T. J. Grant

Last updated
TJ Grant
TJ Grant.jpg
Born (1984-02-26) February 26, 1984 (age 38)
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Nationality Canadian
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st)
Division Lightweight (2011 - 2013)
Welterweight (2006 - 2011)
Reach72+12 in (184 cm)
Fighting out of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia
TeamGFT
RankBlack belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Years active2006 - 2013
Mixed martial arts record
Total26
Wins21
By knockout4
By submission13
By decision4
Losses5
By submission1
By decision4
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

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

Contents

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]

Grant listed being in debt, and not wanting to take the risk of going further in debt as the reasons for him potentially walking away from MMA forever. [21]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
26 matches21 wins5 losses
By knockout40
By submission131
By decision44
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Win21–5 Gray Maynard TKO (knee and punches) UFC 160 May 25, 201312:07 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States UFC Lightweight title eliminator. Knockout of the Night.
Win20–5 Matt Wiman KO (elbows and punches) UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Dodson January 26, 201314:51 Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win19–5 Evan Dunham Decision (unanimous) UFC 152 September 22, 201235:00 Toronto, Ontario, Canada Fight of the Night
Win18–5 Carlo Prater Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fuel TV: Korean Zombie vs. Poirier May 15, 201235:00 Fairfax, Virginia United States
Win17–5 Shane Roller Submission (armbar) UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson October 1, 201132:12 Washington, D.C. United States Lightweight debut.
Loss16–5 Ricardo Almeida Decision (unanimous) UFC 124 December 11, 201035:00 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Win16–4Julio PaulinoDecision (unanimous) UFC 119 September 25, 201035:00 Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Loss15–4 Johny Hendricks Decision (majority) UFC 113 May 8, 201035:00 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Win15–3 Kevin Burns TKO (punches) UFC 107 December 12, 200914:57 Memphis, Tennessee, United StatesKnockout of the Night.
Loss14–3 Dong Hyun Kim Decision (unanimous) UFC 100 July 11, 200935:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win14–2 Ryo Chonan Decision (split) UFC 97 April 18, 200935:00 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Win13–2Beau BakerSubmission (armbar)PFP: WantedNovember 29, 200833:03 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
Win12–2 Forrest Petz Submission (arm-triangle choke)TKO 35: Quenneville vs. HiokiOctober 3, 200823:55 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Win11–2 Chad Reiner Submission (kimura)PFP: Last Man StandingJune 21, 200834:15 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
Win10–2Mike GatesSubmission (armbar)PFP: Street JusticeApril 26, 200823:29 Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Loss9–2Jesse BongfeldtSubmission (armbar)TKO 32: UltimatumFebruary 28, 200832:52 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Win9–1Stephan LamarcheSubmission (kimura)KOTC: AvalancheDecember 15, 200734:56 Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
Win8–1Stephane DubeSubmission (heel hook)TKO 30: ApocalypseSeptember 28, 200712:16 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Win7–1Kevin MandersonSubmission (rear-naked choke)KOTC: SupremacyJuly 14, 200712:52 Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Loss6–1Gary WrightDecision (unanimous)KOTC: MegiddoApril 28, 200735:00 Vernon, British Columbia, Canada
Win6–0Elmer WaterhenSubmission (armbar)KOTC: Capital ChaosMarch 28, 200712:20 Hull, Quebec, Canada
Win5–0Nicholas PortieousSubmission (armbar)KOTC: Freedom FightJanuary 20, 200710:45 Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
Win4–0Eric BeaulieuTKO (punches)ECC 4: FuryDecember 2, 200610:33 Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Win3–0Rob WynneSubmission (armbar)UGC 14: No Pain, No GainSeptember 21, 200624:54 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Win2–0Daniel GrandmaisonSubmission (armbar)ECC 3: East Coast WarriorsJuly 22, 200611:46 Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Win1–0Craig SkinnerSubmission (armbar)Extreme Cage Combat 1April 29, 20061N/A Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

See also

Related Research Articles

Samuel James Stout is a retired Canadian professional mixed martial artist. A professional from 2003 until 2015, Stout is best known for his 20-fight stint with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), winning Fight of the Night honors seven times. He is also the former TKO Major League MMA Lightweight Champion.

Matt Wiman American mixed martial arts fighter

Matthew Charles Wiman is an American retired mixed martial artist who competed as a lightweight. He competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Nate Diaz American MMA fighter

Nathan Donald Diaz is an American professional mixed martial artist, currently signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Before signing with the UFC, Diaz competed in World Extreme Cagefighting, Strikeforce, and Pancrase. He has been in the UFC since winning The Ultimate Fighter 5. Diaz is tied with Joe Lauzon for the third most UFC bonus awards, with 15 in total.

Cole Miller American mixed martial arts fighter

Cole Miller is an American mixed martial artist, who most recently competed in the featherweight division in the UFC. His nickname "Magrinho" means "skinny" in Portuguese.

