Grant Dawson

Last updated

Grant Dawson
BornGrant Michael Dawson
(1994-02-20) February 20, 1994 (age 30)
Cambria, Wisconsin, U.S. [1]
Other namesKGD
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight155 lb (70 kg; 11 st 1 lb)
Division Lightweight
Featherweight
Reach72 in (183 cm) [2]
Fighting out of Coconut Creek, Florida, U.S.
TeamNo Quarter Given (2012–2013) [3] [4]
Team Viper / Lincoln MMA (2013–2014) [1] [3]
Glory MMA & Fitness (2014–2022) [5]
American Top Team (2022–present) [6]
RankBlack belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under James Krause [7]
Years active2014–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total25
Wins22
By knockout5
By submission13
By decision4
Losses2
By knockout2
Draws1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Grant Michael Dawson [8] (born February 20, 1994) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Contents

Background

Dawson was born in Cambria, Wisconsin, but grew up mostly in Stromsburg, Nebraska. [1] [9] Initially dreaming of a career in American Football, Dawson started wrestling to aid his primary sport. [10] After realizing he wasn't good enough at American football, he dropped the sport and concentrated solely in wrestling. [10] He was homeschooled until his teens, and attended Cross County Community School where he competed in high school wrestling, finishing his senior season with a record of 40–8. [1] After graduating from high school but skipping college due to dyslexia, Dawson decided to pursue a career in mixed martial arts. [3]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

After compiling an amateur record of 8–1, Dawson started his professional MMA career in 2014. He amassed a professional record of 11–1 prior to participating in Dana White's Contender Series. [11]

Dana White's Contender Series

Dawson appeared on the first season of the program Dana White's Contender Series 6. [12] He faced Adrian Diaz on August 17, 2017 [13] and won the fight by submission due to a rear-naked choke in round two. [14] With the win, Dawson was offered a UFC contract. [15]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Dawson made his UFC debut on March 9, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. dos Santos against Julian Erosa. [16] He won the fight via unanimous decision. [17]

His next fight came on May 18, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Lee against Michael Trizano. [18] He won the fight via a rear-naked choke in round two. [19] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award. [20]

Dawson was scheduled to meet Chas Skelly on January 18, 2020, at UFC 246. [21] However, Dawson was flagged by USADA the second times where the initial flagging was in November 2017 for a residual metabolite of the steroid Turinabol which it was subsequent cleared by USDADA for not able to determine when Dawson had ingested the banned substance, and that resulted in the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) pulling bout from UFC 246. The subsequent finding from USADA found no evidence of performance enhancement of a re-ingestion of a banned drug. However, NSAC would revisit the matter in July, 2020 to determine to issue Nevada fighter licence Dawson and Dawson would have to undergo testing twice a month. [22] [23] [24] The bout was rescheduled on February 29, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Benavidez vs. Figueiredo at Norfolk, Virginia. [25] On February 7, 2020, it was reported that Skelly was injured during one of his training session and was forced to withdraw from the event, [26] and he was replaced by promotional newcomer Darrick Minner. [27] At the weigh-ins, Dawson also failed to make weight, coming in at 149.5 pounds, 3.5 pounds over the featherweight non-title limit of 146 pounds. He was fined 30% of his fight purse, which went to Minner and the bout proceeded at a catchweight. [28] Dawson won the fight via a submission in round two. [29]

Dawson faced Nad Narimani on July 19, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2. [30] He won the fight via unanimous decision. [31]

Dawson faced Leonardo Santos on March 20, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 21. [32] He won the fight via knockout in round three. [33] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award. [34]

Grant was scheduled to face Carlos Diego Ferreira on October 2, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 193. [35] However, Ferreira pulled out of the fight in early-September citing an injury. [36] Instead Dawson faced Ricky Glenn on October 23, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 196. [37] The fight ended in majority draw. [38] 8 out of 11 media outlets scored the bout for Dawson. [39]

Grant, replacing Rafael Alves, faced Jared Gordon on April 30, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 35. [40] He won the bout via rear-naked choke late into the third round. [41]

Grant faced Mark Madsen, replacing Drakkar Klose, November 5, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 214. [42] At the weigh-ins, Dawson weighed in at 157.5 pounds, one and a half pounds over the lightweight non-title fight limit. His bout proceeded at catchweight and he was fined 30% of his individual purse, which went to his opponent Madsen. [43] He won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the third round. [44]

