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‘I had scary surgical procedure not realizing if I’d ever battle once more – now I need to face UFC legend’

ULTIMATE INSIDER UFC COLUMN: Davey Grant’s UFC career was nearly ended by a neck injury but the British bantamweight keeps getting fans out of their seats

Davey Grant always entertains UFC fans
Davey Grant always entertains UFC fans(Image: Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Determined not to have a Mickey Mouse career in the UFC, Davey Grant fights like he doesn’t give a Donald Duck in the octagon – as he proved the Belle of the ball once again.

The Bishop Auckland bantamweight, as he always does, got the fans out of their seats at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, as he beat Ramon Taveras in an entertaining clash on points.

Grant, 38, who has been in the UFC since 2013 after winning his contract via ‘The Ultimate Fighter’, shows no signs of slowing down, though he might opt for the tranquil ‘It’s a Small World’ ride over ‘Space Mountain’ as he celebrates another bruising victory with his family at Disney World.

After his wife and three children all watched him together for the first time, ‘Dangerous’ said: “It’s nice to be able to treat my family (thanks to fighting). That’s why I managed to bring them all over to Florida and we can go to Disney World and things like that. That’s why I do it – I do it for them.

“Fighting is not my most important job. My most important job is being a good father and being a good husband and then fighting’s third. But the money I make off fighting helps me to do a lot of things with my family and that’s why I do it.”

Injuries hampered Grant’s early days in the UFC before a stunning third-round, one-punch KO of Martin Day in July 2020, despite suffering a broken jaw himself, set the template for his new all-action style.

Having now won six of his last nine fights, a neck injury nearly ended his UFC dreams before they had been fully realised, with Grant adding: “The doctor who performed the surgery (in March) said he didn’t know if I would be able to fight again. It was very scary.

“I remember I used to tell people that if I got injured and couldn’t fight anymore I’d be happy with the career I had. But when I was faced with a career-ending injury, it turns out I wasn’t ready for it at all.

“Although I am getting on, I feel I have so much more to give in my fighting career. I don’t want it to end. I want to keep putting in performances like that.”

Jose Aldo
Jose Aldo is a UFC legend(Image: GETTY)

If Grant could wish upon a star and pick anyone to face in the cage next, then it would be Brazilian great Jose Aldo.

The Brit said: “If we are talking about dream match-ups, then Jose Aldo. It would be more for my legacy, because he is an absolute legend.

“I have worked my way up and am known for exciting fights, and who is more exciting to fight than Jose Aldo?”

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