Tag: Grant Dawson

Lightweight Prospect Calls For Michael Chandler’s Removal From The Rankings: ‘He’s 2-4 In The UFC!’

According to one up-and-comer, Michael Chandler has no business having a number next to his name in the UFC lightweight division. Chandler has had an up and down run since joining the UFC from Bellator, where he was a former three-time champion. He’s been unable to win gold on MMA’s biggest stage and has accumulated […]

According to one up-and-comer, Michael Chandler has no business having a number next to his name in the UFC lightweight division.

Chandler has had an up and down run since joining the UFC from Bellator, where he was a former three-time champion. He’s been unable to win gold on MMA’s biggest stage and has accumulated a negative record.

While “Iron” has scored memorable knockouts of Dan Hooker and Tony Ferguson, he’s tasted defeat twice as much as he has victory in the UFC, falling to Charles Oliveira twice in addition to Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje.

Despite the state of his Octagon record, however, Chandler remains highly ranked at #7. During a recent interview with Inside Fighting, the unranked Grant Dawson gave his assessment of that, calling for the veteran to be booted from the top 15.

“There are people who do not belong in the top 15 let alone the top 10,” Dawson said. “If you like at somebody like Michael Chandler, he’s 2-4 in the UFC. You put his record up against my record, 11-1 in the UFC, assuming I beat Diego (Ferreira). 11-1 in the UFC compared to 2-4 in the UFC, and you say, ‘Yeah, the 11-1 guy (is) not ranked. The 2-4 guy ranked in the top 10, top seven.’ It doesn’t make any sense.

“You’ve got these guys, they’re not looking to fight the up-and-comers,” Dawson continued. “They need to take Michael Chandler out of there.”

After going unbeaten across his first nine UFC fights and defeating the highly regarded Damir Ismagulov, Dawson broke through into the lightweight rankings. But a shock 33-second knockout loss to King Green quickly changed that.

The American Top Team standout has since been looking to work his way back up the ladder. Thus far, that’s seen him outpoint Joe Solecki and stop Rafa Garcia via TKO in back-to-back contests.

He’ll next look to make it three wins on the bounce when he collides with lightweight vet Diego Ferreira at UFC 311 in Los Angeles on Jan. 18.

Grant Dawson Thanks His Wife’s Booty in UFC Vegas 98 Post-Fight Speech

Grant DawsonUFC lightweight contender Grant Dawson chose an unorthodox way to show appreciation for his wife after a big win…

Grant Dawson

UFC lightweight contender Grant Dawson chose an unorthodox way to show appreciation for his wife after a big win at UFC Vegas 98.

Dawson put on another signature performance inside the Octagon by finishing Rafa Garcia by TKO at UFC Vegas 98. After smothering Garcia on the ground in the first round, Dawson pushed the gas in Round 2, eventually finishing Garcia with ground-and-pound.

Grant Dawson, a Dana White’s Contender Series alum, is one of the most promising young stars in the UFC lightweight division. Since a knockout loss to King Green last year, he’s won back-to-back fights and is knocking on the door of the Top 15.

After the win over Garcia, Grant Dawson highlighted his supportive wife Elle, who was cageside for his victory. Things took a wild turn in a hurry after sharing his wife’s impact on his career.

Grant Dawson’s UFC Vegas 98 Interview Breaks The Internet

Watch Dawson’s colorful post-fight interview below.

Dawson’s wife, Elle, is a former professional MMA fighter and American Top Team trainee. She accumulated a 5-1 record in his career with three submission wins.

Dawson earned a shot in the UFC by submitting Adrian Diaz during the opening season of DWCS in 2017. After earning the contract, he notched nine consecutive unbeaten performances, including finishes of Jared Gordon and Mark Madsen.

As Dawson continues to rise the UFC lightweight ranks, his wife remains by his side. His hilarious post-fight interview remarks will be a memory they’ll likely remember forever.

Dustin Poirier’s Teammate Hints At Date & Opponent For His Final UFC Fight (Exclusive)

A hunch or a leak? Dustin Poirier’s teammate appeared confident when predicting a month and opponent for his farewell fight in the UFC. It initially appeared as though fans had seen Poirier make the walk for the final time this past summer. After a vintage knockout of Benoît Saint Denis in March, the former interim […]

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A hunch or a leak? Dustin Poirier’s teammate appeared confident when predicting a month and opponent for his farewell fight in the UFC.

It initially appeared as though fans had seen Poirier make the walk for the final time this past summer. After a vintage knockout of Benoît Saint Denis in March, the former interim UFC lightweight champion had one last opportunity to achieve undisputed status.

But while he gave it his all through four rounds against Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 in Newark, “The Diamond” succumbed to a rear-naked choke in the final frame of the pay-per-view main event.

The veteran’s Octagon interview suggested that an official retirement was on the way, but the fire beneath Poirier has not fully diminished. And after pondering a farewell fight, the Louisianan has appeared to make that decision final.

Talk has since turned to which major matchup Poirier could depart the sport off the back of, and “The Diamond” himself narrowed down his options to seven big names.

A man who knows Poirier well from their ongoing stint as teammates over at American Top Team recently picked one out…

Dawson Predicts Poirier vs. Gaethje 3 In February 2025

During a recent interview with MMA News’ Ryan Jarrell, Dawson spoke on the current status of Poirier’s career and apparent plans to compete one final time before hanging up the gloves.

While reiterating his belief that “The Diamond” is not yet done, “KGD” predicted a February 2025 return for his ATT training partner but insisted that didn’t come from a place of insider knowledge.

“I think he’ll fight in February. I don’t have any insider information,” Dawson told MMA News. “I don’t know anything. There’s no (set) date or anything like that. I just don’t think he’s done. I’ve texted him a couple times and he sounds like a man who wants to fight again.”

