Grant Dawson wanted to deliver a strong performance at UFC on ESPN 35 after switching gyms to American Top Team. He did exactly that by finishing Jared Gordon.
Dawson (18-1-1 MMA, 6-0-1 UFC) remained flawless inside the octagon during his career when he became the first to submit Gordon (18-5 MMA, 6-4 UFC) in MMA competition courtesy of a rear-naked choke in the third round of their lightweight bout at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
After taking Gordon’s back repeatedly throughout the fight, Dawson finally locked it in deep enough to force a tap with less than a minute remaining in the final round. Check out his handiwork below (via Twitter):
WITH UNDER A MINUTE LEFT @DAWSONGRANT20Y1 GETS IT DONE 💪 #UFCVegas53 pic.twitter.com/KIdAqMXPwc
— UFC (@ufc) May 1, 2022
Make that 🔟 fights unbeaten 👊
[ @DawsonGrant20y1 | #UFCVegas53 ] pic.twitter.com/GlXXIl8GHJ
— UFC (@ufc) May 1, 2022
After extending his unbeaten streak, Dawson said he thinks he’s deserving of more attention at 155 pounds.
“A quick notice to everyone I’m fighting: That’s always going to be my game plan,” Dawson said in his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping. “The last time I lost a fight, Barrack Obama was president. I am the most under-appreciated lightweight in the UFC. Put some respect on my name.”
