The next UFC lightweight title contender will be the victor of the upcoming UFC 160 bout between former No. 1 Gray ‘The Bully’ Maynard (11-1-1) and Canadian T.J. Grant (20-5).
UFC president Dana White made the announcement following Saturday nights UFC on FOX 7 event which saw defending champ Benson Henderson defeat Gilbert Melendez by split decision.
Maynard and Grant are set to meet on May 25 on the main card of UFC 160 which goes down at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
‘The Bully’ is 1-1-1 in his last three matches which includes two UFC lightweight title matches with Frankie Edgar. The first bout ended in a draw at UFC 125 and the second a knockout loss for Maynard at UFC 136 in their back-to-back matches. Maynard’s last bout was versus Clay Guida last June, and saw Maynard pick up a split decision in the main event of the UFC on FX 4 event.
Grant has won four straight since debuting at lightweight. The Canadian was last in action this past January where he stopped Matt Wiman by knockout in the first round of the last FOX event, UFC on FOX 6 in Chicago. The other three wins include a decision over Evan Dunham at UFC 152, another decision versus Carlo Prater at UFC on FUEL TV 3, and a submission versus Shane Roller at UFC on Versus 6.