vs
+310 -320
UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder · Jul 26, 2025 · Bantamweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder Next Fight
Age 40
Height 5' 8"
Reach 69.0"
Weight 135 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 31
Height 5' 10"
Reach 72.0"
Weight 135 lbs.
Stance Switch
Career Averages - Davey Grant
5.14 SLpM
44.0% Str. Acc.
3.82 SApM
55.0% Str. Def.
1.03 TD Avg
40.0% TD Acc.
63.0% TD Def.
0.2 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Da'Mon Blackshear
4.33 SLpM
45.0% Str. Acc.
4.19 SApM
52.0% Str. Def.
1.48 TD Avg
33.0% TD Acc.
71.0% TD Def.
1.5 Sub. Avg
Davey Grant
Moneyline
FanDuel +310
KO/TKO
Unibet +1200
Submission
Unibet +4500
Decision
BetRivers +430
Da'Mon Blackshear
Moneyline
Caesars -320
KO/TKO
FanDuel +750
Submission
FanDuel +200
Decision
BetRivers +185
Davey Grant - Fight History
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs. Zalal · Apr 25, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Davey Grant 0 162 of 307 52% 164 of 309 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Adrián Luna Martinetti 0 99 of 196 50% 100 of 199 1 of 5 20% 0 0 0:43
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Davey Grant 0 44 of 89 49% 46 of 91 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Adrián Luna Martinetti 0 18 of 41 43% 18 of 41 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Davey Grant 0 54 of 105 51% 54 of 105 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Adrián Luna Martinetti 0 38 of 79 48% 38 of 79 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:06
3 Davey Grant 0 64 of 113 56% 64 of 113 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Adrián Luna Martinetti 0 43 of 76 56% 44 of 79 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:37
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Davey Grant 162 of 307 52% 56 of 183 45 of 59 61 of 65 148 of 289 14 of 18 0 of 0
Adrián Luna Martinetti 99 of 196 50% 48 of 136 37 of 43 14 of 17 91 of 183 8 of 13 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Davey Grant 44 of 89 49% 8 of 46 12 of 17 24 of 26 41 of 86 3 of 3 0 of 0
Adrián Luna Martinetti 18 of 41 43% 6 of 25 7 of 10 5 of 6 18 of 40 0 of 1 0 of 0
2 Davey Grant 54 of 105 51% 18 of 62 15 of 20 21 of 23 50 of 100 4 of 5 0 of 0
Adrián Luna Martinetti 38 of 79 48% 19 of 58 16 of 17 3 of 4 35 of 73 3 of 6 0 of 0
3 Davey Grant 64 of 113 56% 30 of 75 18 of 22 16 of 16 57 of 103 7 of 10 0 of 0
Adrián Luna Martinetti 43 of 76 56% 23 of 53 14 of 16 6 of 7 38 of 70 5 of 6 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Adrian Luna Martinetti vs. Davey Grant
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Grant (-120); Luna (+100)

Round 1
Getting a high card placement in his promotional debut, Martinetti (17-1, 0-0 UFC) dazzled in his incredible all-out battle on the Contender Series with Mark Vologdin last year. Whether he will be able to keep that momentum of 15 consecutive victories and a good amount of hype on his side, he will have to go through Grant (17-8, 8-7 UFC) to fully introduce himself to the UFC brass. Referee Chris Tognoni will keep tabs on the bantamweights, stepping back as they touch gloves to get going.
Grant lets loose a nearly calf kick, and he checks one coming back his way. Grant chops at the lead leg a few more times, with Grant ready for checks as he expects retaliation from the Ecuadorian. Grant flicks out his jab and stomps down at the knee with a kick, winging a right hand to the ribs after it. Martinetti is stuck dealing with Grant’s offense to offer much of his own, tossing out three of his own kicks amidst Grant’s accurate swings. Grant knocks Martinetti down with a kick, and he slips a few punches to let go with a right hand. Grant tosses out a head kick, one to the body and dings his foe with a right hand, sliding away from the counter in a hurry. Martinetti keeps after him, landing with a solid uppercut and a low kick. He shrugs at Grant when Grant hurls a right hand that partially lands on the temple. Grant’s kicks are consistent and Martinetti’s movement is keeping him safe from the worst of it. Grant steps in with a right hand, and Martinetti chambers and swings back but does not land nearly as cleanly.
Grant’s calf kick is starting to give the newcomer pause, who has a hitch in his step as he uses a knee shield and freezes when doing so. This allow Grant to let his hands go when Martinetti’s leg is in the air. Martinetti bites down on his mouthpiece to throw leather, and when he ducks down, Grant drills him with a knee on the forehead. Martinetti keeps pushing forward, and Grant is starting to time his movement and flusters the man from Ecuador with his kicks. Grant lands another knee when Martinetti leans over, and when Martinetti skitters back, Grant chops at the lead leg. Martinetti answers back with a spinning back kick, and he shoots for a takedown after that does not score. Grant lands a combination beginning and ending with a calf kick, and Martinetti is unable to find a pattern and just has to swing back with sheer power. Grant is able to dodge them, brushing past a jump knee and watching a swinging kick go past him after Martinetti lands. The round wraps.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant

