The UFC’s new number one contender for the lightweight championship, Coal Harbour, NS’s own TJ Grant is ready to let people know who he is.
This past Saturday night at UFC 160 Grant made quick work of divisional stablemate Gray Maynard. He was able to weather the early storm and finish with a beautiful combo that dropped Maynard near the end of the first to stake claim as the divisions next title contender. Grant didn’t expect to finish “The Bully” that early, but he was ready for a war.
“Going out there no, you don’t expect to finish anyone that quickly. Realistically I prepared myself to go through a war or possibly take a very bad beating in order to win. I know what kind of fighter Gray Maynard is and I was definitely up for the fight.”
In an interview earlier in the week, UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson stated that he was ‘surprised’ about Grant winning that fight. Grant read about the interview on the internet and he said, “it is was it is.”
“I read it on the internet. It is what it is and he will have to do his research to find out more about me. That’s kind of what I want, I want to be in this position and I want people to know who I am. They will have to find out quick.”
Henderson has defended his title on three different occasions. Most recently he defeated Nate Diaz by unanimous decision at December’s UFC on FOX 5 card. Grant definitely believes Henderson will be a lot more difficult to train for than Maynard was.
“He’s a lot harder fighter to train for than Gray Maynard. That is no disrespect to Gray because I think he’s an incredibly difficult guy to prepare for, but there are only a few things that he does and he does them really well. Benson does a whole bunch of different things really well – he’s got the kicking, he’s a southpaw, he’s got good hands, he’s very composed, just overall a very skilled fighter and athletic. The list goes on; it’s definitely a humungous challenge, but I’m just excited and I’m trying to bring what I do to this thing and make it exciting. I want to win that belt.”
Following the victory, UFC President Dana White mentioned that Grant could face Henderson at the first ever UFC on FOX Sports 1 card. However Grant would prefer to take some time off with the family and battle with the champ at UFC 165 in Toronto.
“Those would be the two that the UFC is thinking. If I had personal preference, I’d like it to be Toronto just because it gives me a little bit more time to prepare. I just finished a training camp, but like I said I am totally healthy and I can go right back in to the training. I’m down for whatever the UFC really says, but I just had a daughter and it wouldn’t be so bad to just enjoy my family for a little bit or a couple extra weeks and just go on from there.”
While no specific announcement has been made for the Henderson vs. Grant fight, but they are expected to for the UFC lightweight championship later this year.
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