Grant Dawson is aiming for bigger fights following his first UFC main event, despite acknowledging that he’s not yet a big draw and that highly-ranked fighters like Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler are unlikely to choose him as an opponent due to his current ranking in the lightweight division.
Grant Dawson, a rising star in the UFC, sees his first main event as a stepping stone to greater opportunities and more challenging fights. However, he takes a realistic approach when considering his place in the lightweight division. Currently, he has an impressive 12-fight unbeaten streak, and his eight wins in the octagon have led him to the headlining act of UFC Vegas 80 against Bobby Green. Dawson knows that a victory in the match would move him up the lightweight rankings, even though it wouldn’t necessarily open all doors for him.
In particular, two notable names Dawson concedes he might never face are Conor McGregor, a former two-division champion and Michael Chandler. The duo, initially intending to face off after coaching against each other on The Ultimate Fighter 31, is not likely to shift their focus to other top-ranked lightweights, at least Dawson doesn’t expect so. Dawson maintains that even if McGregor is put on rank No. 5 after defeating Chandler, the chance of him ever pitching against McGregor is nonexistent. The same goes for Chandler as Dawson feels that his star power and draw wouldn’t lead to a match against smaller names like himself.
Dawson also acknowledges the level of talent Chandler has faced since joining the UFC, and that these factors contribute to his star power. However, he believes that Chandler sees more value in fighting a big-name opponent and drawing in larger audiences, rather than facing a lesser-known, yet highly skilled fighter like himself. The same goes for McGregor, who Dawson believes is currently not focusing on MMA due to life circumstances. Dawson speculates that McGregor may be struggling to find a new purpose after retiring and achieving everything he wanted in his MMA career.
Despite McGregor’s hint at a comeback through his recent interactions with UFC’s anti-doping chief Jeff Novitzky, Dawson feels that he may not need to return given his extensive list of accomplishments. That said, Dawson does acknowledge the difficulty of transitioning out of the world of fighting. He expresses that when someone has been deeply dedicated to a particular domain, moving on can be challenging, especially if other aspects of life are not as significant or fulfilling.