Round 2
The fighters touch gloves, and within seconds, Grant lashes out with his low kick and a few more kicks after it. Martinetti plods forward, seemingly ignoring the kicks so he can trade vicious leather. He keeps after Grant, pushing the pace and forcing Grant to fight off his back foot, but that does not bother the Brit. Grant is content to crush the front leg with enough kicks to force Martinetti to change stances, and when that happens, he kicks the other leg. A right hand from Martinetti opens a cut on Grant’s temple, who pays it no mind and circles away to drill his foe with a left hand. Grant nearly kicks out the newly placed front leg, and he misses a head kick and recovers it to a side kick. Martinetti rushes ever forward, and Grant deals with the largely single strikes aimed at him to chain two or three together. Martinetti elbows Grant to back him off, and he doubles up with body shots to allow him to close in and shoot for a double. Grant scores a few knees before pushing out of the clinch, flicking punches and kicks out to varied targets with aplomb.
Martinetti keeps pinning shots to the body, but they are largely single swings while Grant strings a few together. Martinetti stays right in front of Grant, taking everything he throws at him in hopes of giving him back power. Martinetti stomps at the knee and spins with a back fist, the swing missing and opening him up to heavy right hand. Martinetti has to blink it out, and Grant targets it with one more and ducks to circle away. Grant stays in the pocket to throw hands, Martinetti scoring to the body while he shells up from the head shots. Martinetti pocket boxes to get off short but solid uppercuts, and Grant breaks his front leg down with kicks to force Martinetti to switch back to orthodox. Fists fly from both sides, with Grant getting slightly pushed back but by no means struggling with the pressure. Grant sinks in a brutal calf kick and beans Martinetti with two hooks, and he raises his hands in the air to celebrate his handiwork. Feeling himself, Grant keeps his hands up and takes a spinning back fist right in the face, laughing at it and encouraging Martinetti to hit him with more. A few more punches from Grant conclude the violent round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant

Round 3
The fighters lather up those in the building at the Apex to start off the final frame, with Grant immediately scoring with accurate combinations. Martinetti presses towards him and pursues a takedown, backing Grant down to the wall but not grounding him. Grant stays right in front of his foe, consistently striking with anything that comes to mind at that moment. His unpredictability, mixed in with a non-recurring pattern of solid low kicks, irritate Martinetti. Martinetti gathers his thoughts and starts loading up, landing on Grant with a right hand and a body kick. Grant shrugs it off and keeps his guard up to block a sudden flurry of fists. Martinetti spins with a back kick aimed up high that careens off the gloves, and Grant greets him in the proverbial phone booth with elbows and short punches. Martinetti is hellbent for leather, swinging with reckless abandon, while commentator John Gooden remarks that “these two gentlemen woke up and chose violence.” How fitting.
It is all gas, no brakes for these two bantamweights, who trade no matter the damage, pain or impact from any of the numerous blows absorbed thus far. Grant may be leaking from a few spots around his face, but he might not even register the damage as he sits down on a left hand to rock the Ecuadorian. Martinetti’s nostrils spray blood as Grant’s fists meet them again and again, and Martinetti sells out for a low takedown and hits the ankle pick to put Grant on his seat. Grant turns to his knee with the wall at his side, and Martinetti climbs to his back to search for a choke. Grant wills his way upright, and Martinetti drags him right back down. The squirming Brit works his way back to his feet, and the two men decide it’s time to stand and bang. They proceed to duke it out with no fear of reprisal, and Martinetti even tries a Hail Mary rolling thunder kick that Grant dodges but celebrates. They reach the final horn, and celebrate their handiwork, very likely the frontrunners for the $100K “Fight of the Night” bonus that was still quite up for grabs.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)

The Official Result
Davey Grant def. Adrian Luna Martinetti via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Apr 19, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Adrián Luna Martinetti

Angelo confidently picks Adrián Luna Martinetti, citing his insane volume, solid chin, and solid takedown defense. He notes that Davey Grant is 40 years old with a poor chin, and expects Martinetti to overwhelm him with strikes. He is surprised the odds are close and has bet on Martinetti.

