Tag: Grant Dawson

Grant Dawson lays out path to UFC title: Stop Damir Ismagulov in July, then beat Justin Gaethje

Grant Dawson breaks down his path to the UFC lightweight belt.

[autotag]Grant Dawson[/autotag] has his road to the UFC lightweight belt mapped out – and he’s off to a good start.

Entering 2023 on an 11-fight unbeaten streak, which includes seven wins in the UFC, Dawson (19-1-1 MMA, 7-0-1 UFC) believes he’s just two good wins away from the ultimate goal. And it all starts on July 1 when he takes on ranked lightweight Damir Ismagulov at UFC on ESPN 48.

“I’m super happy about it,” Dawson told MMA Junkie regarding his matchup against Ismagulov. “He’s ranked No. 12 in the world, and I think that it’s one of those fights where the winner gets propelled into the top seven.

“I think a win over him, I’m looking at fighting Justin Gaethje next, and hopefully after that a title fight. It’s one of those situations where this fight happens, I win this fight, and my dream is coming true right around the corner.”

Dawson said he knows he can’t just get by Ismagulov in order to get a big name like Gaethje. That’s why he plans on making a statement in becoming the first man to stop the Russian in his 26-fight career.

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“I think I’m going to be the first person to finish Ismagulov in the octagon,” Dawson said. “I think that he’s a very good fighter, he’s a very technical fighter, he’s a very skilled fighter, and he is tough as nails. However, I think stylistically, I’m just a very bad matchup for him and I think I’m going to be the first person that finishes him.”

Often times, fighters are hesitant to call out names and much less lay out their path to the title in a public manner. However, Dawson hasn’t had an issue trying to pick fights in the UFC, and he doesn’t understand why many fighters don’t do the same.

“It’s kind of weird for people to only do it step by step,” Dawson said. “I think it’s weird to not think about the future, not think about, ‘Oh, once I win this fight, what comes next?.’

“Obviously, I’m always ready to adapt, so if something goes wrong or something happens or there’s an opponent change, I’m ready to adapt. But it’s fun to think about, ‘I do this, this is what’s going to happen, and then I reach my goal.’ The end goal is always to be a world champion.”

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Grant Dawson vs. Damir Ismagulov booked for UFC Fight Night on July 1

Rising and ranked lightweight contenders Damir Ismagulov and Grant Dawson will throw down in July.

A pair of rising and ranked UFC lightweight contenders will throw down in July as [autotag]Damir Ismagulov[/autotag] is set to take on [autotag]Grant Dawson[/autotag] at UFC Fight Night on July 1 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Two people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the booking Thursday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Ismagulov (24-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) contemplated retirement after suffering his first octagon loss to Arman Tsarukyan this past December at UFC Fight Night 216, but it didn’t take long for the 32-year-old to walk back those thoughts. Prior to the setback, Ismagulov was on a 19-fight winning streak, including wins over Guram Kutateladze and Thiago Moises.

Dawson (19-1-1 MMA, 7-0-1 UFC), who now trains out of American Top Team, is unbeaten in the UFC.  Dawson has finished three of his past four fights and is coming off back-to-back third-round submissions over Jared Gordon and Mark Madsen.

With the addition, the July 1 lineup includes:

  • Abus Magomedov vs. Sean Strickland
  • Melissa Gatto vs. Ariane Lipski
  • Khusein Askhabov vs. Joanderson Brito
  • Max Griffin vs. Michael Morales
  • Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Brunno Ferreira
  • Luana Carolina vs. Ivana Petrovic
  • Grant Dawson vs. Damir Ismagulov

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Grant Dawson wants Paddy Pimblett in London to ‘prove that Scousers get knocked out’

Grant Dawson would ‘love’ the chance to knock out Paddy Pimblett on his home soil in March.

[autotag]Grant Dawson[/autotag] wants the opportunity to stop the hype of UFC lightweight peer [autotag]Paddy Pimblett[/autotag].

Dawson (19-1-1 MMA, 7-0-1 UFC), a Dana White’s Contender Series veteran, had an impressive 2022 campaign with stoppages of Jared Gordon and the previously-undefeated Mark Madsen. Now, he’s looking to build even more momentum with a matchup against the increasingly-popular Pimblett (20-3 MMA, 4-0 UFC).

