What Should the UFC Do with TJ Grant When He Returns?

TJ Grant earned the next title shot at 155 pounds, but an injury forced him off the UFC 164 card.

Anthony Pettis answered the call, defeated Benson Henderson and won the UFC Lightweight Championship. Grant was next in line again.

However, Grant was not recovering as quickly as he had hoped. His recovery from a concussion prevented him from challenging for gold later this year at UFC on Fox 9.

The question has to be asked: What does the UFC do with Grant when he returns?

Essentially, the promotion has two options—either make him the next title challenger or put him in a bout to determine the No. 1 contender.

I lean toward the latter.

Why?

By the time Grant returns, the division will have changed once again. Pettis and Josh Thomson will have fought for the gold, and No. 2-ranked Gilbert Melendez will have fought Diego Sanchez at UFC 166. Meanwhile, No. 1-ranked Benson Henderson is eyeing a February return to the cage.

If the top two contenders hold serve, they will have made their case for a title shot over Grant. The winner of Pettis and Thomson should already have his next challenger.

Undefeated prospect Khabib Nurmagomedov called for a title shot after his latest victory, but he is not going to get one. He then challenged TJ Grant to a fight, as reported on UFC Tonight. That could be the right move for Grant.

Nurmagomedov moved up to No. 7 in the division, and with nothing but impressive showings and an undefeated record, he is one of the hottest fighters going in the division. That is a legit fight to determine the next contender at 155 pounds.

In a perfect world, Grant could sit and wait for a title shot. However, this beautiful MMA world is anything but perfect.

The division continues to move on without him, and each event that occurs in his absence allows other contenders the opportunity to take his spot. His guaranteed title shot should no longer be guaranteed. Too much has already changed with a new champion.

It is unfortunate to lose a title shot due to injury, but that is just how life goes sometimes. Grant is not the top contender anymore. He is ranked No. 3 in the UFC's official rankings.

He will have plenty of options when he returns, and he should only have to win one fight to reclaim the title shot he lost due to injury. That is fair and the right thing to do. He should not be granted a title shot immediately after how the division has played out in his absence.

The UFC should move on and see how things play out without Grant. When he is ready to compete again, he will get a top fighter in a bout to determine the No. 1 contender, with a chance to earn his shot again.