Gray Maynard vs. T.J. Grant
UFC.com
Gray Maynard has been out of action for 11 months, but having only lost to Frankie Edgar inside the Octagon, he's still considered one of the top contenders in the lightweight division.
That's why a win over T.J. Grant at UFC 160 would earn him a shot at 155-pound champion Benson Henderson.
Grant has earned his spot in a title shot eliminator by winning four straight fights. Most recently, Grant demolished Matt Wiman with a series of elbows at UFC on Fox 6.
Over the course of his career, Grant's had the most problems with high-level grapplers, a group to which three-time All-American wrestler Maynard belongs. Grant's three UFC losses came against Ricardo Almeida, Johny Hendricks and Dong Hyun Kim. Those opponents scored a combined 18 takedowns on Grant over nine rounds.
A large lightweight with a scrappy fighting style, Grant is never going to make it easy for opponents to grind out a decision. However, Maynard is also a big 155-pounder with the wrestling to match some of those welterweights who controlled Grant on the ground.
Betting Odds
Gray Maynard -210
T.J. Grant +170
Prediction
Maynard defeats Grant by decision.