Grant Dawson

Grant Michael Dawson (born February 20, 1994) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of August 1, 2026, he is #15 in the Meta UFC lightweight rankings.

Background Dawson was born in Cambria, Wisconsin, but grew up mostly in Stromsburg, Nebraska. Initially dreaming of a career in American football, Dawson started wrestling to aid his primary sport. After realizing he wasn't good enough at American football, he dropped the sport and concentrated solely in wrestling. After graduating from high school but skipping college due to dyslexia, Dawson decided to pursue a career in mixed martial arts.

Dana White's Contender Series Dawson appeared on the first season of the program Dana White's Contender Series 6. He faced Adrian Diaz on August 17, 2017 and won the fight by submission due to a rear-naked choke in round two. With the win, Dawson was offered a UFC contract.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Dawson made his UFC debut on March 9, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 146 against Julian Erosa. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

His next fight came on May 18, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 152 against Michael Trizano. He won the fight via a rear-naked choke in round two. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Dawson was scheduled to meet Chas Skelly on January 18, 2020, at UFC 246. However, Dawson was flagged by USADA the second times where the initial flagging was in November 2017 for a residual metabolite of the steroid Turinabol which it was subsequent cleared by USDADA for not able to determine when Dawson had ingested the banned substance, and that resulted in the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) pulling bout from UFC 246. The subsequent finding from USADA found no evidence of performance enhancement of a re-ingestion of a banned drug. However, NSAC would revisit the matter in July, 2020 to determine to issue Nevada fighter licence Dawson and Dawson would have to undergo testing twice a month. The bout was rescheduled on February 29, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 169 at Norfolk, Virginia. On February 7, 2020, it was reported that Skelly was injured during one of his training session and was forced to withdraw from the event, and he was replaced by promotional newcomer Darrick Minner. At the weigh-ins, Dawson also failed to make weight, coming in at 149.5 pounds, 3.5 pounds over the featherweight non-title limit of 146 pounds. He was fined 30% of his fight purse, which went to Minner and the bout proceeded at a catchweight. Dawson won the fight via a submission in round two.

Dawson faced Nad Narimani on July 19, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 172. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Dawson faced Leonardo Santos on March 20, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 21. He won the fight via knockout in round three. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Grant was scheduled to face Carlos Diego Ferreira on October 2, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 193. However, Ferreira pulled out of the fight in early-September citing an injury. Instead Dawson faced Ricky Glenn on October 23, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 196. The fight ended in majority draw. 8 out of 11 media outlets scored the bout for Dawson.

Grant, replacing Rafael Alves, faced Jared Gordon on April 30, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 35. He won the bout via rear-naked choke late into the third round.

Grant faced Mark Madsen, replacing Drakkar Klose, November 5, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 214. At the weigh-ins, Dawson weighed in at 157.5 pounds, one and a half pounds over the lightweight non-title fight limit. His bout proceeded at catchweight and he was fined 30% of his individual purse, which went to his opponent Madsen. He won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the third round.

Grant faced Damir Ismagulov on July 1, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 48. He won the bout via unanimous decision.

Dawson faced Bobby Green on October 7, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 229. He lost via knockout in the first round.

Dawson faced Joe Solecki on June 1, 2024, at UFC 302. With over thirteen minutes of ground control time, Dawson won the fight by unanimous decision.

Dawson faced Rafa García on October 12, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 244. He won the fight by technical knockout via ground elbows and punches in the second round.

Dawson faced Carlos Diego Ferreira on January 18, 2025, at UFC 311. After landing six takedowns, he won the fight by unanimous decision.

Dawson was reportedly scheduled to face Joel Álvarez on August 2, 2025 at UFC on ESPN 71. However, for unknown reasons, the bout was not formally announced.

Dawson faced Manuel Torres on December 6, 2025, at UFC 323. He lost the fight by technical knockout in the first round.

Dawson faced Mateusz Rębecki on May 9, 2026 at UFC 328. He won the fight via a guillotine choke in round three.

Dawson is scheduled to face Nurullo Aliev on October 24, 2026 at UFC 333.

Championships and accomplishments Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship Performance of the Night (Two times) Highest top-position percentage in UFC Lightweight division history (62.3%)

Mixed martial arts record Win

Mateusz Rębecki Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 328

Newark, New Jersey, United States Loss

Manuel Torres TKO (punches) UFC 323

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Carlos Diego Ferreira Decision (unanimous) UFC 311

Inglewood, California, United States Win

Rafa García TKO (elbows and punches) UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Taira

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Joe Solecki Decision (unanimous) UFC 302

Newark, New Jersey, United States Loss

Bobby Green KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Dawson vs. Green

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Damir Ismagulov Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Strickland vs. Magomedov

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Mark Madsen Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. Lemos

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Jared Gordon Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on ESPN: Font vs. Vera

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Draw

Ricky Glenn Draw (majority) UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Leonardo Santos KO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Brunson vs. Holland

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Nad Narimani Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

Darrick Minner Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Benavidez vs. Figueiredo

Norfolk, Virginia, United States Win

Michael Trizano Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Lee

Rochester, New York, United States Win

Julian Erosa Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. dos Santos

Wichita, Kansas, United States Win

Adrian Diaz Submission (rear-naked choke) Dana White's Contender Series 1

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Mike Plazola Submission (triangle choke) Kansas City Fighting Alliance 20

Independence, Missouri, United States Win

Christian Camp TKO (elbows and punches) Victory FC 52

Omaha, Nebraska, United States Loss

Hugh Pulley TKO (elbows) Kansas City Fighting Alliance 18

Independence, Missouri, United States Win

Robert Washington TKO (punches) Titan FC 37

Ridgefield, Washington, United States Win

Bryce Logan TKO (punches) Victory FC 47

Omaha, Nebraska, United States Win

Andrew Carrillo Submission (rear-naked choke)

Win

Danny Tims Submission (rear-naked choke)

Win

Chris McDaniel Submission (rear-naked choke) ShoFIGHT MMA: Branson Brawl

Branson, Missouri, United States Win

James Smith Submission (rear-naked choke) Victory FC 45

Ralston, Nebraska, United States Win

Adam Rider Submission (rear-naked choke) Shamrock FC: Heavy Artillery

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Win

Matt Williams Submission (armbar) Dynasty Combat Sports 12

Lincoln, Nebraska, United States Win

Jeremiah Denson Submission (rear-naked choke) Omaha Fight Club 100

Omaha, Nebraska, United States