LAS VEGAS – Davey Grant beat Raphael Assuncao with a third-round technnical submission Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 221 in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Grant, who rallied for a comeback win and sent Assuncao into retirement on a loss.
Raphael Assuncao vs. Davey Grant
Result: Davey Grant def. Raphael Assuncao via technical submission (reverse triangle choke) – Round 3, 4:43
Updated records: Grant (13-6 MMA, 6-5 UFC), Assuncao (27-10 MMA, 12-7 UFC)
Key stat: Assuncao landed five takedowns and had more than four minutes of control time.
Grant on the fight's key moment
“To be honest, I was expecting a good war. (Assuncao) is very durable. I know he had a bit of a bad run, but his chin looked good tonight, I thought. I expected it. I thought I’m going to have to sort of keep my range, keep it sharp, hopefully catch him coming in or on the third beat – so like, sort of make him miss it, and then hit him again. … I knew I was just going to have to be patient in some sticky spots.”
Grant on being down going to the third
“He said, ‘You’re going to have to knock him out. We’re probably two rounds down now.’ I thought the second round was close. I thought it probably could have gone either way. But I didn’t want to leave it in the judges’ hands. So more volume going in there and start swinging on him. He said, ‘just let him feel – let him know what your hands are like.’ That was what he said.
“It was a Hail Mary and it was a weird one, but a triangle. Luckily this time, it paid off, and honest, I’m over the moon. I thank my lucky stars. I do – honest – because he’s such a good fighter. I just always feel like I’m so lucky. I just thank everyone so much for these sort of opportunities.”
Grant on what he wants next
“I’m happy to fight. I don’t mind where. I’ve got a home away from home here – it’s Syndicate MMA in Vegas. I spent my last few fights here, so I don’t mind. It would be nice to get on a London card – it’s a bit closer and a few of my friends can come watch, my family and stuff. It would be nice. But as long as I’m active, I don’t mind. I’ll fight anywhere in the world.”
To hear more from Grant, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 221.
