TJ Grant

TJ Grant
Born February 26, 1984
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Nationality Canadian
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight 155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st)
Division Lightweight (2011 - present)
Welterweight (2006 - 2011)
Reach 72.5 in (184 cm)
Fighting out of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia
Team Fit Plus Martial Arts
Rank      Brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Years active 2006 - present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 26
Wins 21
By knockout 4
By submission 13
By decision 4
Losses 5
By submission 1
By decision 4
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Timothy Jerome "TJ" Grant (born February 26, 1984) is a Canadian mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Background

Grant began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of 15 and then also began wrestling, later going on to compete at Cole Harbour District High School. Grant was a three-time Wrestling Champion in his province in 2001, 2002, and 2004 and also represented Nova Scotia at the 2001 Canada Games in London, Ontario. Grant has also won several competitions in submission wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu in his home country of Canada.[1]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Grant made his professional mixed martial arts debut in 2007 and compiled a record of 13-2 before being signed by the UFC.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Grant debuted at UFC 97 with an upset split decision victory over Japanese veteran Ryo Chonan.

Grant next fought South Korean Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 100. He lost a unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26).

Grant then defeated Kevin Burns via first round TKO on December 12, 2009 at UFC 107. The performance earned Grant Knockout of the Night honors.

Grant faced future UFC Welterweight Champion Johny Hendricks on May 8, 2010 at UFC 113. Grant lost via majority decision after having a point deducted due to groin strikes.

Grant defeated Julio Paulino on September 25, 2010 at UFC 119 via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).[2]

Grant next faced Brazilian Ricardo Almeida on December 11, 2010 at UFC 124.[3] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Grant was expected to face Matthew Riddle on June 26, 2011 at UFC on Versus 4.[4] However, Riddle was forced from the bout with an injury and replaced by Charlie Brenneman.[5] Then, just days before the event, Grant was forced out the Brenneman bout with an illness. Since there was not enough time to find a suitable replacement, the bout was scrapped.[6]

Grant dropped down to Lightweight for the first time in his career and faced Shane Roller on October 1, 2011 at UFC on Versus 6.[7] After controlling the fight on the ground for the first two rounds, Grant attempted an armbar in the middle of the third round. Although the submission looked tight, referee Fernando Yamasaki stopped the bout due to Roller's audible pain, although Roller did not appear to have tapped out. Despite Roller's protest, Grant was declared winner by technical submission.

Grant was expected to face Jacob Volkmann on December 30, 2011 at UFC 141.[8] However, Grant was forced from the bout with an injury and replaced by Efrain Escudero.[9]

Grant faced Carlo Prater on May 15, 2012 at UFC on Fuel TV: Korean Zombie vs. Poirier.[10] Grant defeated Prater via unanimous decision.

Grant faced Evan Dunham on September 22, 2012 at UFC 152.[11] Grant won the fight via unanimous decision and won a $65,000 Fight of the Night bonus along with Dunham.[12]

Grant faced Matt Wiman on January 26, 2013 at UFC on Fox 6.[13] He won the fight in dominant fashion, finishing off Wiman with a series of elbows and punches at the end of the first round.

Grant faced then UFC #3 Lightweight Contender Gray Maynard at UFC 160 on May 25, 2013.[14] UFC president Dana White announced at the UFC on Fox 7 post-fight press conference that he expected the winner of the Maynard/Grant fight to get a UFC Lightweight title shot.[15] Grant won the fight via TKO in the first round after knocking Maynard down with a straight right hand on the jaw, earning Knockout of the Night honors.

Grant was expected to face then UFC Lightweight Champion Benson Henderson on August 31, 2013 at UFC 164.[16] However, Grant was forced out of the bout with an injury and was replaced by Anthony Pettis, who won the championship.[17]

A bout with Pettis was targeted for December 14, 2013 at UFC on Fox 9.[18] However, Grant revealed in mid-September that he has yet to be medically cleared after suffering a concussion in training and would not be eligible to compete on December 14 and opted to decline the bout.[19] Pettis eventually withdrew from the bout as well, sustaining an injury of his own.

