TJ Grant still recovering from concussion, hopes to make UFC 'Fight Night' return on Oct. 4 in Halifax

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White told top lightweight contender T.J. Grant to take whatever time he needed before stepping foot back inside the Octagon.

Looks like he took that advice to heart.

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, 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, only to get injured himself, effectively putting the lightweight division in a holding pattern until further notice, assuming this unlikely scenario does not come to pass.

From today's press conference in Quebec City (watch it):

"It's going to be an honor to have [UFC] come [to Halifax], hopefully I'm a part of it. I'm still in the prime of my career, I'm not a dinosaur. I got injured, but it's all in the past now, I'm just looking to build off last year, recovering and moving on to the next step. I want to get back in there and get at that title."

He's currently ranked at number three in the official UFC rankings.

Grant had been suffering from lingering effects of his concussion, which included headaches and periods of fog. Fortuntately, it sounds as though he's close to getting back into action and he's currently targeting the UFC "Fight Night" card in Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada, on Oct. 4, 2014.

But does he still deserve at crack at the lightweight crown?