(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Sierra High School graduate Elijah Smith recently landed a multi-fight contract with the UFC, the preeminent global MMA league. Harrison District 2 posted a congratulatory message announcing Smith's achievement on Wednesday, Sept. 18. Gilbert (left) and Elijah (right) Smith chatted after a training session at Victory MMA gym in Colorado Springs. Smith began training as an MMA fighter with his father, Gilbert Smith, a former UFC fighter, gym owner, and coach, during the COVID-19 pandemic after originally focusing on football. He made his professional debut at 19. PREVIOUS ARTICLE: Elijah “Swift” Smith fighting for UFC contract On Tuesday, Sept. 17, Smith fought in Las Vegas in front of UFC owner, Dana Smith. Smith defeated New Zealand's Aaron Tau by a unanimous decision with 29-28 scores across the board, according to UFC.com, and Smith earned the opportunity to sign a contract. "Elijah getting the opportunity to fight on the Contender series to potentially get a contract to UFC is just crazy and something we talked about; we thought maybe it's going to happen next year," Gilbert Smith, Elijah's father said to FOX21 in a previous interview. "We had no idea it was going to happen now." According to Elijah Smith's agent, he will likely make his official UFC debut by the end of the year, but the exact date of his next fight is still to be determined. FOX21 News has reached out for comments from Elijah Smith and Harrison D2 and will update this article when they are received.