Why a childhood punch convinced Jacobe Smith he belonged in the UFC: 'It changed me'

Smith, an undefeated UFC welterweight prospect, recounts how his violent childhood and his mother A fighter's upbringing often helps explain why they pursue such hazardous work, but Jacobe Smith's early family life is particularly convincing. His childhood and family stories read like scenes from an action movie. The welterweight prospect co-headlines UFC Fight Night on Saturday against veteran Randy Brown. It's a short-notice appearance, but fighting more experienced foes on a whim is nothing new to Smith. He's been beating up older kids since before he was in middle school. Smith, a sixth-grader at the time, was outside his childhood home when an older neighbor argued with his mother. The neighbor, a high school senior, said something that Smith couldn't forgive.

What happened next was probably the last thing the teenager expected. "My mom was telling him to get out of our yard or something," Smith told CBS Sports. "He told her, 'Shut up, [bitch].' I don't even remember. I took off running, and there was a stump on the ground. I jumped off of it and hit him. He fell in the yard and balled up, rolling back and forth. He was a guy who beat up my cousin, who is older than me and used to bully me, and got me tough. I don't know what made me