Angelo says he bet on Martinetti.
"I am going to pick Martinelli. I also bet on Martinetti. His volume is nuts."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Apr 21, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Big Brady picks Davey Grant over Adrián Luna Martinetti. He notes Grant's age (40) but sees no decline, citing recent performances. He believes Grant is the better striker and more durable, and expects a competitive fight that Grant wins by decision.

Grant wins by decision
"Give me Davey Grant to win and win by decision here."
DI
Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert Confident picked Apr 25, 2026 (fight day)
Davey Grant

The host believes Grant is a lot better than Martinez, who looked like a basic striker with poor wrestling and cardio in his Contender Series fight. Grant is more experienced, skilled, powerful, and has better cardio despite being 40. He acknowledges the risk of age-related decline but thinks Grant should win comfortably. He will bet Grant.

Not interested in fight spreads or over/under
"I will be betting Davey Grant this weekend because he's a lot better than Adrian Yanez Martinez."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Apr 19, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Adrián Luna Martinetti

James picks Martinetti due to his youth (10-year age advantage) and similar high-volume style. He thinks Martinetti's takedowns and durability will outlast Grant, who is 40 and coming off a quick loss. He predicts a decision win.

"I am going to pick Martinetti overall and the reason I'm going to do that is just because of his age."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Apr 21, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Grant is a pressure fighter with power and a BJJ black belt, but he has been submitted multiple times. Martinetti is an unorthodox striker with good grappling, but his striking defense is suspect. Grant should be able to walk Martinetti down and land big shots, leading to a knockout. However, Martinetti could also land a flashy strike and submit Grant. The fight is expected to be chaotic and finish early.

under 2.5 rounds
"I think Grant probably gets the win. I think he's able to walk Martinetti down, land big shots, maybe get a club and sub of his own, um or even just a straight up knockout."
Submission R1 3:05 · UFC Fight Night: de Ridder vs. Allen · Oct 18, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Charles Jourdain 1 25 of 43 58% 25 of 43 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:20
Davey Grant 0 9 of 26 34% 9 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Charles Jourdain 1 25 of 43 58% 25 of 43 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:20
Davey Grant 0 9 of 26 34% 9 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Charles Jourdain 25 of 43 58% 20 of 35 5 of 8 0 of 0 17 of 31 0 of 0 8 of 12
Davey Grant 9 of 26 34% 3 of 14 1 of 3 5 of 9 9 of 26 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Charles Jourdain 25 of 43 58% 20 of 35 5 of 8 0 of 0 17 of 31 0 of 0 8 of 12
Davey Grant 9 of 26 34% 3 of 14 1 of 3 5 of 9 9 of 26 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Davey Grant vs. Charles Jourdain
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Jourdain (-170); Grant (+140)

Round 1
Hold onto your hats, because Jourdain (16-8-1, 7-7-1 UFC) and Grant (17-7, 8-6 UFC) are about to trade leather. The bantamweights that tend to put on a show will be officiated by referee Jason Herzog. They opt to bump fists before jacking one another on the jaw.
Grant strides forward, and he catches an oncoming body kick. He releases it and lets fly a clubbing calf kick. Jourdain bounces off the fence and is just out of range from another kick to the midsection. Jourdain tags his man with a one-two, and Grant opens up with his own overhand right. Jourdain times a jump knee as Grant bears down on him, and he misses by a matter of inches. Grant hammers home another low kick, and he blocks a big knee. Jourdain lines up a straight left hand down the middle, and he whiffs on a looping left of his own. Jourdain absorbs a pair of punches and has to bounce on his heels to gets his bearings, and then leaps into action with a head kick and a powerful right hand. Grant grins at him and asks for more, so Jourdain obliges him. Grant throws back hard. Jourdain catches Grant with his jump knee, and Grant is tough but his forehead is split ever so slightly.
Grant calms himself and looses a heavy leg kick, and he gets blasted with another head kick. Jourdain finds the target with his flying knee, and Grant’s nose explodes in a bloody mess and topples to his back in a bad way.
Jourdain leaps on top and hammers the Brit with ground-and-pound, and Grant somehow survives even though his face is quickly transforming into a crimson mask. Grant turns over, and the Canadian sees his opening and snatches up his preferred move of a power guillotine choke. The moment that Jourdain, who has the grip clutched tight as can be, rolls Grant over, Grant taps out as fast as he can.
Even with Herzog getting between them in a timely manner, Grant appears to at least partially go out, as when he stands back up looking like a victim in an 80's slasher film, he finds that he is not quite capable of doing so on his own. The crowd goes ballistic.

