USA TODAY: UFC 160's Grant-Maynard title eliminator has low hype, high stakes

(This story appeared in today’s edition of USA TODAY.)

Those who didn’t realize there’s a major fight Saturday in arguably the UFC’s most competitive division probably can be forgiven. It’s not as if the bout has gotten a lot of hype, and even the guys fighting in it aren’t really making a big fuss over it.

Nevertheless, when T.J. Grant (20-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) and Gray Maynard (11-1-1 MMA, 9-1-1 UFC) meet on the main card at UFC 160 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas (10 p.m. ET, pay-per-view), they’ll be fighting to determine the next challenger for lightweight champion Benson Henderson‘s title.

UFC President Dana White kind of sneaked in the announcement at the news conference after Henderson’s win against Gilbert Melendez in April. There was nothing grandiose about it; just two guys fighting, with the winner getting a title shot.

Maynard, who twice has fought for the lightweight title — a draw against then-champ Frankie Edgar in January 2011 and the lone loss of his career in their rematch in October 2011 — said hearing the news gave him a boost just when he needed it during his preparations for Grant.

“I was a little surprised,” Maynard told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “I was happy, of course. But I was at that point in the camp where I was a little tired halfway through. It was a kick in the butt. It was a little jump-start.”

Grant doesn’t have the title-fight experience Maynard has. He also doesn’t have the same name recognition, either, and he knows it.

Still, the Canadian, who has four consecutive wins since dropping from welterweight, believes he’s going about things the right way.

“The fans right now don’t really know who I am,” Grant says. “They’re probably going, ‘Why is he going to fight for a title?’ I know if I go out and fight the way I’m trained to do and the way I’m prepared to do, there will be a lot less people saying that when they actually get to see me fight.”

Grant knows a win would get him a title shot, but that’s not what is keeping him fired up. He had lots of motivation before White’s announcement.

“It was music to my ears,” he says. “But at the same time, I had a great deal of motivation coming in. A fight with Gray Maynard? That’s enough motivation.”

Helping the matchup fly under the radar is being on a PPV lineup featuring a heavyweight title fight in the main event and heavyweight title eliminator in the co-main event.

The heavyweights have a way of overshadowing undercards. If that’s the case with Cain Velasquez‘s title defense against Antonio Silva and former champ Junior dos Santos vs. Mark Hunt, Maynard understands. Wait until Sunday, he says.

“I’m on a big card,” Maynard says. “You’ve got Cain and Junior, two huge names and guys the whole country goes behind. It’s to be expected a little bit. But afterward, there will be a lot of talk.”

For the latest on UFC 160, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: T.J. Grant)