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

By Chris Taylor - September 6, 2013

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!


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