The Official Result
Charles Jourdain def. Davey Grant R1 3:05 via Submission (Guillotine Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Davey Grant

Angelo picks Davey Grant, citing his forward pressure, solid defense, and durability. He notes Charles Jourdain has cleaned up his wild style but may still be exploitable. Grant's age and chin are concerns, but his recent wins over Blackshear and a close fight with Marcos give confidence.

"I'm going to pick Davey Grant here."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Charles Jourdain

Big Brady likes Jourdain fighting at home and thinks the judges favor him. He notes Grant is 39 and father time is undefeated, especially at lower weight classes. He thinks Jourdain is getting Grant at the right time and picks him by decision, though he won't lay -170.

"I got to go with the Jordane side. Give me Charles Jordane to win this fight and win it by decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 15, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Charles Jourdain

Cody picks Jourdain, citing his volume and unorthodox striking. He notes Grant doesn't wrestle much, which plays into Jourdain's strengths. Jourdain's takedown defense is a concern, but Grant doesn't shoot. Cody expects Jourdain to win by decision or late stoppage.

"I'm gonna go Charles Jordane on this one. Jump back on team Canada."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Oct 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Davey Grant

Connor leans toward Davey Grant, citing Grant's consistent toughness, awkwardness, and ability to capitalize on retreating opponents. He notes that Jourdain can drift and have wrong ideas, and that Grant's pressure and durability could cause Jourdain trouble, especially given Jourdain's poor defensive wrestling and tendency to improvise. Connor also mentions the age gap (Grant is 39) but still favors Grant's reliability.

Grant opened at +170, dropped to -110, now +145; Jourdain opened -200, now -170. Connor notes the odds movement and suggests the line is influenced by age.
"I'm kind of leaning Davey Grant in this one."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Oct 14, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Charles Jourdain

James finds this a tough fight to call, noting both fighters have struggled with certain styles. He leans toward Jourdain due to his better career trajectory and Grant's age (39). James mentions Jourdain's guillotine threat but expects a close fight.

"I'm going to end up going with Charles Jordane for my official prediction. I feel like his career trajectory is a little bit better than Davy Grant. Davy Grant is 39. At some point, he's going to fall off a …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Charles Jourdain

The host thinks Jourdain's youth, speed, unorthodox striking, and dangerous BJJ will help him chip away at Grant, pull off a desperation takedown, and eventually snatch a submission victory.

win by submission
"I think it's going to be the youth speed, unorthodox striking, and dangerous BJJ game of Davy Grant, which eventually helps him chip away at Grant, pull out a desperation takedown, and eventually lead to Jordane snatching up another submission …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Oct 15, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Paul picks Grant, citing his value as a dog. He notes Grant is always game and has good volume. Jourdain's weight cut to 135 is a concern, and Grant can exploit that. Paul plans to bet Grant at plus money.

"you give me plus money on Dave David Grant. I'm not going to waste your time with two months. This is like plus 150."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 16, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Charles Jourdain

The MMA Guru picks Charles Jourdain over Davey Grant. He initially considered Grant due to his underdog success but believes Jourdain's skills are superior. He notes Jourdain's ability to beat opponents to the punch on the inside and his guillotine threats. He predicts Jourdain will catch Grant with a straight shot and possibly finish by TKO or guillotine, citing Grant's neck surgeries.

TKO or guillotine submission
"I'm going to go with Charles Jourdain getting this one done. And I think he'll chin Davey Grant."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean picked Oct 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Davey Grant

Zane agrees with Connor, picking Davey Grant. He emphasizes that Grant is always tough and crafty, and that Jourdain often shows up with the wrong plan or no plan, resorting to wild brawling that doesn't work well. Zane acknowledges that Grant's success can't last forever at 39, but he still expects Grant to deliver.

