When you’re pushing 40 and competing as a welterweight in the UFC, more often than not, people tend to believe that you’re past your prime. However, some fighters just keep going, and that’s exactly what Jeremiah Wells is doing. The 39-year-old is making his return to the Octagon at UFC Vegas 110, which will be his first fight this year since his previously booked fight against Andreas Gustafsson in May fell apart.

Jeremiah Wells may not have too many fights under his belt, but he’s been in the MMA circuit, from the amateur scene to the professional scene, since 2011. But who is Wells really? There are quite a lot of fans who may not have much idea about the welterweight veteran, so ahead of his fight against Themba Gorimbo, let’s uncover the details surrounding his background.

Where is Jeremiah Wells from? Ethnicity & nationality

Jeremiah Wells is an American citizen born in West Hazleton, Pennsylvania. His hometown is a small borough in Luzerne County located 31 miles south of the city of Wilkes-Barre. According to the 2020 census, the borough houses just over five thousand people, and Wells is perhaps the only MMA fighter to make his way from that place to the UFC.

When it comes to Jeremiah Wells’s ethnicity, it can get a little tricky. The fact of the matter is, the 39-year-old has never spoken about his background, which allows us only to speculate. Based on the available data on the welterweight fighter, he appears to have an African-American heritage. Other than that, there are no records regarding his racial origins.

Jeremiah Wells made his way into the UFC in 2021 and has impressed the community with his performances. Age is certainly just a number because he’s 4-2 in Dana White’s promotion, but currently, he’s on a 2-fight losing streak. Not many fighters are doing what Well is at his age, but to get a better understanding of his fighting journey, let’s go back to the time when he started out.

Jeremiah Wells’ MMA career: From local fighter to UFC Star

Jeremiah Wells competed in a lot of amateur fights before making it to the professional world. Starting out in Pennsylvania Regional, the 39-year-old amassed a 7-1 amateur record. In the latter half of 2023, Wells had his pro fight and registered two back-to-back wins, and signed with top regional outfit, Cage Fury Fighting Championships. Wells also went on to compete in promotions like CES MMA and Ring of Combat. Furthermore, the welterweight veteran also captured the CFFC and CES MMA welterweight titles, becoming a 2-time champion world champion before setting foot in the UFC.

Two years after his final fight outside of Dana White‘s promotion, Jeremiah Wells made his UFC debut. He fought Warly Alves, finished him in the second round, and then went on a 4-fight winning streak, beating the likes of Court McGee and Matthew Semelsberger. But now, as we’ve mentioned already, Wells finds himself suffering back-to-back losses, and another loss could prove detrimental to his quest to win UFC gold.

His opponent, Themba Gorimbo, is also coming off a loss against Vicente Luque, so the stakes are high for him and also for Jeremiah Wells. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top at UFC Vegas 110. In the meantime, let us know your thoughts on this Saturday’s Fight Night event in the comments down below.