UFC 160's jack-of-all-trades, T.J. Grant, has a plan for Gray Maynard

If you raised an eyebrow when you heard T.J. Grant was going to fight Gray Maynard to determine the next lightweight title challenger, a lot of folks would understand.

T.J. Grant probably would understand, even. He’d want a chance to explain why you shouldn’t question that decision at all – but he’d probably understand.

Grant is one of the first to admit that he hasn’t gotten the widespread mainstream recognition of some of his 155-pound counterparts. But on Saturday, Grant has a chance to change all of that, and change it all in a very major way.

Grant (20-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) on Saturday fights Maynard (11-1-1 MMA, 9-1-1 UFC) at UFC 160, which takes place at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The winner, as UFC President Dana White announced a little more than a month ago, moves on to a title fight against champion Benson Henderson likely later this year.

UFC 160 has a main card that airs live on pay-per-view following prelims on FX and Facebook. Grant and Maynard are part of the five-fight pay-per-view broadcast.

In Grant’s former UFC life, he was a welterweight. But he bounced between wins and losses, never putting together a win streak in the division. His losses were to top-shelfers like Dong Hyun Kim, Ricardo Almeida and current No. 1 contender Johny Hendricks, though, and none of them could finish Grant. That experience, he believes, has helped guide him after dropping to lightweight – where he’s got a four-fight win streak.

“People tell me that I’m overlooked in the division, but I’ve got a lot of experience in the UFC now and I’ve fought a lot of top-tier dudes at welterweight and at 155, too,” Grant told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “I’m fortunate to get the experience I’ve gotten. Right now, I feel like I’m built for the long haul and I’m here to stay.”

Grant’s streak has been just about a perfect mix. He submitted Shane Roller, he won decisions against Carlo Prater and Evan Dunham, and in January, he knocked out Matt Wiman starting with a series of vicious elbows to win with just nine seconds left in the first round.

It’s been a steady progression up the ladder in quality of opposition, and he believes it culminates on Saturday against Maynard, who has the benefit of two lightweight title fights against Frankie Edgar in his past three fights.

And he also believes he’s starting to peak in his career just at the right time in all facets of the game.

“Just getting used to fighting at the new weight class, getting comfortable with the whole process of it (has helped me),” he said. “And every time I go out there, I feel like I’m getting better at this thing, becoming a better fighter, becoming better with my nutrition, my preparation, my strength and conditioning – my overall health is getting better. I’m really being diligent about taking care of my body, and I’m performing at a much higher level now in the gym.”

Where the casual fan may have been overlooking Grant, from Canada, is in the way that he’s been so well-rounded. He may have the quietest top contender win streak of anyone in recent UFC memory.

Even Grant acknowledges that where he’s been standing out has been in not necessarily standing out at all – and just being good at everything: the classic jack-of-all-trades. But in his case, he wants to soon be master of all, not none.

“I don’t feel like I’m the best kickboxer, I don’t feel like I’m the best boxer, or the best muay Thai guy. I don’t feel like I’m the best wrestler or the best jiujitsu guy,” he said. “But if you step in the octagon with me, you better be good at all those things because there’s going to be one of them that I’m going to find that I’m better than you at. You’ve got to worry about it all. I feel like I’m pretty consistent across the board.

“I’ve obviously got a lot of room to improve, but I’m going to use all my weapons when I get in there. I want to put the pressure on him and hopefully make him fold.”

Maynard has folded just once in his career – his UFC 136 rematch against Edgar when he suffered his first loss with a fourth-round knockout. After that, he rebounded with a split-decision win over Clay Guida that was one of the stranger fights of 2012. But Maynard has been out since then after an injury and subsequent surgery.

Grant isn’t wondering if Maynard will come in with any ring rust after 11 months away. He’s focused only on getting the win and reaping the benefits of that title shot the victor was promised by the boss.

And maybe then you’ll start to figure out just who T.J. Grant is.

“This is just a great platform for me to get out there and show what I’m all about,” he said. “I’m going to fight the way I like to fight and try to implement my game plan and hopefully showcase some good, well-rounded mixed martial arts and get a win.”

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