Grant faced Damir Ismagulov on July 1, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 48. [45] He won the bout via unanimous decision. [46]

Dawson faced Bobby Green on October 7, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 229. [47] He lost via knockout in the first round. [48]

Dawson faced Joe Solecki on June 1, 2024, at UFC 302. [49] With over thirteen minutes of ground control time, Dawson won the fight by unanimous decision. [50]

Dawson faced Rafa García on October 12, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 244. [51] He won the fight by technical knockout via ground elbows and punches in the second round. [52]

Dawson is scheduled to face Carlos Diego Ferreira on January 18, 2025, at UFC 311. [53]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
25 matches22 wins2 losses
By knockout52
By submission130
By decision40
Draws1
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Win22–2–1 Rafa García TKO (elbows and punches) UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Taira October 12, 202421:42 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win21–2–1 Joe Solecki Decision (unanimous) UFC 302 June 1, 202435:00 Newark, New Jersey, United States
Loss20–2–1 Bobby Green KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Dawson vs. Green October 7, 202310:33 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win20–1–1 Damir Ismagulov Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Strickland vs. Magomedov July 1, 202335:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win19–1–1 Mark Madsen Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. Lemos November 5, 202232:05 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesCatchweight (157.5 lb) bout; Dawson missed weight.
Win18–1–1 Jared Gordon Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on ESPN: Font vs. Vera April 30, 202234:11 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Draw17–1–1 Ricky Glenn Draw (majority) UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori October 23, 202135:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win17–1 Leonardo Santos KO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Brunson vs. Holland March 20, 202134:59 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesReturn to Lightweight. Performance of the Night.
Win16–1 Nad Narimani Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2 July 19, 202035:00 Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesCatchweight (150 lb) bout.
Win15–1 Darrick Minner Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Benavidez vs. Figueiredo February 29, 202021:38 Norfolk, Virginia, United StatesCatchweight (149.5 lb) bout; Dawson missed weight.
Win14–1 Michael Trizano Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Lee May 18, 201922:27 Rochester, New York, United StatesPerformance of the Night.
Win13–1 Julian Erosa Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. dos Santos March 9, 201935:00 Wichita, Kansas, United States
Win12–1Adrian DiazSubmission (rear-naked choke) Dana White's Contender Series 1 August 17, 201721:15 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win11–1Mike PlazolaSubmission (triangle choke)Kansas City Fighting Alliance 20October 1, 201613:49 Independence, Missouri, United StatesReturn to Featherweight.
Win10–1Christian CampTKO (elbows and punches)Victory FC 52July 16, 201621:43 Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Loss9–1Hugh PulleyTKO (elbows)Kansas City Fighting Alliance 18April 30, 201610:35 Independence, Missouri, United States
Win9–0Robert WashingtonTKO (punches) Titan FC 37 March 4, 201622:08 Ridgefield, Washington, United States
Win8–0Bryce LoganTKO (punches)Victory FC 47January 29, 201623:12 Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Win7–0Andrew CarrilloSubmission (rear-naked choke)Kansas City Fighting Alliance 15August 15, 201513:21 Grandview, Missouri, United StatesFeatherweight bout.
Win6–0Danny TimsSubmission (rear-naked choke)14:15Featherweight bout.
Win5–0Chris McDanielSubmission (rear-naked choke)ShoFight: Branson BrawlMay 9, 201514:07 Branson, Missouri, United States
Win4–0James SmithSubmission (rear-naked choke)Victory FC 45April 4, 201512:30 Ralston, Nebraska, United StatesReturn to Lightweight.
Win3–0Adam RiderSubmission (rear-naked choke)Shamrock FC: Heavy ArtilleryMarch 7, 201511:45 Kansas City, Missouri, United StatesFeatherweight debut; Dawson missed weight (149 lb).
Win2–0Matt WilliamsSubmission (armbar)DCS 12: Seasons Beatings 2014December 5, 201412:29 Lincoln, Nebraska, United States
Win1–0Jeremiah DensonSubmission (rear-naked choke)Omaha Fight Club 100August 24, 201422:29 Omaha, Nebraska, United StatesLightweight debut.

[11]

See also

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References

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