While answering questions from fans for Millions.co, Dawson revealed he is trying to get the matchup to happen at the upcoming UFC card in London.

“I would love to fight against Paddy,” Dawson said. “We are asking for that fight in London, March 18th. I will go to his home turf to fight him, and to prove that Scousers get knocked out.

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Pimblett is coming off a controversial unanimous decision win over Jared Gordon at UFC 282, a common opponent with Dawson. While Pimblett may be the number one target on his radar at the moment, Dawson, who currently holds the No. 8 spot in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie lightweight rankings, has a few other names in mind, including a former interim champion, for his next outing if he can’t get the matchup he wants.

“If that doesn’t happen, I’m looking for Tony Ferguson,” Dawson said.” If that doesn’t happen, I’m looking for Dan Hooker. If that doesn’t happen, I don’t know what to tell you. Who else?”

With seven wins in the UFC and no losses, Dawson is knocking on the door of the division’s top contenders. A matchup against Pimblett, Ferguson, or Hooker could give him the momentum he needs to be mentioned in the lightweight title picture.

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MMA Junkie’s Submission of the Month for November: Zhang Weili’s title-winning choke

With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best submission from November 2022.

With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best submissions from November 2022: Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMA Junkie’s Submission of the Month award for November.

At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting for your choice.

Nominees

Grant Dawson on calling out Tony Ferguson after UFC Fight Night 214: ‘I want that respect on my name’

Rising lightweight Grant Dawson wants Tony Ferguson following his finish of Mark Madsen at UFC Fight Night 214.

LAS VEGAS – UFC lightweight [autotag]Grant Dawson[/autotag] is itching to get a big name on his resume.

Dawson wants to take a step up and face a recognized opponent in the division, and his preference is former interim champion [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag]. Dawson (19-1-1 MMA, 7-0-1 UFC) called out Ferguson after his submission win over Mark Madsen (12-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 214.

He believes it’s the right next step for his career.

“I think the one thing that I’m missing to get the respect from the fans that I think that I deserve is I haven’t beaten somebody with a high name,” Dawson told reporters afterward. “I’ve beat two undefeated guys – three if you count Leonardo Santos, who’s undefeated in the UFC – and I still feel I’m one of the OK up-and-comers. I want that respect on my name. I understand how this works. I’m not upset. I get it. A win over Tony Ferguson, I think a finish over Tony Ferguson, really stamps my name and shows people, ‘Hey, this guy is for real.’ Also, I can’t wait to get ranked on Monday. I’ve been waiting my whole life to get ranked.”

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As far as his performance on Saturday, Dawson believes it was the best he’s ever looked inside the octagon. He also does admit that missing weight for the short-notice fight does take a little bit away from the win.

“I feel good. I feel like this was one of my best performances,” Dawson said. “I feel like there was a little smidgen on the performance. I think we all know what I’m talking about. But other than that, this was one of my best performances, and I think that it’s great to show how much better I’m getting at American Top Team.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 214.

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UFC Fight Night 214 post-event facts: Neil Magny passes Georges St-Pierre on wins list

Neil Magny passing Georges St-Pierre for most welterweight wins was one of many notable feats to come out of UFC Fight Night 214.

UFC Fight Night 214 took place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and it was an action-filled card with nine of 11 fights ending inside the distance.

The main event saw [autotag]Amanda Lemos[/autotag] (13-2-1 MMA, 7-2 UFC) break through as the next strawweight contender. She scored a standing TKO over fellow Brazilian standout [autotag]Marina Rodriguez[/autotag] (17-2-2 MMA, 6-2-2 UFC) in the third round of their clash.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC Fight Night 214.

