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Sad for my boy TJ Grant, but I honestly wasnt sure if he was ready for a title shot anyways, hope he can get right and regain position tho. Excited to see Bendo and Pettis go at it again, last fight was a classic.
Benson Henderson (19-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) and Anthony Pettis (16-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) will meet again, but this time the UFC lightweight title will be on the line.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today learned from sources close to the fight and subsequently confirmed with UFC President Dana White that T.J. Grant (21-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) has been forced to withdraw from a planned UFC 164 contest with Henderson, and Pettis has agreed to step into the open slot.
UFC 164 takes place at MIlwaukee's Bradley Center on Aug. 31, four weeks after Pettis' expected UFC 163 featherweight title bout with Jose Aldo in Rio de Janeiro. Injury forced Pettis out of that fight, but Grant's poor fortune now allows "Showtime" a chance to fight in his hometown in a bid for the UFC lightweight title.
The nature of Grant's injury wasn't immediately known, and it's unclear when he'll return to action.
Henderson and Pettis, of course, have a history together, as "Showtime" scores a unanimous decision win over "Smooth" in the now-shuttered WEC's final event to become the promotion's final champion. Henderson hasn't lost since, reeling off seven straight wins en route to claiming the UFC lightweight title in February 2012 and already racking up three successful defenses of the belt. Pettis, meanwhile, lost his UFC debut but has rebounded in style with three straight wins, including back-to-back "Knockout of the Night" wins over Donald Cerrone and Joe Lauzon.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today learned from sources close to the fight and subsequently confirmed with UFC President Dana White that T.J. Grant (21-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) has been forced to withdraw from a planned UFC 164 contest with Henderson, and Pettis has agreed to step into the open slot.
UFC 164 takes place at MIlwaukee's Bradley Center on Aug. 31, four weeks after Pettis' expected UFC 163 featherweight title bout with Jose Aldo in Rio de Janeiro. Injury forced Pettis out of that fight, but Grant's poor fortune now allows "Showtime" a chance to fight in his hometown in a bid for the UFC lightweight title.
The nature of Grant's injury wasn't immediately known, and it's unclear when he'll return to action.
Henderson and Pettis, of course, have a history together, as "Showtime" scores a unanimous decision win over "Smooth" in the now-shuttered WEC's final event to become the promotion's final champion. Henderson hasn't lost since, reeling off seven straight wins en route to claiming the UFC lightweight title in February 2012 and already racking up three successful defenses of the belt. Pettis, meanwhile, lost his UFC debut but has rebounded in style with three straight wins, including back-to-back "Knockout of the Night" wins over Donald Cerrone and Joe Lauzon.
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