"Yeah, I think I'm gonna pick Davey Grant here, too."
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder · Jul 26, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Davey Grant 0 66 of 130 50% 66 of 133 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:19
Da'Mon Blackshear 0 33 of 74 44% 36 of 78 1 of 5 20% 1 0 3:52
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Davey Grant 0 3 of 5 60% 3 of 8 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:19
Da'Mon Blackshear 0 2 of 4 50% 4 of 7 1 of 1 100% 1 0 3:52
2 Davey Grant 0 29 of 57 50% 29 of 57 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Da'Mon Blackshear 0 17 of 33 51% 18 of 34 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Davey Grant 0 34 of 68 50% 34 of 68 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Da'Mon Blackshear 0 14 of 37 37% 14 of 37 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Davey Grant 66 of 130 50% 17 of 67 27 of 39 22 of 24 65 of 128 1 of 1 0 of 1
Da'Mon Blackshear 33 of 74 44% 12 of 45 7 of 13 14 of 16 31 of 72 1 of 1 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Davey Grant 3 of 5 60% 0 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 4 3 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 1
Da'Mon Blackshear 2 of 4 50% 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 3 0 of 0 1 of 1
2 Davey Grant 29 of 57 50% 9 of 31 13 of 19 7 of 7 29 of 57 0 of 0 0 of 0
Da'Mon Blackshear 17 of 33 51% 6 of 17 5 of 9 6 of 7 17 of 33 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Davey Grant 34 of 68 50% 8 of 35 14 of 20 12 of 13 33 of 67 1 of 1 0 of 0
Da'Mon Blackshear 14 of 37 37% 4 of 24 2 of 4 8 of 9 13 of 36 1 of 1 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Davey Grant vs. Da'Mon Blackshear
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Blackshear (-270); Grant (+210)

Round 1
Turning 40 in December, Grant (16-7, 7-6 UFC) knows he may be fast approaching the age cliff, although he did win his last bout. He faces a submission magician in Blackshear (17-7-1, 5-3-1 UFC) nearly a decade his junior, which might not be in his best interest as “Dangerous Davey” posts more losses by sub than any other method. With three rounds to work, the bantamweights meet in the middle with no plan on bumping fists, and referee Jason Herzog will take it from there.
Grant opens up with wide low kicks to the thigh, hoping to keep an arc on them that would dissuade an early takedown effort. He goes after the longer legs of Blackshear a few times on the inside and out, and Blackshear still manages to pursue a takedown and hit it. Grant scoots his way to put his back to the fence, and he uses his legs to try to post off and gets some space from “Da Monster.” Grant gets to a knee, and Blackshear welcomes this as he hops to the side and slides a hook in. Blackshear sneaks his leg around the other side, and he follows a turning Grant until he can secure both hooks.
Blackshear does not set up a body triangle, instead retaining control while thwarting attempts to buck and escape. Grant turns over and finds himself in submission danger, as Blackshear grips hold of what turns into a face and neck crank rather than a textbook rear-naked choke. Grant toughs it out and tries to get out of the back take, only for Blackshear to turn to the proper direction to isolate the Brit’s left arm for a potential armbar. Grant stays heavy on his opponent to not allow Blackshear to extend a limb, and he explodes just enough to wrench his arm out of danger. Grant rains down a couple left hands and an elbow as the round concludes.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Blackshear
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Blackshear
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Blackshear

Round 2
Grant takes to the center of the cage to start the round, walking down the grappler and punching him a couple times in the stomach. Grant’s blitz forces Blackshear to ricochet off the wire, and he digs a kick to the ribs. Grant doubles up on a jab and follows with an overhand right that is parried, but his jab to the midsection does connect. They back off to disengage for a time, reaching one another with single low kicks but little else. Grant turns his hips into a thumping kick to the lead leg, and Blackshear drives him away with an overhand right. Grant plants punches to the midsection, a left to the dome and a head kick on the other side to keep Blackshear guessing.
Blackshear rebounds off the wire but has become target practice at this point, with little offense offered on his side other than the occasional kick. Grant times a shot by catching Blackshear with an uppercut, and he gets his foe’s attention with a string of punches to follow. Blackshear nods at him, and he wades forward trying to mask a takedown setup with punches that he does not let fly. Both men land hard punches, but Grant’s are far heavier and knock Blackshear back a step or two when he lands flush. Blackshear circles on the outside offering a body kick and keeping his guard up to block a series of punches and a high kick, the similar combination to earlier. Blackshear goes for body kicks, and Grant peppers him with punches and a low kick that makes Blackshear evaluate his footing. As Grant spams high kicks, the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant

