When the pandemic opened up enough for the first fights to happen after the original shutdown, it was Davey Grant walking to the cage first. His fight with Martin Day was the first on “Fight Island” and one to remember for everyone. Not only was it a return to live sports for a lot of people, but the two put on a war. Grant, after breaking his jaw, scored a knockout for the ages.
However, similar to all of his fights that have come since, Grant didn’t get the roar of the crowd afterwards. Limited seating left it fairly quiet as would all of his subsequent bouts that have taken place at the Apex. According to him, though, he feels the same no matter what.
“Even when I’m not in a crowd, I still feel like I’m in a massive stadium,” Grant explained. “I’m just 100% focused on the task.”
This weekend’s UFC Las Vegas will mark the first time that’s changed for Grant. He’ll fight inside the Theatre at Vigrin Hotels – a famed MMA site that used to be known as the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel. The crowd couldn’t come at a better time for Grant, who is building off a massive win. Not only that, but he’ll be stepping in with a name that has been big in the sport for some time in Raphael Assuncao.
Although Assuncao isn’t what he once was heralded as, Grant still respects the veteran and knows he can’t overlook what’s in front of him.
“He’s had a fantastic career and he’s still going now,” he said. “He’s still a dog and I’ve still got to be on my game 100%, but I feel like it’s my time.”
And when it comes to a gameplan for a tough veteran like Assuncao, Grant is not shy about what he’s hoping to do. In fact, it’s what he’s hoping to do every time he steps out there.
“I’m trying to knock him out, with no disrespect to anyone, but that’s always going to be my gameplan,” Grant shared. “I’m expecting a war, and anything else is just a bonus, but I’m going in there to knock people out – all day, everyday and twice on Sunday.”
He’ll get the chance to make good on that during the ESPN+ prelims of UFC Las Vegas this Saturday.
You can hear the entire audio of this interview below at 2:03.
