Colton Smith

Early life Smith started wrestling at an early age. During high school, Smith wrestled for Ankeny High School at 145 pounds. Smith graduated high school in 2005 and enlisted in the Army.

Army career Smith, a Combat infantry soldier, earned airborne, ranger, and sapper tabs and has served tours in Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Afghanistan. While assigned to Echo Company, 4th Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment (Old Guard), Smith earned his Expert Infantryman Badge. Smith currently serves as the chief Combatives Instructor at III Corps and Fort Hood. Smith has since been selected for promotion to Sergeant First Class and expects to refocus on Army training. The Army Times admitted, after criticizing Smith's recent MMA performances, that they received backlash from their vocal readership indicating Smith's popularity among fellow servicemembers.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career Smith started his career with a 2–1 record, including a win in M-1 Challenge. Smith trained Brazilian Jiujitsu under Relson Gracie earning his purple belt and developed his MMA skill under Lloyd Irvin and Vanguard Gym in Manassas, Virginia.

The Ultimate Fighter Smith was selected as a cast member for The Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson. He had to receive special permission in order to participate in the reality series during active duty.

Smith faced Robert Whittaker on May 25, 2013 at UFC 160. He lost the fight by TKO in the third round.

Smith next faced Michael Chiesa in a lightweight bout on November 6, 2013 at UFC Fight Night 31. He was defeated via rear naked choke in the second round.

Smith faced promotional newcomer Carlos Diego Ferreira on June 28, 2014 at UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Stephens. He lost the fight via a modified rear-naked choke submission, and was released from the promotion shortly after.

Post-UFC Eight months after his last UFC fight, Smith returned to compete on the local circuit where he picked up two victories in the Rocks Xtreme MMA promotion.

World Series of Fighting On August 20, 2015 it was announced that Smith signed with the World Series of Fighting. He made his eventual debut on October 17, 2015 at WSOF 24 against Washington Da Silva. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Grappling On July 22, 2013, Colton Smith competed in a no gi super fight against Carlos Diego Ferreira at the American Grappling Federation's Southern Regionals. Ferreira won the match by points.

He is scheduled to headline “Heroes on the Mat,” grappling organization show, June 28, 2026, in Manassas, Virginia.

Personal life Smith has three children.

He runs his own MMA gym, Enlisted Nine Fight Company, in Fredericksburg, Stafford County, Virginia and fledging lifestyle brand Enlisted Nine Fight Company partnered with Veteran Clothing giant, NineLine Apparel.

He is a third degree black belt under John Ouanno of Tsunami Jiu Jitsu.

Accomplishments Ultimate Fighting Championship Ultimate Fighter 16 Winner The Ultimate Fighter 16 Fight of the Season

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Sean Brady Decision (unanimous) Shogun Fights: Florida

Hollywood, Florida, United States Win

Joseph Valadez Decision (unanimous) OCFN: Honoring America's Warriors

Weatherford, Oklahoma, United States Win

Washington Da Silva Decision (unanimous) WSOF 24

Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States Win

Marcus Andrusla TKO (punches) Rocks Xtreme MMA 14

Harker Heights, Texas, United States Win

Evan Cutts Decision (unanimous) Rocks Xtreme MMA 12

Harker Heights, Texas, United States Loss

Carlos Diego Ferreira Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Stephens

San Antonio, Texas, United States Loss

Michael Chiesa Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC: Fight for the Troops 3

Fort Campbell, Kentucky, United States Loss

Robert Whittaker TKO (punches) UFC 160

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Mike Ricci Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Steve Montgomery KO (punch) Championship Fighting Alliance 5

Coral Gables, Florida, United States Win

Walter Coles TKO (submission to punches) Demolition Combat

Winchester, Virginia, United States Win

Brian Nielson Submission (rear-naked choke) M-1 Challenge 24: Damkovsky vs. Figueroa

Norfolk, Virginia, United States Mixed martial arts exhibition record Win

Jon Manley Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Igor Araujo Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Eddy Ellis Decision (Majority) The Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Jesse Barrett Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Amateur mixed martial arts record Win

Gary Wilkins TKO (punches) Barbarian Fight Club - 2011 Matinee

Fredericksburg, Virginia, United States Loss

Chad Malone Decision (split) Operation Octagon 11

Sterling, Virginia, United States Win

William Bookwalter Submission (rear-naked choke) Operation Octagon 9

Sterling, Virginia, United States Win

Jarreau Mobley Submission (rear-naked choke) Operation Octagon 8

Manassas, Virginia, United States Win

Cody Toy Submission (anaconda choke) Operation Octagon 5

Manassas, Virginia, United States Win

Rob Wine TKO (punches) Gladiator Fight Club 2 - Call to Glory

Winchester, Virginia, United States