Round 3
The bantamweights reach the final frame, and Blackshear says hello again with a calf kick. Grant misses his counter, and Blackshear jabs him up and opens a cut on the bridge of his foe’s nose. Grant is putting a lot of mustard behind his swings, including two concussive blows that make Blackshear bounce off the fencing. Blackshear responds with kicks, but Grant’s fists are having an impact as Blackshear reacts poorly when struck. Grant keeps his man guessing with mixed up punches and kicks to varied targets, like a calf kick to a body shot to a high kick upstairs in rapid succession.
Blackshear targets the wounded spot on his opponent’s forehead to set up a takedown, and Grant’s defense holds up as he clubs “Da Monster” in the jaw with a right hand after stopping the shot. Blackshear goes to his knees for a double, and Grant once more tosses it aside and hurls a right hand at his foe. Blackshear tries to intercept the hard-charging Brit with a knee, and Grant avoids it and starts hammering the front leg with kicks as Blackshear is starting to limp. The kicks from Grant are so powerful that getting checked splits his shin open, as blood flows down his foot to leave partial scarlet footprints around the Octagon. This does not slow him from pitching kicks one second, as he keeps beating on the taller man’s front leg until Blackshear switches stances. When this happens, Grant starts kicking the other leg, and he stops a takedown in its tracks and holds back on firing off a knee that would have been illegal. He lets Blackshear stand, marching him down and hurling right hands at him. Blackshear blocks the worst of them, evading the final strikes as the match comes to a close.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Grant (29-28 Grant)
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Grant (29-28 Grant)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant (29-28 Grant)

The Official Result
Davey Grant def. Da'Mon Blackshear via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 20, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Angelo picks Da'Mon Blackshear, stating he wins 7 out of 10 times. He notes Blackshear's athletic striking, speed, power, and grappling, but worries about his hesitancy. Davey Grant is old, chinny, but relentless with volume. Angelo likely will bet on Blackshear but wishes he knew Blackshear would let his hands go.

Likely will bet on Blackshear
"Dean Blackshere is going to be the pick and I'm gonna pick him. I likely have a bet on him at some point this week."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jul 22, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Big Brady picks Da'Mon Blackshear but with hesitation, noting Blackshear has not wrestled in his last four fights despite having a huge grappling advantage. He believes if Blackshear grapples, he will win easily via submission, but if he strikes, he could lose to Grant's awkward volume and power. He predicts a first-round submission.

first round submission
"I got to go Blackshere just because it's like so clear. ... I think he finishes Davy Grant in the very first round by submission."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 23, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Blackshear should be able to chip away at Grant from distance, mix in takedowns, and ultimately lock up a submission to force the tap.

submission
"I believe Blackshere should be able to chip away at Grant from distance, maybe even mix in a few takedowns, but I ultimately think it leads to Blackshire locking up a submission and forcing the tap from Davy Grant."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 24, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

The MMA Guru picks Da'Mon Blackshear over Davey Grant, citing Blackshear's underrated submission and grappling game, and his composed performance against Eli Alateng. He worries Grant may have declined after neck surgery and time off. He predicts a second-round finish by submission or TKO after a wild first round.

Finish, round 2
"I'm gonna take Deon Blackshere to get this one done by finish. Submission TKO. Second round finish for Deon Blackshere."
CANCEL vs Daniel Santos
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 30, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Angelo describes Davey Grant as an awkward fighter who wins fights despite looking like he's losing, with good fight IQ and the ability to survive early storms. He notes Daniel Santos is a typical Chute Boxe fighter with explosive power but no striking defense and poor takedown defense. Angelo predicts Grant will survive an early onslaught, then grind Santos against the cage and win rounds two and three. He considers waiting for prop bets but is confident Grant pulls it off.

"I'm gonna pick daav Grant he's the type of guy that wins fights but looks like he's losing."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 1, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Big Brady picks the underdog Davey Grant, noting Santos's long layoff and hittability. He believes Grant has improved with age, has better accuracy, and an awkward style. He expects a close fight but sees Grant winning a decision, possibly a split.

