If TJ Grant was going to break, this was the perfect time to do it.
It didn’t matter that he had won 13 of 15 pro mixed martial arts fights, including two out of three in the same arena in Montreal where he stood now on April 18th. This was the one people were going to remember, his UFC debut before 21, 451 fans. Across the Octagon stood Ryo Chonan, a fighter who had already sent the likes of Anderson Silva, Carlos Newton, Mach Sakurai, and Joey Villasenor to defeat. Cornering Chonan was one of Grant’s favorite fighters of all-time, Dan Henderson. Now Henderson was telling Chonan how to beat him.
Did I mention it was Grant’s first time in the UFC Octagon? But the Nova Scotia product wasn’t about to let the first time UFC jitters get to him.
“Just getting to fight where I’ve always dreamed of being, I felt like that was my moment and I definitely didn’t want to let it pass me by,” said Grant, who proceeded to come out at the opening bell and attack the veteran, barely giving him space to breathe as he scored with flush power shots. Chonan would recover and make it a close fight, but when three rounds were over and the judges rendered their verdict, it was Grant emerging with the split decision win.
“He had a strong will to win and he didn’t want to let the fight go, that was the biggest thing I noticed,” said Grant of Chonan. “He’s just a tough guy who’s been around and he had a lot of heart.”
Grant didn’t want to let the fight go either, and that proved to be the deciding factor.
“That’s what made it a good fight,” chuckled the 25-year old, who lifted his pro record to 14-2 with the victory.
It was the type of win many would sit on and milk for as long as possible, basking in the glow of pulling off a big win in the biggest MMA show in the world. Grant isn’t built like that though, and when offered a June fight with Martin Kampmann at The Ultimate Fighter finale last month, he jumped at the chance. Miscommunication between Kampmann’s team and the UFC led to that fight being scrapped, but Chicago knockout artist Rory Markham was quickly substituted as a replacement. But when Markham got injured a week before the bout, Grant was left in the cold. At least until a call came for Grant to step in and take the place of injured countryman Jonathan Goulet against Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 100. Following this so far? Think how Grant must feel.
“It’s the fight game, it’s gonna happen, so you just have to stay focused,” he said. “I only knew about the Kampmann fight for a day and a half and I only got in one day of training for it, so it wasn’t that heartbreaking. Then they gave us the Markham fight, and when that fell through it was kinda disappointing, but everything happens for a reason, and now I’m fighting in UFC 100, so I’m pretty happy about that.” And just like the Chonan fight, Grant isn’t getting any favors in Korea’s “Stun Gun”, an aggressive fighter with a world-class judo game. But not surprisingly, that’s just the type of world-class opponent Grant wants.
“I think he’s a pretty talented guy,” said Grant of Kim, who is 11-0-1 with 1 NC. “He’s well-rounded, and I see a lot of things he’s good at. We’re actually both good in a lot of the same areas – he’s better in judo, but I can wrestle and box and I’m good on the ground, so the fight’s gonna be good and I’m really looking forward to getting in there and putting it on him.”
That’s the key for Grant, who quickly became a favorite among UFC fans for his aggressive style. While not being reckless, he’s also not looking to sit back and counter his opponents either. If there’s going to be action in the Octagon, he wants to be part of it, and preferably, the one leading it.
“That’s basically my gameplan with anybody I fight,” said Grant. “I don’t believe in sitting there and waiting for them to wear down. I’m gonna wear them down. My goal is to engage from the first moment of the fight. If I can’t handle the pace, so be it. But usually it’s the other way around.”
So far, that strategy had led to him finishing 12 of his 14 wins by submission, with his only decision victory coming over Chonan. Now it’s time to start a new finishing streak, one that Grant – winner of five fights in a row – hope begins on July 11th. As for the pressure of competing in the biggest event in UFC history right after performing in front of over 21,000 home country fans, hey, that’s the type of stuff he came here for.
“I’m enjoying the ride,” he laughs. “Staying focused and enjoying the ride.”
“Just getting to fight where I’ve always dreamed of being, I felt like that was my moment and I definitely didn’t want to let it pass me by,” said Grant, who proceeded to come out at the opening bell and attack the veteran, barely giving him space to breathe as he scored with flush power shots. Chonan would recover and make it a close fight, but when three rounds were over and the judges rendered their verdict, it was Grant emerging with the split decision win.
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