the bantamweight ranks, but needed something special to announce his arrival as a genuine contender. His clash with Toshiomi Kazama on Saturday night at the UFC APEX provided exactly that opportunity. What followed became an instant classic that had fans in awe!

Elijah Smith Joins The Exclusive Club With Rare KO

Smith’s path to victory started like most bantamweight scraps. Both fighters trading strikes and feeling each other out. Kazama looked comfortable early on, using his grappling skills to control exchanges and search for openings. Midway through the opening round, the Japanese fighter saw his chance and went for a triangle choke from his back. It seemed like a smart tactical decision against Smith’s aggressive striking style. Most fighters would have defended the submission attempt on the ground, working to escape or counter with their own grappling.

But Smith had different plans entirely. Instead of playing Kazama’s ground game, he simply lifted his opponent high into the air and brought him down with devastating force. The impact knocked Kazama unconscious instantly, creating a highlight reel for decades. The referee had to wave off the fight immediately, though Smith managed to land a few extra shots before officials could intervene. The official time was 4:10 of the first round.

Elijah Smith Feels That This Was A Statement Victory

During the post-fight press conference, Smith made it clear this victory meant more than just another win on his record. He emphasized that this knockout served as the statement he needed to make in the division. The bantamweight ranks are absolutely stacked with killers, and breaking through requires something special that catches Dana White’s attention. Smith knew a routine decision victory wouldn’t move the needle much in his career trajectory.

Elijah Smith reacts to his insane slam KO at #UFCVegas109.

"This was the statement that I needed." pic.twitter.com/BwqtiTZBRq
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) August 9, 2025

This spectacular finish changes everything for the young fighter’s future prospects. He now holds a 2-0 UFC record with both wins coming by knockout. This establishes him as one of the most exciting prospects in the entire division. The performance will likely earn him a significant bump up in competition quality for his next outing. Smith understands that better opponents mean bigger paychecks and more exposure, but they also bring much greater risks. His confidence remains sky high though, and he’s already calling for more elite opponents to test his skills against them.

Elijah Smith

Toshiomi Kazama

UFC vegas 109

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!