Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight contender T.J. Grant is finally ready to make his return to the Octagon.
On the heels of a five-fight winning streak -- including a blistering first-round knockout of Gray Maynard -- Grant (21-5) was all set to challenge Ben Henderson for the division strap in the main event of UFC 164 all the way back in August of 2013, but was forced to withdraw from the championship contest after suffering a concussion.
And it happened during jiu-jitsu practice, of all things.
Grant was forced to step aside for Anthony Pettis, who subbed Henderson and took home the gold, which he now defends against Gilbert Melendez at the upcoming UFC 181 pay-per-view (PPV) event in December. While he knows the layoff cost him his spot in the 155-pound pecking order, the Canadian is prepared to do whatever it takes to reclaim his spot.
From his conversation with FOX Sports:
"I would personally like to fight Nate Diaz or Donald Cerrone. I think they would be exciting fights. I like the way they come forward and they fight. It's a competition, but it's a fight first, and that's what I want. But really I don't care. It's all about timing and some guys have fights, it's nothing personal. I just go out there and do my job. I'm not picky. I'd bet Cerrone will probably have a fight booked in the next two days. Anybody in the top 10, it doesn't matter."
He could end up with neither at UFC Fight Night 54 in Halifax.
Cerrone -- fresh off a courtroom victory -- is in a holding pattern while the promotion tries to wriggle Eddie Alvarez from the grip of Bellator MMA. Diaz, meanwhile, has no intention of returning to mixed martial arts (MMA) competition until he's compensated accordingly.
If we can't follow through with Plan A or B ... what's plan C?