TJ Grant

TJ Grant (born February 26, 1984) is a Canadian retired mixed martial artist who competed in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Background Grant began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of 15 and then also began wrestling, later going on to compete at Cole Harbour District High School. Grant was a three-time Wrestling Champion in his province in 2001, 2002, and 2004 and also represented Nova Scotia at the 2001 Canada Games in London, Ontario. Grant has also won several competitions in submission wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu in his home country of Canada.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career Grant made his professional mixed martial arts debut in 2007 and compiled a record of 13-2 before being signed by the UFC.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Grant debuted at UFC 97 with an upset split decision victory over Japanese veteran Ryo Chonan.

Grant next fought South Korean Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 100. He lost a unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26).

Grant then defeated Kevin Burns via first-round TKO on December 12, 2009, at UFC 107. The performance earned Grant Knockout of the Night honors.

Grant faced future UFC Welterweight Champion Johny Hendricks on May 8, 2010, at UFC 113. Grant lost via majority decision after having a point deducted due to groin strikes.

Grant defeated Julio Paulino on September 25, 2010, at UFC 119 via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

Grant next faced Brazilian Ricardo Almeida on December 11, 2010, at UFC 124. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Grant was expected to face Matthew Riddle on June 26, 2011, at UFC on Versus 4. However, Riddle was forced from the bout with an injury and replaced by Charlie Brenneman. Then, just days before the event, Grant was forced out the Brenneman bout with an illness. Since there was not enough time to find a suitable replacement, the bout was scrapped.

Grant dropped down to Lightweight for the first time in his career and faced Shane Roller on October 1, 2011, at UFC on Versus 6. After controlling the fight on the ground for the first two rounds, Grant attempted an armbar in the middle of the third round. Although the submission looked tight, referee Fernando Yamasaki stopped the bout due to Roller's audible pain, although Roller did not appear to have tapped out. Despite Roller's protest, Grant was declared winner by technical submission.

Grant was expected to face Jacob Volkmann on December 30, 2011, at UFC 141. However, Grant was forced from the bout with an injury and replaced by Efraín Escudero.

Grant faced Carlo Prater on May 15, 2012, at UFC on Fuel TV: Korean Zombie vs. Poirier. Grant defeated Prater via unanimous decision.

Grant faced Evan Dunham on September 22, 2012, at UFC 152. Grant won the fight via unanimous decision and won a $65,000 Fight of the Night bonus along with Dunham.

Grant faced Matt Wiman on January 26, 2013, at UFC on Fox 6. He won the fight in dominant fashion, finishing off Wiman with a series of elbows and punches at the end of the first round.

Grant faced then UFC #3 Lightweight Contender Gray Maynard at UFC 160 on May 25, 2013. UFC president Dana White announced at the UFC on Fox 7 post-fight press conference that he expected the winner of the Maynard/Grant fight to get a UFC Lightweight title shot. Grant won the fight via TKO in the first round after knocking Maynard down with a straight right hand on the jaw, earning Knockout of the Night honors.

Grant was expected to face then UFC Lightweight Champion Benson Henderson on August 31, 2013, at UFC 164. However, Grant was forced out of the bout with an injury and was replaced by Anthony Pettis, who won the championship.

A bout with Pettis was targeted for December 14, 2013, at UFC on Fox 9. However, Grant revealed in mid-September that he has yet to be medically cleared after suffering a concussion in training and would not be eligible to compete on December 14 and opted to decline the bout. Pettis eventually withdrew from the bout as well, sustaining an injury of his own.

On May 5, 2014, both TJ Grant and fellow UFC fighter Nate Diaz were removed from the UFC’s Lightweight rankings after being deemed inactive by the UFC.

Grant is currently retired from fighting. He owns and operates Grant’s Martial Arts Academy in Dartmouth Nova Scotia since 2020.

Championships and accomplishments Canadian Pro-Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2024 (MMA Wing) Ultimate Fighting Championship Knockout of the Night (Two times) Fight of the Night (One time) UFC.com Awards 2009: Ranked #5 Upset of the Year 2013: Ranked #3 Upset of the Year

Mixed martial arts record Win

Gray Maynard TKO (punches) UFC 160

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Matt Wiman KO (elbows and punches) UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Dodson

Chicago, Illinois, United States Win

Evan Dunham Decision (unanimous) UFC 152

Toronto, Ontario, Canada Win

Carlo Prater Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fuel TV: Korean Zombie vs. Poirier

Fairfax, Virginia United States Win

Shane Roller Technical Submission (armbar) UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson

Washington, D.C. United States Loss

Ricardo Almeida Decision (unanimous) UFC 124

Montreal, Quebec, Canada Win

Julio Paulino Decision (unanimous) UFC 119

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States Loss

Johny Hendricks Decision (majority) UFC 113

Montreal, Quebec, Canada Win

Kevin Burns TKO (punches) UFC 107

Memphis, Tennessee, United States Loss

Dong Hyun Kim Decision (unanimous) UFC 100

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Ryo Chonan Decision (split) UFC 97

Montreal, Quebec, Canada Win

Beau Baker Submission (armbar) PFP: Wanted

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada Win

Forrest Petz Submission (arm-triangle choke) TKO 35: Quenneville vs. Hioki

Montreal, Quebec, Canada Win

Chad Reiner Submission (kimura) PFP: Last Man Standing

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada Win

Mike Gates Submission (armbar) PFP: Street Justice

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Loss

Jesse Bongfeldt Submission (armbar) TKO 32: Ultimatum

Montreal, Quebec, Canada Win

Stephan Lamarche Submission (kimura) KOTC: Avalanche

Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada Win

Stephane Dube Submission (heel hook) TKO 30: Apocalypse

Montreal, Quebec, Canada Win

Kevin Manderson Submission (rear-naked choke) KOTC: Supremacy

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Loss

Gary Wright Decision (unanimous) KOTC: Megiddo

Vernon, British Columbia, Canada Win

Elmer Waterhen Submission (armbar) KOTC: Capital Chaos

Hull, Quebec, Canada Win

Nicholas Portieous Submission (armbar) KOTC: Freedom Fight

Gatineau, Quebec, Canada Win

Eric Beaulieu TKO (punches) ECC 4: Fury

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Win

Rob Wynne Submission (armbar) UGC 14: No Pain, No Gain

Montreal, Quebec, Canada Win

Daniel Grandmaison Submission (armbar) ECC 3: East Coast Warriors

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Win

Craig Skinner Submission (armbar) Extreme Cage Combat 1

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada