5 Things You Might Not Know About Jai Herbert

Jai Herbert has grown accustomed to uphill climbs in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

The 33-year-old Englishman will take his latest turn as an underdog when he faces the undefeated Ilia Topuria in a UFC Fight Night 204 lightweight attraction on Saturday at the O2 Arena in London. Herbert has rattled off seven victories over his past nine outings but owns a 1-2 record inside the Octagon. He last competed at UFC Fight Night 196, where he disposed of Khama Worthy with punches in the first round of their Oct. 23 pairing.

As Herbert moves ever closer to his date with Topuria, here are five things you might not know about him:

1. He was a late arrival.

Herbert did not make his professional mixed martial arts debut until the age of 26. He put down Omid Muhammadi with punches 22 seconds into the second round of their Full Contact Contender 12 encounter on March 28, 2015. Herbert has procured more than half (six) of his 11 career victories after he turned 30.

2. Heights are not an issue.

The Wolverhampton, England, native once worked as a scaffolder, erecting temporary platforms to allow for construction and renovation of structures of considerable stature. According to Indeed.com, the average salary for a scaffolder in the United States sits close to $45,000 a year.

3. He trades in precious metals.

Herbert is one of 14 men who have held the Cage Warriors Fighting Championship lightweight title. Paul Sutherland, Alexandre Izidro, Kenneth Rosfort, Matt Veach, Ivan Musardo, Conor McGregor, Steven Ray, Ivan Buchinger, Chris Fishgold, Soren Bak, Mason Jones, Agy Sardari and Joe McCoolgan are the others. Herbert captured the 155-pound championship when he wiped out Jack Grant with third-round punches at Cage Warriors 106 on June 29, 2019, made one successful defense and then vacated the throne to sign with the UFC in 2020.

4. He rarely employs the judges.

“The Black Country Banger” has gone the distance just one time in his seven-year career. Herbert took a three-round unanimous decision from Erdi Karatas at Cage Warriors 94 in June 2018. All 13 of his others bouts—his losses to Renato Carneiro, Francisco Trinaldo and Rhys McKee included—resulted in finishes.

5. His footprints have been left on multiple continents.

Herbert has fought in six different countries across his 14 professional appearances: England, Ireland, Wales, Belgium the United Arab Emirates and the United States.