The octagon at UFC Vegas 109 witnessed a moment that transported combat fans back two decades. 22-year-old bantamweight Elijah Smith delivered a spectacular slam knockout that perfectly recreated one of mixed martial arts’ most iconic finishes.
The son of UFC veteran and Ultimate Fighter alum Gilbert Smith found himself locked in a ground battle with Japan’s Toshiomi Kazama early in the first round. What began as a tactical grappling exchange quickly escalated into something far more dramatic.
The action started when Kazama immediately clinched with Smith, briefly achieving back control before finding himself on the canvas. Smith seized the dominant position, unleashing a barrage of punches while Kazama demonstrated his submission skills from below. The Japanese contender managed to latch onto a leg and secured a toe hold, but Smith weathered the danger and continued his ground assault.
For several minutes, Smith maintained control while Kazama persistently hunted for submissions from his back. The turning point came when Kazama attempted a triangle choke – a decision that would prove costly.
Reminiscent of MMA legend Quinton “Rampage” Jackson’s famous 2004 finish against Ricardo Arona at PRIDE Critical Countdown, Smith hoisted his opponent high into the air before driving him down to the canvas with devastating force.
The impact was immediate and brutal. Kazama was rendered unconscious by the slam itself, though controversy arose when the referee failed to intervene quickly enough, allowing Smith to land additional strikes on an already defeated opponent. The sequence drew criticism from fans who felt the official should have stopped the contest immediately after the slam.
“From start to finish, I knew I had the ability to keep up with the guy on the ground,” Smith said following his victory, showing respect for his fallen opponent.
The knockout’s resemblance to Jackson’s legendary finish wasn’t lost on the former UFC light heavyweight champion himself. Jackson took to Instagram to acknowledge Smith’s achievement, writing “Yooooo @shakurdabag02 got that wolf in him too,” alongside a video comparing both slam knockouts.
Jackson’s original powerbomb knockout against submission specialist Ricardo Arona remains etched in MMA history. Joe Rogan famously declared that Jackson’s slam “may be the hardest anybody’s ever been hit.” For more than twenty years, no one had managed to replicate such a devastating powerbomb finish – until Smith’s performance at UFC Vegas 109.
The aftermath of Smith’s knockout raised serious medical concerns as Kazama remained unconscious for several minutes, prompting immediate medical attention. The severity of the knockout briefly interrupted the UFC Vegas 109 broadcast as officials provided updates on his condition.
Fortunately, backstage reporter Karyn Bryant later delivered positive news. It was revealed that all of Kazama’s CT scans came back negative, allowing him to be discharged from the hospital and return home.
The official result saw Elijah Smith defeat Toshiomi Kazama by knockout via slam at 4:10 of the first round. Smith’s victory improved his professional record to 9-1 and secured his second consecutive win in the UFC, establishing him as a bantamweight prospect worth watching closely.