UFC Fight Night 214 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Main event combines for $12,000

UFC Fight Night 214 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 214 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $126,500.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC Fight Night 214 took place at the UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC Fight Night 214 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Marina Rodriguez[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Amanda Lemos[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag]: $21,000
[autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Darrick Minner[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Shayilan Nuerdanbieke[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Tagir Ulanbekov[/autotag]: $4,500
[autotag]Nate Maness[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Grant Dawson[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Mark Madsen[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Miranda Maverick[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Shanna Young[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Mario Bautista[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Benito Lopez[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Polyana Viana[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jinh Yu Frey[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Johnny Munoz[/autotag]: $4,50
def. [autotag]Liudvik Sholinian[/autotag]: $4,0000

[autotag]Jake Hadley[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Carlos Candelario[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Tamires Vidal[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Ramona Pascual[/autotag]: $4,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2147 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2141 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2022 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $7,222,000
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $13,399,500

UFC Fight Night 214 video: Grant Dawson taps Mark Madsen, calls out Tony Ferguson

After handing Mark Madsen his first loss, Grant Dawson wants a piece of Tony Ferguson next.

LAS VEGAS –  [autotag]Grant Dawson[/autotag] entered UFC Fight Night 214 looking to hang the first loss on his opponent’s pro record.

After Mark Madsen clipped him early in the first round, Dawson (19-1-1 MMA, 7-0-1 UFC) rallied to control the Olympian on the ground for the remainder of the frame. In the second, it was more smothering grappling from Dawson, who outwrestled Madsen (12-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) at every turn.

In the final round, Dawson continued his offensive output and pressure, eventually taking Madsen’s back on the ground. He then slipped an arm under the neck and clamped on a rear-naked choke to force a tap just over two minutes in.

Check out the replay of the finish below (via Twitter):

After the win, Dawson shifted his focus to a sharp call out of former lightweight interim champion Tony Ferguson.

“If me or Tony Ferguson fight anybody else but each other, just know that he turned me down,” Dawson said during his post-fight interview.

Saturday’s victory marks 11 straight fights for Dawson without a loss. Entering on the heels of a third-round finish of Jared Gordon in April, Dawson picked up his 19th professional win, remaining unbeaten in 8 fights in his UFC career.

Up-to-the-minute results of UFC Fight Night 214 include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 214.

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UFC Fight Night 214 predictions: Is anyone picking Amanda Lemos to upset Marina Rodriguez?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC Fight Night 214 main card, which features Marina Rodriguez vs. Amanda Lemos.

Rodriguez
vs.
Lemos		 Magny
vs.
Rodriguez		 Parisian
vs.
Sherman		 Maness
vs.
Ulanbekov		 Dawson
vs.
Madsen
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
173-103		 mrodriguez2022
M. Rodriguez
(74%)		 drodriguez2022
D. Rodriugez
(60%)		 parisian2022
Parisian
(60%)		 ulanbekov2022
Ulanbekov
(57%)		 dawson2022
Dawson
(56%)
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
186-95
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 mrodriguez2022
M. Rodriguez		 drodriguez2022
D. Rodriugez		 sherman2022
Sherman		 ulanbekov2022
Ulanbekov		 madsen2022
Madsen
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
179-102		 mrodriguez2022
M. Rodriguez		 drodriguez2022
D. Rodriugez		 parisian2022
Parisian		 ulanbekov2022
Ulanbekov		 madsen2022
Madsen
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
178-103		 mrodriguez2022
M. Rodriguez		 drodriguez2022
D. Rodriugez		 parisian2022
Parisian		 ulanbekov2022
Ulanbekov		 madsen2022
Madsen
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
175-106		 mrodriguez2022
M. Rodriguez		 drodriguez2022
D. Rodriugez		 sherman2022
Sherman		 ulanbekov2022
Ulanbekov		 madsen2022
Madsen
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
173-108
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 mrodriguez2022
M. Rodriguez		 drodriguez2022
D. Rodriugez		 sherman2022
Sherman		 ulanbekov2022
Ulanbekov		 dawson2022
Dawson
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
171-110		 mrodriguez2022
M. Rodriguez		 magny2022
Magny		 parisian2022
Parisian		 maness2022
Maness		 madsen2022
Madsen
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
171-110		 mrodriguez2022
M. Rodriguez		 drodriguez2022
D. Rodriugez		 sherman2022
Sherman		 ulanbekov2022
Ulanbekov		 madsen2022
Madsen
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
165-116
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 mrodriguez2022
M. Rodriguez		 drodriguez2022
D. Rodriugez		 parisian2022
Parisian		 ulanbekov2022
Ulanbekov		 madsen2022
Madsen
Nolan King
@mma_kings
164-117		 mrodriguez2022
M. Rodriguez		 drodriguez2022
D. Rodriugez		 sherman2022
Sherman		 ulanbekov2022
Ulanbekov		 madsen2022
Madsen
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
157-124		 mrodriguez2022
M. Rodriguez		 drodriguez2022
D. Rodriugez		 sherman2022
Sherman		 maness2022
Maness		 madsen2022
Madsen
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
138-143		 mrodriguez2022
M. Rodriguez		 magny2022
Magny		 sherman2022
Sherman		 ulanbekov2022
Ulanbekov		 madsen2022
Madsen