On May 5, 2014, both TJ Grant and fellow UFC fighter Nate Diaz were removed from the UFC’s Lightweight rankings after being deemed inactive by the UFC.[20]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 21–5 Gray Maynard TKO (punches) UFC 160 May 25, 2013 1 2:07 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Lightweight title eliminator. Knockout of the Night.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 20–5 Matt Wiman KO (elbows and punches) UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Dodson January 26, 2013 1 4:51 Chicago, Illinois, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 19–5 Evan Dunham Decision (unanimous) UFC 152 September 22, 2012 3 5:00 Toronto, Ontario, Canada Fight of the Night
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 18–5 Carlo Prater Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fuel TV: Korean Zombie vs. Poirier May 15, 2012 3 5:00 Fairfax, Virginia United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 17–5 Shane Roller Submission (armbar) UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson October 1, 2011 3 2:12 Washington, D.C. United States Lightweight debut
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 16–5 Ricardo Almeida Decision (unanimous) UFC 124 December 11, 2010 3 5:00 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 16–4 Julio Paulino Decision (unanimous) UFC 119 September 25, 2010 3 5:00 Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 15–4 Johny Hendricks Decision (majority) UFC 113 May 8, 2010 3 5:00 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 15–3 Kevin Burns TKO (punches) UFC 107 December 12, 2009 1 4:57 Memphis, Tennessee, United States Knockout of the Night
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 14–3 Dong Hyun Kim Decision (unanimous) UFC 100 July 11, 2009 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 14–2 Ryo Chonan Decision (split) UFC 97 April 18, 2009 3 5:00 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 13–2 Beau Baker Submission (armbar) PFP: Wanted November 29, 2008 3 3:03 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 12–2 Forrest Petz Submission (arm-triangle choke) TKO 35: Quenneville vs. Hioki October 3, 2008 2 3:55 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 11–2 Chad Reiner Submission (kimura) PFP: Last Man Standing June 21, 2008 3 4:15 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 10–2 Mike Gates Submission (armbar) PFP: Street Justice April 26, 2008 2 3:29 Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 9–2 Jesse Bongfeldt Submission (armbar) TKO 32: Ultimatum February 28, 2008 3 2:52 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 9–1 Stephan Lamarche Submission (kimura) KOTC: Avalanche December 15, 2007 3 4:56 Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 8–1 Stephane Dube Submission (heel hook) TKO 30: Apocalypse September 28, 2007 1 2:16 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 7–1 Kevin Manderson Submission (rear-naked choke) KOTC: Supremacy July 14, 2007 1 2:52 Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 6–1 Gary Wright Decision (unanimous) KOTC: Megiddo April 28, 2007 3 5:00 Vernon, British Columbia, Canada
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6–0 Elmer Waterhen Submission (armbar) KOTC: Capital Chaos March 28, 2007 1 2:20 Hull, Quebec, Canada
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5–0 Nicholas Portieous Submission (armbar) KOTC: Freedom Fight January 20, 2007 1 0:45 Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4–0 Eric Beaulieu TKO (punches) ECC 4: Fury December 2, 2006 1 0:33 Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3–0 Rob Wynne Submission (armbar) UGC 14: No Pain, No Gain September 21, 2006 2 4:54 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2–0 Daniel Grandmaison Submission (armbar) ECC 3: East Coast Warriors July 22, 2006 1 1:46 Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1–0 Craig Skinner Submission (armbar) Extreme Cage Combat 1 April 29, 2006 1 N/A Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.ufc.com/fighter/TJ-Grant
  2. ↑ "T.J. Grant vs. Julio Paulino in the works for UFC 119 in September". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2010-07-06.
  3. ↑ "Ricardo Almeida vs. T.J. Grant targeted for UFC 124 in Montreal". mmajunkie.com. 2010-10-06.
  4. ↑ "UFC Live 4 Gets Grant-Riddle Addition". sherdog.com. 2011-04-27.
  5. ↑ "Matt Riddle out, Charlie Brenneman in against T.J. Grant at UFC on Versus 4". mmajunkie.com. May 6, 2011.
  6. ↑ "T.J. Grant withdraws from UFC on Versus 4, fight with Charlie Brenneman scrapped". mmajunkie.com. June 22, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Shane Roller vs TJ Grant fight announced for Oct. 1 in Washington D.C.". mmamania.com. July 29, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Jacob Volkmann vs. T.J. Grant booked for UFC 141 in Las Vegas". mmajunkie.com. October 24, 2011.
  9. ↑ Stupp, Dann (December 6, 2011). "'TUF 8' champ Escudero returning to UFC, meets Volkmann at UFC 141". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
  10. ↑ "T.J. Grant vs. Carlo Prater Added to UFC on Fuel 3". mmaweekly.com. February 22, 2012.
  11. ↑ "UFC 152 adds Evan Dunham vs. T.J. Grant". mmajunkie.com. July 19, 2012.
  12. ↑ Grienke, Keith (September 22, 2012). "UFC 152 Bonus Winners". TopMMANews.com. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  13. ↑ "T.J. Grant vs. Matt Wiman set for UFC on FOX 6 in Chicago". mmajunkie.com. November 7, 2012.
  14. ↑ Grienke, Keith (February 21, 2013). "TJ Grant to Face Gray Maynard at UFC 160". TopMMANews.com. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
  15. ↑ Grienke, Keith (April 20, 2013). "Dana White Announces TJ Grant/Maynard Winner to Fight for UFC Lightweight Title". TopMMANews.com. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
  16. ↑ Mike Bohn (2013-06-04). "Benson Henderson vs. T.J. Grant lightweight title fight announced as UFC 164 headliner". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  17. ↑ John Morgan (2013-07-12). "T.J. Grant injured, Anthony Pettis now meets champ Benson Henderson at UFC 164". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
  18. ↑ Sean Smith (2013-09-11). "Dana White Wants Anthony Pettis vs. TJ Grant at UFC on Fox 9". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved 2013-09-11.
  19. ↑ Staff (2013-09-16). "T.J. Grant ruled out of planned UFC on FOX 9 title fight with Anthony Pettis". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
  20. ↑ Henderson, Jason (6 May 2014). "Nate Diaz And TJ Grant Removed From UFC’s Lightweight Rankings". Fight of the Night. Retrieved 13 May 2014.

External links