On this day in 2013, a new top contender emerged at the top of the lightweight division.
UFC 160 saw the promotion return to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas for a big card on May 25.
Before Cain Velasquez proved that he was the best heavyweight on the planet in the main event, there were several statement performances in the 155-pound division.
Khabib Nurmagomedov broke a UFC record as he continued climbing up the lightweight ladder which Benson Henderson had recently reached the top of.
Just one month on from the new champion being crowned, Dana White stated ahead of UFC 160 that one matchup on the card would determine who would go on to be Henderson’s first challenger.
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TJ Grant ran through Gray Maynard in a title eliminator but never fought again due to concussions
After dropping down to lightweight following a loss at UFC 124, T.J. Grant put the best streak of his career together as a lightweight, beating the likes of Matt Wiman and Evan Dunham to emerge as a legitimate contender.
At UFC 160, he faced former title challenger Gray Maynard, who had bounced back from his knockout loss to Frankie Edgar by beating Clay Guida over five rounds.
Joe Rogan had labeled Grant as a “dark horse,” but after he put Maynard away in just over two minutes after landing some huge right hands, this was no longer the case.
In a post-fight interview with Ariel Helwani for MMA Fighting, he spoke about going on to challenge Benson Henderson for the lightweight title with his newfound confidence.
“You know, I believe I can beat anyone in the world. Benson Henderson, I don’t talk smack, man. I don’t sit here and make bold statements on what I can do, but like I said, if I go out there and fight my fight, I can beat any man in the world.”
Grant was then scheduled to face Henderson at UFC 164 but he ended up withdrawing from the fight due to an injury, which was later revealed to be a concussion.
Anthony Pettis went on to become the new lightweight champion but when a matchup was booked between Grant and the new titleholder towards the end of 2013, the Canadian withdrew from this also.
The 29-year-old’s concussion, which he suffered in preparation for UFC 164, led to lasting symptoms that stopped him from returning to the Octagon.
Grant was removed from the UFC rankings in April of 2014 due to inactivity and he never fought again.
T.J. Grant reflected on his career and concussion issues in a 2020 interview
T.J. Grant reflected on his career in an interview with Chuck Mindenhall for The Athletic where he spoke in detail about his concussion symptoms.
The former UFC lightweight believes that his career was ended by a culmination of blows, with his decision to not fight again being helped by his daughter being born the same year that he was set to fight for the title.
“Part of me wanted to get back, and I mean, who wouldn’t want to get back and do that, right? I do enjoy it. I love training,” he told The Athletic. “But you almost got to be — well, you have to be selfish. You have to put yourself first. That’s not saying I’d put my kids to the side, but you got to be all in, and I just wasn’t at that position in my life.”
Grant has since overcome his concussion issues and he’s still involved in the sport via his gym, Grant’s Martial Arts Academy.
“I mean, I wonder what would have happened,” Grant said. “I wonder, but what can I do? Maybe I’m my own worst enemy, too. Maybe I could have trudged along or changed some things up, but I’m where I’m at now, so I just got to go with it.
“Life is good. I got a beautiful young family, and that’s where I’m at. I’m coaching, being a dad, and being a husband, and that’s what life is. It’s pretty good.”