Former Ankeny Wrestler Wins UFC Bout in Las Vegas

Colton Smith, a former Ankeny wrestler, earned a six-figure UFC contract and a custom-built Harley Davidson motorcycle with a unanimous decision Saturday night over Canadian welterweight Mike Ricci in the 16th season of "The Ultimate Fighter," according to the Des Moines Register.

Smith scored a 30-27, 30-27, 30-26 victory at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

"It's a dream come true," Smith told the Register. "But now that I've hit this goal, it's on to the next goal."

Smith, 25, and an Army Ranger, relied on his superior wrestling skills to defeat Ricci, but he wants to become a better all-around fighter. Smith (4-1 MMA) is not sure when he will make his UFC debut.

"It's going to depend on my family and my trainer. We're going to sit down and talk," Smith told the newspaper. "I have some skills that I want to refine a little bit. I'm never satisfied with my performance."

Smith was the underdog Saturday, primarily because of Ricci's more extensive resume and his 5-inch reach advantage. By using the wrestling skills that he developed as a three-time state qualifier at Ankeny, Smith had Ricci (7-3) on his back for nearly the entire three-round bout, the newspaper said.

Afterward, Smith celebrated his victory with several members of his family as well as a large contingent of friends from the Army. Less than 24 hours later, Smith had received hundreds of Facebook and text messages, many of them from his friends back in Iowa, the paper said.