Friday morning, both Daniel Rodriguez and Dwight Grant hit the scales, making weight and ready to throw down at UFC Vegas 7.
Against different opponents. But with Calen Born and Takashi Sato both falling off Saturday night’s card, the promotion threw the welterweight pair together, because, well, what else could you do?
Rodriguez, entering the night, had been on a heck of a run in 2020, winning his first two UFC bouts. Grant, 2-1 in the promotion overall, had picked up his first two wins last year, and was fighting for the first time in 2020 on Saturday.
And on a card with one Comeback of the Year contender, the pair delivered a second.
There was absolutely no feeling out process between these two, as both men got right in each other’s face from the get go. About a minute into the fight, Grant landed a back-peddling right hand that floored Rodriguez. He tried to follow up with dozens of punches, but Rodriguez did just enough to keep the fight from being called off. He finally made it back to his feet after quite the onslaught and it was Grant who appeared to have wound up the worst in the exchange. Noticeably gassed, Grant started eating shots from Rodriguez, who eventually dropped him. Grant tried to struggle up, but Rodriguez didn’t give him any chance to recover, putting him right back down.
RALLY COMPLETE!
🗣 Daniel Rodriguez DROPS Grant to close RD 1.
The action keeps rolling on #ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/YbJkB30gNN
— UFC (@ufc) August 23, 2020
A lot of action in not a lot of time.
Official Result: Daniel Rodriguez def. Dwight Grant by TKO (Punches), Round 1, 2:24
