'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#2. UFC lightweight division: Grant Dawson vs. Rick Glenn
This lightweight bout may not be heavy on name value, but it’s actually one of the stronger fights that the UFC has put together this month.
That’s largely because of the presence of Grant Dawson. Sure, he’s not as big a name as some of the UFC’s higher-end lightweights just yet. He doesn’t even have the momentum of someone like Islam Makhachev or Brad Riddell.
However, with a UFC record of 5-0, ‘KGD’ is on one of the more underrated runs in the promotion right now. If he can pick up a sixth win here – in his first co-main event to boot – it’d be impossible to ignore him any longer.
It is worth noting that Dawson’s first four UFC wins came in the featherweight division. He defeated Julian Erosa, Michael Trizano, Darrick Minner and Nad Narimani there. After missing weight for the latter two bouts, he was forced up to 155lbs.
It didn’t have much of a negative effect, though. He made his lightweight debut in March and became the first man in the UFC to defeat veteran Leonardo Santos, knocking him out with one second remaining in their clash.
Essentially, ‘KGD’ has dangerous skills in all areas. With three finishes in his five UFC wins, he knows how to get an opponent out of the octagon. So, can he do the same to Rick Glenn?
Glenn might not be the biggest name in the lightweight division, but he’s definitely somewhat underrated. ‘The Gladiator’ has been in the promotion since 2016 and has put together a record of 3-3. While he’s been inconsistent, he’s also remarkably tough.
More to the point, he hadn’t fought in the best part of three years before returning to shock UFC fans with a knockout of Joaquim Silva in June.
This, then, is a pretty intriguing clash between two similar fighters. Both Dawson and Grant are tough, have dangerous skills in all areas, and coincidentally, both men are also among the smaller lightweights on the roster.
However, based on sheer momentum and finishing skills, Dawson seems like the smarter pick here. His win over Santos proved he can’t be counted out at any stage of a fight. He has also been far more active than Glenn and should come in with less rust.
Therefore, the pick is ‘KGD’, probably by finish.
The Pick: Dawson via first round submission
