Davey Grant has made a habit of putting on exciting performances of late, and he didn’t disappoint Saturday.
Grant came into UFC on ESPN 36 with four straight post-fight bonus awards – but the most recent two had been for Fight of the Night losses after back-to-back Performance of the Night finishes.
Saturday, though, Grant (12-6 MMA, 5-5 UFC) took out Louis Smolka (17-9 MMA, 8-9 UFC) with what wound up being a vicious knockout 49 seconds into the third round. Grant had been hurting Smolka with leg kicks, and another one had his Hawaiian opponent limping, then slumping to the canvas.
Grant, from England, took advantage in a hurry. He followed Smolka tot he mat and hit him with a few punches, the latter of which connected right on the chin and put Smolka out.
Grant got back in the win column after 2021 losses to Adrian Yanez and Marlon Vera. Smolka’s loss was his second straight – and second straight by knockout after going his entire career without being put away with punches.