UFC 160: What We Learned from TJ Grant vs. Gray Maynard

T.J. Grant earned a shot at the UFC lightweight title shot with a masterful and vicious first-round technical knockout over Gray Maynard at UFC 160 Saturday night in Las Vegas.

Grant (21-5) landed hard combinations punctuated by heavy right hands and accurate knee strikes to fell Maynard (11-2-1-1) three separate times before the referee finally stopped the action.

UFC president Dana White had previously said the winner of this fight would receive a title shot against champ Benson Henderson. 

What We'll Remember about This Fight

That a relative unknown in Grant defeated a higher-profile fighter in Maynard to earn a shot at the lightweight title. Grant, as of the second the referee waved his hands, is for real.

What We Learned about T.J. Grant

The fact that he seemed to know what Maynard was going to do before he did it, then beat him to the punch each and every time. Grant hits hard, but the way he timed the punches and anticipated his opponent's movements were the real power of that fight-ending sequence.

What We Learned about Gray Maynard

He has a solid chin, but the reason he lasted as long as he did was because of a decidedly, uh, generous ref in Chris Tognoni. He gave Maynard several chances to recover, but Grant kept the heat on as Maynard staggered to his feet only to fall again. He was game, but perhaps after such a long time away (this was only his fourth fight in the past three years) he needs to start his climb on a lower rung.

What's Next for Grant

This is an easy call, if not an easy fight. Next up is a title dance with champion Benson Henderson.

What's Next for Maynard

I'd be interested in a scrap with Gilbert Melendez. That's an interesting clash of styles right there. But if that's too stiff of an opponent for Maynard at this particular stage, someone like Tim Means would be an interesting foil.