It looks like a lightweight bout is in the works between Canadian fighter TJ Grant (17-5) and UFC sophomore Carlo Prater (30-10-1) for May’s upcoming UFC on FUEL TV 3 event in Virginia.
News of the matchup surfaced at MM-eh.ca who learned of the bout from sources close to Grant’s camp.
UFC on FUEL TV 3 is expected to take place on May 15, 2012 at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia. When this match becomes official, the card will have nine bouts set for the television event. The fight between Grant and Prater is likely to appear on the preliminary card.
Grant debuted in the lightweight division in his last fight, earning a third round armbar submission over Shane Roller at the UFC on Versus 6 event. The Canadian has traded wins for losses since joining the UFC back in April 2009 going 4-3 in the Octagon. Previous to the win in October, Grant had been scheduled to face Jacob Volkmann at UFC 141 but was forced out due to injury, with his last loss taking place in December 2010, ending in a decision defeat at the hands of Ricardo Almeida at UFC 124.
Prater has won five straight including his debut in the UFC last month versus Erick Silva. Prater appeared to have lost due to TKO at 29-seconds versus Silva, but referee Mario Yamasaki actually ended the match due to, what he believed, were illegal strikes to the back of Prater’s head. Prater won four matches in 2011 before joining the UFC, appearing at a Strikeforce Challengers show one year ago, earning a win over Bryan Travers in 38-seconds.