T.J. Grant plans to be ‘violent’ against Anthony Pettis, won’t take ‘cowards way out’

After hearing the news from UFC president Dana White that he would indeed be the next man to challenge newly-crowned UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis (17-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC), T.J. Grant (21-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) is determined to put on a show against the always-entertaining “Showtime” by not taking the “cowards way out.”

What does that mean exactly? Basically, Grant is not planning on holding Pettis against the cage for 5 rounds, in order to grind him down. Instead, Grant plans on being “violent”, as he was in his UFC 160 fight with Gray Maynard, a bout that Grant won via knockout.

The Candian lightweight standout broke down his gameplan during a recent interview with Bleacher Report:

“It’s a competition, there’s a ton of strategy involved, but at the same time, I’m not taking the coward’s way out. I’m trying to beat a man up with my skills overall. I’m not trying to hold a guy up against the fence and grind them down. I’m trying to fight and be violent and I think (Pettis) is the same way. I think it’s an exciting fight and we’d put on a good one.”

Grant lost his opportunity to fight for the title against former champion Benson Henderson when he suffered a concussion in training. With that, in stepped Milwaukee native Anthony “Showtime” Pettis, who was able to defeat “Smooth” for a second time at UFC 164, thus becoming the UFC’s new 155-pound champ.

T.J. Grant’s violence plus “Showtime’s” unpredictability could equal one hell of a fight come the new year. Who do you see winning this fight? Let’s hear it Penn Nation!