Grant Dawson on Controversial Draw with Ricky Glenn: ‘Get Over It’

Grant Dawson believes that everybody involved should just move on, but is willing to rematch if the UFC asks.

If it weren't for a brabo choke in late Round 3 of his fight at UFC Fight Night 196, Dawson (17-1-1, 5-0-1 UFC) would have won his ninth straight fight. At least, that's what the Glory MMA standout believes about the submission attempt that allowed Ricky Glenn to score a 10-8 round, resulting in a majority draw. While Glenn claimed that Dawson had gone unconscious from the choke, the Dana White's Contender Series dismisses the accusation, explaining that he may have been close, but was saved by the bell.

“I wasn't out,” Dawson said. “It doesn't really matter, though, because even if I did go out, they will change it to a no-contest and what's the difference between a no-contest and a draw? I was not out. I was 100% saved by the bell, the choke was very very tight and I would have gone out if there had been more time. That's the game we play. If there weren't such things as rounds, I would have had his back for 15 minutes because the only reason he got away from my back control was because the round ended, and we had to stand back up. You can complain about it, yes, I would have gone out if there had been more time, but that's the game we play. It is what it is, man, get over it. I would have said the exact same thing if I was losing, I would have pointed and been like, ‘he’s unconscious, he’s unconscious.’”

When asked if he would open to a rematch with Glenn, “KGD” said he would do whatever the Ultimate Fighting Championship asks him to do, but he doesn't believe a rematch would help either fighter’s career.

“I'm in no position to make demands right now,” he said. “I'm coming off of a draw in a co-main event where I was a -500 favorite so I'm in no position to make demands. I will do whatever the UFC tells me to do, I will sit down, I will shut up, I will show up on weight and I will fight whoever they ask me to fight. I'm in no position to say, 'I want this, or I want that.' Do I want to fight Rick Glenn? No, I don't. I don't think it does anything for my career, I don't think it does anything for his career, I think that it's just something personal that he thinks he can beat me, I think I can beat him, whatever. If the UFC says that' the fight you're getting, that's the fight I'll get. If the UFC says, 'No, we got something else in mind for you,' I'm a company man right now. Whatever they want me to do, I will do.”

The 27-year-old also discussed his upcoming vacation in Europe, praised his team partner at Glory MMA, Jeff Molina, and commented on the latest cartoons he saw and the trailer for the film “Lightyear.”

Tudor Leonte started writing about mixed martial arts in 2013 for Italian media outlets. His journey with Sherdog began in 2018 and he now covers One Championship and countless European shows. You can follow him on Twitter @MrTudorLeonte.