One of the three welterweight bouts at UFC Vegas 52 on Saturday night featured Dwight Grant and Sergey Khandozhko both looking to get back in the win column.
Grant was coming of a split decision loss to Francisco Trinaldo in October 2021. Coming into Saturday night, the 37-year old Grant was 3-3 in the promotion.
Khandozhko was returning after more than two years off, most recently having dropped a decision to Rustam Khabilov in November 2019.
With every welterweight looking up at the champion Kamaru Usman and a tough top 10 in the division, both Grant and Khandozhko needed a big win in order to begin to make their way towards contendership.
Some feeling out kicked off Grant vs. Khandozhko, with both fighters looking to find their range. When they did, it was Khandozhko dropping Grant with a hook, leading to the first big moment of the fight. Khandozhko opted not to get on top, instead letting Grant back up. Grant had some time to shake the cobwebs out, and he managed to land on Khandozhko. Both men appeared game to continue trading; Grant landed a hook, but Khandozhko continued to walk him down, landing combinations and particularly his right hand.
With just over a minute remaining, it was Grant dropping Khandozhko! Grant moved in for the kill, but the Russian made it back to his feet, sweeping, and actually finished the round controlling from the back.
In the second, a right hand from Grant saw Khandozhko going down again. He wasn’t down long, but the naked kick he’d thrown just before that had cost him. More looping hooks were exchanged between the two. Khandozhko continued to move forward; Grant circled along the fence. As the round went on, Grant landed some heavy shots; Khandozhko went to the body with a kick. Near the final minute, Khandozhko caught Grant with a hook, and he was hurt. A jab followed, then a left hook dropped Grant. He was rocked, and Khandozhko unloaded, landing another left as Grant was coming up! Grant went down, covering up and eating more strikes, sending in the ref!
Official Result: Sergey Khandozhko def. Dwight Grant by TKO, Round 2, 4:15
