UFC on FOX 6: January 26, 2013 Chicago, Illinois UFC Lightweight Contender TJ Grant (-125) Profile: TJ Grant (19-5) is a relative newcomer to MMA, but in only a six-year career, he has been able to amass an impressive 18-5 record. In April of 2009 at UFC 97, Grant made a successful debut in the UFC, earning a split-decision victory over Pride legend Ryo Chonan. Since then, the 28-year-old Canadian fight has only recently been able to break a five-year trend of not being able to string two wins together. Grant is currently riding the wave of a three-fight winning streak after beating Shane Roller, Carlo Prater and Evan Dunham and hopes to continue that positive momentum with another victory against Matt Wiman at UFC on FOX 6. UFC Lightweight Contender Matt Wiman (-105) Profile: Longtime UFC vet Matt Wiman (15-6) first debuted at UFC 60 in a loss to Spencer Fisher. Over the next six years, Wiman would amass an 9-4 record in the deep waters of the UFC lightweight division while taking out such names as Thiago Tavares, Japanese legend Michihiro Omigawa and Cole Miller. The 29-year-old Colorado native has a solid all-around MMA game that started inside the famed Lion’s Den with training sessions from Mikey Burnett in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Wiman has decent power in his hands, can grapple with most of the opposition and has good ring-savvy. He is coming off an impressive submission victory against Paul Sass for his fifth win in six fights heading into his upcoming bout with TJ Grant. Opening UFC on FOX 6 Odds Analysis: MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas made Grant a slight -125 favorite (bet $125 to win $100) while Wiman opened as a -105 underdog according to the MMA odds. Wiman’s win over Sass was not as surprising as the way he beat him. Sass is a well-known submission specialist and was beaten at his own game, and Wiman showed how well-rounded of a fighter he is in registering his ninth stoppage among 15 career wins. Wiman has won two in a row and five of six, losing only to Dennis Siver via unanimous decision during that stretch. That came after a two-fight losing streak against Sam Stout and Jim Miller, each by UD and both earning Fight of the Night bonuses. Grant has also been on a roll, winning three straight and four of five, and his latest bout against Evan Dunham also resulted in Fight of the Night. The pattern here obviously suggests a very balanced matchup between two fighters who know how to put on a good show. Bettors should not be surprised if either of them comes away with a victory in a fight most likely headed to the judges.