The UFC stays on its Las Vegas home turf this week with a pair of women’s strawweight contenders at the top of the lineup.

UFC Fight Night 214 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, [autotag]Marina Rodriguez[/autotag] (16-1-2 MMA, 6-1-2 UFC) takes on [autotag]Amanda Lemos[/autotag] (12-2-1 MMA, 6-2 UFC) at 115 pounds. Rodriguez is a -240 favorite at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Lemos is +180. Our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers are going with Rodriguez unanimously.

In the co-feature, perennial welterweight contender [autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag] (26-10 MMA, 19-8 UFC) takes on [autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag] (17-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC). Magny is a slight favorite at -125, but our staff members are going with Rodriguez at a hefty 9-2 clip.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Josh Parisian[/autotag] (15-5 MMA, 2-2 UFC) meets [autotag]Chase Sherman[/autotag] (16-10 MMA, 4-9 UFC) in a heavyweight bout. Sherman is a slight favorite at -140, and he has a 7-4 lead in the picks.

[autotag]Tagir Ulanbekov[/autotag] (14-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) is more than a 2-1 favorite in his flyweight bout against [autotag]Nate Maness[/autotag] (14-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) and has a big 9-2 picks lead.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Grant Dawson[/autotag] (18-1-1 MMA, 6-0-1 UFC) is a -220 favorite in his lightweight bout against the unbeaten [autotag]Mark Madsen[/autotag] (12-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC). But despite that, our staff pickers are bucking the odds and have Madsen near unanimous at 10-1.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Marina Rodriguez (74 percent), Daniel Rodriguez (60 percent), Parisian (59 percent), Ulanbekov (57 percent) and Dawson (56 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 214.

Grant Dawson: Winner of ‘super difficult fight’ vs. Mark Madsen ‘100 percent’ gets ranked

Grant Dawson fully expects to have a number next to his name if he gets past Mark Madsen at UFC Fight Night 214.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Grant Dawson[/autotag] fully expects to have a number next to his name if he gets past [autotag]Mark Madsen[/autotag].

Dawson (18-1-1 MMA, 6-0-1 UFC) faces Madsen (12-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) in a lightweight bout at UFC Fight Night 214, which takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+. Both fighters are yet to lose in the octagon, so Dawson expects big implications in this fight.

“It’s definitely a tough fight,” Dawson told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at Wednesday’s media day. “Super, super difficult fight, but I think the winner of this fight gets ranked, so that’s what I’m looking for.”

He continued, “Other than an actual top 15 opponent, I think this is the best. He’s undefeated, he’s looked incredible in his UFC run, so I definitely think that a win over him gets me ranked.”

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On paper, Dawson vs. Madsen is a fight between two strong grapplers. While Dawson knows the fight will likely hit the mat, he views this matchup in a different way.

“The winner of this fight gets ranked Monday, 100 percent in my opinion,” Dawson said. “This is one of the best matchups, because it’s not grappler vs. grappler or striker vs. striker. This is competitor vs. competitor. Lifelong competitor at the highest level competing against a lifelong competitor at the highest level. So, whoever wins this fight, it’s not gonna be about who’s the better wrestler, who’s the better this or who’s the better that. It’s gonna be who is the better competitor, and that’s what I’m excited about.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 214.

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