As lightweight is one of the deepest divisions in the UFC, reeling off eight of nine wins isn’t always enough to get noticed. Just ask Grant Dawson.
The twenty-nine year-old fighter has been on a tear in the UFC, finishing five of his eight wins, including rear-naked chokes of Damir Ismagulov and Jared Gordon. However, this is his first time headlining a fight card despite ranking 10th in the UFC. This weekend sees Dawson take on his biggest fight yet against perennial contender Bobby Green.
Grant Dawson: New Blood at Lightweight
Grant “KGD” Dawson has been tearing through the 155-pound division like nobody’s business. He broke onto the scene with a second-round rear-naked choke of Adrian Diaz and hit the ground running. To continue his run, he landed a unanimous decision win over Julian Erosa and a submission of Michael Trizano. Little noise surrounds him for someone who has had such a hot start to their UFC career.
This marks the first time that Dawson will headline a UFC card, and this opportunity is not lost on him. Even though he is not fighting a ranked opponent, he is excited for the opportunity.
“Rankings, to me, doesn’t make any difference,” Dawson told MMA Junkie Radio. “I’m not fighting backwards in this fight, I’m not fighting forward, I’m just fighting. That’s what it is. Islam Makhachev got a title shot off of beating Bobby Green, so anything can happen in this sport. Bobby Green, if I’m not on my game and if I don’t respect him like he deserves to be respected, I’m going to be looking up at him off of my back getting woken up by the referee.”
This sort of mindset has led Dawson to a fantastic spot in the lightweight division, and he looks to make a splash this weekend. Dawson took the fight on five weeks’ notice, which many consider short. However, Dawson previously stated that he has kept his weight down in a camp for Thiago Moises.
Weight Issues?
Weight had been an issue for Dawson, as he missed weight in his fight against Mark O. Madsen, which he won by submission. A miss this weekend would mean that Dawson will have missed weight 3 times in his UFC career, and a move to welterweight might be in order for the American if that does happen. It does sound like things are going well for him, as he took it already having his weight down. In his first main event, Dawson will certainly have his hands full.
However, Dawson prefers the quiet of the UFC Apex for one huge reason.
“If we’re going off of purely just would I rather fight at the Apex or in front of a crowd, I’d rather fight at the Apex. The crowd is great, I love it, and they definitely have their place.”
“I’ll get more hyped up fighting in front of a crowd, but when you’re fighting guys at this level, being able to hear your coach and being able to have them coach you through things is such a cheat code. I absolutely think it’s a huge advantage for me to fight at the Apex.”
What Does Dawson Have to Do to Win?
The oft-repeated maxim is that styles make fights, and this is doubly true for this matchup. Grant Dawson is very heavy on the ground game, and this looks to pose a problem for Green. He needs to control every second of the fight and cut off any angles that Green may use to make transitions in the clinch or on the ground. Dawson is better suited on the ground for this fight. If he can’t get it there, he can still win on the feet.
Dawson needs to be wary of Green’s slipperiness on the feet, as he is an unorthodox striker who is fast on the counter and can slip better than anyone in the division. This is especially important in the momentum swings of the fight, as one shoulder roll and counter shot from Green can turn the whole fight on its head. Dawson has to be comfortable taking the fight to a decision and getting heavy shots in on the ground.
However, when on the mat, Green remains a threat off his back with submissions, especially with his long reach and general craftiness. Thus, to avoid an early night, Dawson will have to be extremely careful transitioning to mount and gaining takedowns with the threat of a standing guillotine.
What’s Next with a Win?
If Dawson wins on Saturday night, a top 10 opponent awaits. He has a contender in mind named Dan Hooker, and it’s a fight that MMA fans would love to see.
“The rumor I heard is he’s ready to go in December. I’ll be ready to go in December barring no major injuries in this fight. Bobby Green is the only person on my mind right now. I have to beat Bobby Green or nothing else comes to fruition. However, I would like to fight Dan Hooker sometime in the future. If I could get one more in this year, that would be amazing, but I’m not going to hold my breath,” Dawson told reporters.
All quotes courtesy of via MMA Junkie
Grant Dawson wants the ninth-ranked Hooker, and it is hard to deny a man on a streak like that. This Green fight, however, is massive for him in terms of expanding his star power. If Dawson make a huge statement here, the lightweight division is his for the taking.
Featured Image Credits to Embed from Getty Images