But when pondering a date for his own next appearance inside the Octagon, the same month reared its head…

“Let’s do February, on Dustin’s card.”

In terms of an opponent, Dawson was 100 percent certain in stating that a rumored clash with former ATT standout Colby Covington is not on the table. Instead, the 30-year-old displayed a grin while producing a different name.

“I know for a fact he’s not fighting Colby Covington. I called him and asked him about it, and he said, ‘Heck no.’ He said something a little worse than ‘heck,’” Dawson said, before smiling and taking a long pause when asked who he thinks Poirier will face. “Justin Gaethje.”

Shot-in-the-dark prediction, educated guess or a statement of fact? We’ll let you decide.

Regardless, it would appear that Poirier’s mind is indeed made up and that his memorable championship clash with Makhachev won’t mark the final chapter in his story.

Continue Reading Dustin Poirier’s Teammate Hints At Date & Opponent For His Final UFC Fight (Exclusive) at MMA News.

Bobby Green hands Grant Dawson first Octagon loss with upset KO in just 33 seconds – UFC Vegas 80 Highlights

Bobby Green lands first round KO win over Grant Dawson in 33 seconds UFC Vegas 80 HighlightsVeteran lightweight staple, Bobby Green has likely landed within the lightweight top-15 once more — years on since his last time in the rankings, handing the hugely-talented, Grant Dawson with a stunning first round knockout loss inside the Octagon — with just 33 seconds lasped on the clock in their UFC Vegas 80 headliner tonight. […]

Bobby Green lands first round KO win over Grant Dawson in 33 seconds UFC Vegas 80 Highlights

Veteran lightweight staple, Bobby Green has likely landed within the lightweight top-15 once more — years on since his last time in the rankings, handing the hugely-talented, Grant Dawson with a stunning first round knockout loss inside the Octagon — with just 33 seconds lasped on the clock in their UFC Vegas 80 headliner tonight.

Green, who made just his second main event appearance under the banner of the UFC, entered tonight’s headlining clash with wrestling talent, Dawson off the back of a third round arm-triangle submission win over former interim champion, Tony Ferguson.

And turning in a shocking upset victory tonight in the main event of UFC Vegas 80 — San Bernardino native, Bobby Green dropped Dawson with a perfectly-timed and placed straight left hand strike, before following up with a slew of ground strikes, forcing referee, Keith Peterson to call a halt to the action inside just 33 seconds of the opening round at UFC Vegas 80.

Electing against calling for a certain opponent following his win over American Top Team staple, Dawson, Green instead called to feature on a card of some form in December, hoping to continue his vein of busy activity before the end of the year.

Below, catch the highlights from Bobby Green’s stunning KO win at UFC Vegas 80

Grant Dawson issues stark warning to Islam Makhachev after UFC Vegas 76 win: ‘I’m your replacement’

Grant Dawson warning to Islam Makhachev after UFC Vegas 76 I'm your replacementOff the back of his third consecutive victory in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 76 last night, streaking lightweight contender, Grant Dawson has issued a stark warning to division champion, Islam Makhachev – describing himself as the Russian’s eventual “replacement” atop the weight class. Dawson, a staple of American Top Team under the tutelage […]

Grant Dawson warning to Islam Makhachev after UFC Vegas 76 I'm your replacement

Off the back of his third consecutive victory in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 76 last night, streaking lightweight contender, Grant Dawson has issued a stark warning to division champion, Islam Makhachev – describing himself as the Russian’s eventual “replacement” atop the weight class.

Dawson, a staple of American Top Team under the tutelage of Mike Brown, turned in a hugely-dominant unanimous decision win over the highly-touted, Damir Ismagulov – adding to a run of prior wins over both Mark O. Madsen, and Jared Gordon – submitting the pair with rear-naked chokes stoppages.

Boasting a stunning nine-fight undefeated run with the promotion, Dawson, who’s sole outing without a win came in the form of a close, majority draw outing against Ricky Glenn back in 2021 – had landed consecutive wins over Julian Erosa, Michael Trizano, Darrick Minner, Nad Narimani, and Leonardo Santos following his move from Dana White’s Contender Series.

Grant Dawson issues warning to champion, Islam Makhachev

Currently clinching the number fifteen ranking in the official lightweight pile, Dawson issued a warning to Makhachev following his UFC Vegas 76 win over Ismagulov.

“Islam Makhachev, you are the GOAT, but I am your replacement,” Grant Dawson told UFC color-commentator, Michael Bisping during his post-fight Octagon interview.” 

Winning vacant lightweight gold back in October of last year against former champion, Charles Oliveira, Makhachev submitted the Brazilian with a second round arm-triangle choke.

Returning to the Octagon at UFC 284 back in February, Makhachev turned in his first successful title defense with a close, unanimous decision win over featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski.

Yet to be booked for his return to the Octagon – Makhachev is expected to headline UFC 294 in October in Abu Dhabi, UAE – taking on the aforenoted, Oliveira in a title re-run in his return to the Middle East. 

Grant Dawson Promises To Prove Paddy Pimblett Wrong In London

UFC lightweight contender Grant Dawson wants to be Paddy Pimblett’s next opponent to disprove Pimblett’s recent declaration. Dawson is unbeaten in the UFC with recent wins over Jared Gordon and Mark Madsen. He earned a shot in the UFC follo…

UFC lightweight contender Grant Dawson wants to be Paddy Pimblett’s next opponent to disprove Pimblett’s recent declaration. Dawson is unbeaten in the UFC with recent wins over Jared Gordon and Mark Madsen. He earned a shot in the UFC following a win on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2017. After his most recent win over…

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