Jim Miller (fighter) American mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter

James Andrew Miller is an American mixed martial artist who currently competes in the UFC lightweight division. He currently holds the record of most bouts in UFC history, most wins in UFC history and most wins in the UFC lightweight division. He is also the younger brother of former UFC fighter Dan Miller.

Gray Maynard American sport wrestler and MMA fighter

Bradley Gray Maynard is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Between 2008 and 2011, he competed in a noted rivalry with former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar. Maynard competed in college wrestling at Michigan State University, and made his UFC debut in 2007.

Clay Guida American mixed martial arts fighter

Clayton Charles Guida is an American professional mixed martial artist, currently signed to the UFC competing in the Lightweight division. A professional competitor since 2003, Guida also formerly competed for Strikeforce, the WEC, King of the Cage, and Shooto. Guida was the inaugural Strikeforce Lightweight Champion.

Efraín Escudero is a Mexican mixed martial artist. He trains under Drew Fickett and competes in the 155 lb (70.3 kg) weight class. Efrain was the winner of season eight of Spike TV's reality show The Ultimate Fighter.

Mark Andrew Bocek is a Canadian retired mixed martial artist who competed in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor for ten years from 2004 to 2014, Bocek has also formerly competed for King of the Cage. His surname pronounced as "baw-chek".

Daniel Alfonso Castillo is a retired American mixed martial artist. A professional from 2007 until 2015, he competed in 22 bouts with both the UFC and WEC.

Rafael Souza dos Anjos is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist. He currently fights in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former UFC Lightweight Champion. He has also competed at Welterweight. As of November 2, 2021, he is #6 in the UFC lightweight rankings.

Shane Derrick Roller is a retired American mixed martial artist who is perhaps best known in his career for competing as a Lightweight for the UFC and WEC.

Evan Neil Dunham is an American professional mixed martial artist competing in the lightweight division. He is perhaps best known for 21-fight tenure in the Ultimate Fighting Championship which spanned over a decade.

Benson Henderson American mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter

Benson Henderson is an American mixed martial artist who competes for Bellator MMA, currently competing in their Lightweight division. He is a former UFC Lightweight Champion and WEC Lightweight Champion. As of February 22, 2022, he is #4 in the Bellator Lightweight Rankings.

Hatsu Hioki Japanese mixed martial artist

Hatsu Hioki is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist competing in the featherweight division. He is the former Shooto Lightweight Champion, Sengoku Featherweight Champion, and TKO Featherweight Champion. Hioki is a long time Shooto veteran and has fought most of his fights in Japanese promotions including the largest mixed martial arts organization at the time, Pride Fighting Championships.

Anthony Pettis American mixed martial arts fighter

Anthony Paul Pettis is an American professional mixed martial artist. He is currently signed to the Professional Fighters League. Pettis formerly fought in the Welterweight, Lightweight, and Featherweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is a former UFC Lightweight Champion. Pettis was also the final WEC Lightweight Champion prior to the promotion being merged into the UFC. Pettis also holds the distinction of being the only man to hold a KO win over Stephen Thompson.

Paul Sass is a retired English mixed martial artist who competed in UFC's and Bellator's Lightweight division.

Jacob Joseph Volkmann is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Welterweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, Volkmann has formerly competed for the UFC, Bellator, and the World Series of Fighting.

WEC 53 WEC MMA event in 2010

WEC 53: Henderson vs. Pettis was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting that took place on December 16, 2010 at Jobing.com Arena in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale, Arizona. The event was the first time that Zuffa has hosted an event in Arizona. This was the final WEC event, due to the merger with the UFC.

UFC 160 UFC mixed martial arts event in 2013

UFC 160: Velasquez vs. Bigfoot 2 was a mixed martial arts event held on May 25, 2013, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

References

  1. "TJ Grant | UFC". 14 September 2018.
  2. "T.J. Grant vs. Julio Paulino in the works for UFC 119 in September". mmajunkie.com. Archived from the original on 2010-07-09. Retrieved 2010-07-06.
  3. "Ricardo Almeida vs. T.J. Grant targeted for UFC 124 in Montreal". mmajunkie.com. 2010-10-06. Archived from the original on 2010-10-09.
  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. Archived from the original on May 8, 2011.
  6. "T.J. Grant withdraws from UFC on Versus 4, fight with Charlie Brenneman scrapped". mmajunkie.com. June 22, 2011. Archived from the original on June 27, 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. Archived from the original on October 26, 2011.
  9. Stupp, Dann (December 6, 2011). "'TUF 8' champ Escudero returning to UFC, meets Volkmann at UFC 141". MMAjunkie.com . Archived from the original on December 8, 2011. 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. Archived from the original on July 21, 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. Archived from the original on November 9, 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.
  21. Guillen Jr, Adam (Nov 2, 2015). "Grant weighs fighting sport comeback". MMA-Mania. Retrieved June 4, 2019.