"give me the dog here and Davy grant to get to get it done by decision"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 3, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Despite being 39, Grant has recently showcased he can still compete against young prospects. He is expected to engage in a pocket exchange and uncork a big shot to knock Santos out.

knockout
"even though Grant is 39 years old he has recently showcased that he can still go out there and compete against young prospects and I expect him to do so once again here against Daniel Santos as he engages in …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 3, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Davey Grant

The Guru is very confident in Davey Grant, calling him a phenom who defies aging logic. He praises Grant's speed, power, long limbs, and snappy kicks, and believes he will TKO Daniel Santos. He notes Grant's win over Jonathan Martinez as a fraud check and thinks Grant's high-volume, Muay Thai style will overwhelm Santos, leading to a finish or dominant decision.

Davey Grant wins by TKO inside the distance
"Davy Grant is an absolute phenom and he is defying the aging logic of bantamweights. He takes out Daniel Santos by TKO in this fight."
WIN vs Ramon Taveras
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Buckley · Dec 14, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Davey Grant 0 147 of 290 50% 147 of 290 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Ramon Taveras 0 69 of 156 44% 69 of 156 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Davey Grant 0 39 of 72 54% 39 of 72 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Ramon Taveras 0 12 of 34 35% 12 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Davey Grant 0 45 of 89 50% 45 of 89 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Ramon Taveras 0 25 of 49 51% 25 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Davey Grant 0 63 of 129 48% 63 of 129 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Ramon Taveras 0 32 of 73 43% 32 of 73 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Davey Grant 147 of 290 50% 50 of 158 42 of 67 55 of 65 147 of 290 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ramon Taveras 69 of 156 44% 63 of 149 5 of 6 1 of 1 67 of 152 2 of 3 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Davey Grant 39 of 72 54% 5 of 28 15 of 22 19 of 22 39 of 72 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ramon Taveras 12 of 34 35% 10 of 32 2 of 2 0 of 0 12 of 34 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Davey Grant 45 of 89 50% 16 of 46 12 of 22 17 of 21 45 of 89 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ramon Taveras 25 of 49 51% 23 of 47 1 of 1 1 of 1 23 of 45 2 of 3 0 of 1
3 Davey Grant 63 of 129 48% 29 of 84 15 of 23 19 of 22 63 of 129 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ramon Taveras 32 of 73 43% 30 of 70 2 of 3 0 of 0 32 of 73 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Davey Grant vs. Ramon Taveras
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Taveras (-130), Grant (+110)

Round 1
The bantamweight fight will be overseen by Keith Peterson. Grant lands a solid leg kick to start. Taveras takes the center of the Octagon. A nice straight right lands for Taveras, who is timing it well as Grant comes in. Grant is finding distance with his kicks. Grant is staying on the outside and throwing side kicks. Nice right hand from Grant to the body. A body kick from Grant slaps into the side of Taveras. Grant is the much more active fighter so far. A sneaky right hand lands for Grant, who then lands a head kick. Taveras eats two leg kicks but throws a nice straight left. A low blow lands for Grant, so Taveras will take time to recover. The fight restarts with under two minutes left. Nice side kick from Grant. Taveras avoids a big right hand and is able to counter with some hooks. A night left for Taveras, who is starting to find his distance. Grant still finding success with leg kicks. Grant misses a spinning kick. A nice combination of hooks land for Grant, who misses a spinning back fist as the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Grant

Round 2
Taveras takes the center of the cage again but comes up short trying to fire punches back at Grant, who continues to land kicks at range. Grant gets clipped by a big left hand from Taveras, who allows his opponent to get back up. Grant still looks rocked, but Taveras isn't rushing. Grant seems to have recovered but isn't nearly as confident. Taveras is loading up on big shots as an overhand left misses. A head kick for Grant is blocked. Grant falls after attempting a spin kick but gets back up without taking much damage. Taveras is once again failing to do much in terms of output. Big left hook comes up short for Taveras. Grant lands a big swinging right hook of his own. Several kicks land for Grant. Big hooks land for Grant as Taveras shows how good his chin is. Taveras avoids a spinning back fist but is being outstruck here despite the big moment early on. Grant doing a good job of following up his punches with kicks. The round ends with Grant swinging wildly with hooks and then landing a kick to the shin.

Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Grant

Round 3
Taveras eats a big right hook to start the final round. Grant was told not to spin by his coaches between rounds and has been following their direction. Taveras is finding his distance and landing a nice jab. Grant gets busier and hurts Taveras with a left hook. Grant is once again staying busier. Nice body kick lands for Grant, who follows it up with hooks. Grant's pace is really impressive to be getting busier in the third round. Grant lands a nice leg kick and is throwing hard to the body. Two minutes left. Taveras is defending well but needs to be landing. A big right straight lands for Grant, who stuns Taveras late. Really strong performance from Grant, who has really separated himself from Taveras as a far more varied and better striker. One minute left, and Taveras needs something big. Taveras is looking for a big shot but not throwing. Grant eats a right hand but comes back with several punches of his own. Taveras is swinging wildly in the last 20 seconds but most aren't connecting. The fight ends with Grant jabbing his way to what will be a clear-cut decision.

Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)

The Official Result
Davey Grant def. Ramon Taveras via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27); R3, 5:00.
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Dec 8, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Ramon Taveras

Angelo picks Taveras due to his power and hand speed, which he believes will be too much for the aging Davey Grant. He notes Grant's blind forward pressure and lack of output, while Taveras is a powerful southpaw striker with good takedown defense. He expects Taveras to look good despite the experience gap.

"Ramon's power and hand speed are going to be big issues for the guy... Ramon Taris is going to be the pick and frankly you're going to get some decent value on him."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Ramon Taveras

Big Brady picks Ramon Taveras to win by decision, but is hesitant due to concerns about Grant's neck surgery and long layoff. He notes Taveras has heavy hands and has knocked down opponents in almost every fight, but worries about Taveras's chin. He originally leaned Grant but flipped after learning about Grant's neck surgery and age (39). He thinks Grant might look like a shell of himself.

"I'm going to go with the younger guy in tares I think he could potentially knock out David Grant but at the very least I think he is going to drop him"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Cody picks Davey Grant, citing his experience, durability, and well-rounded skills. He notes that Taveras is a one-round fighter who gasses, and Grant's volume and pressure will overwhelm him. Cody believes Grant's grappling and striking are superior, and he expects a finish or clear decision.

"I got DAV Grant I got daav Grant but what could possibly go wrong."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Dec 13, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Davey Grant

Connor also picks Grant, emphasizing that Grant's game makes sense despite his poor technique, and that he has a good understanding of tempo and momentum. He notes that Taveras is a fighter who backs up against the cage and throws counter combinations, leaving himself open. Until Grant shows signs of decline, Connor will pick him over a fighter like Taveras.

"Until I see some evidence that Grant is really slid, which I have yet to see it yet, then I'm always gonna pick him over a guy like Ramon Tavares."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Ramon Taveras

Daniel Vreeland picks Ramon Taveras, citing his fast hands and boxing skills for MMA. He notes Davey Grant is coming off neck surgery at 39, and Taveras is nearly 10 years younger. Vreeland believes Taveras could knock out Grant, though he acknowledges Grant's calf kicks could be a factor. He expects a banger and leans toward the younger fighter.

"I think Ramon Tas might actually come out here and sleep the Beloved Davy Grant"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Grant's strength of schedule, durability, and cardio advantage will allow him to land big shots on Ramon Taveras, leading to a knockout victory. The public has been backing Grant this week, which aligns with the pick.

wins by KO
"I believe his strength of schedule durability and cardio Advantage will all him to allow him to land big enough shots against Ramon tarez here and I believe that will eventually leave to a knockout victory for the veteran"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Paul picks Davey Grant, citing his experience and ability to go toe-to-toe with top fighters. He notes that Taveras is untested and Grant's submission skills could be a factor. Paul expects Grant to win, possibly by submission.

"I wouldn't be completely shocked if DAV Grant goes out there is able to find a submission."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

The MMA Guru picks Davey Grant, citing his history as a tricky underdog who has been competitive against tough opponents. He believes Grant's leg kicks and body work will keep Taveras at bay, and notes that Taveras is a flat-footed boxer who has been finished before. He acknowledges Grant's recent neck surgery and age (38) but dismisses those as reasons to bet against him, stating that Taveras is not a dangerous enough prospect to beat Grant.

"I'm going to go with Dave Grant plus I think ramont ves's big chances to get a KO and dve Grant's never been ko'ed in the UF and he's been around for a long time"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Dec 13, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Davey Grant

Zane picks Grant confidently, describing him as a legitimate technical brawler with a great feel for fighting, despite his ugly technique. He notes that Grant has given tough fights to better strikers like Adrian Yanez and Daniel Marcos, while Taveras has a record built on beating low-level competition and barely beat Serhiy Sidey. Zane sees this as a levels matchup where Grant should win by knockout.

Grant opened at +119, now -107; Taveras opened at -134, now -104. Zane says the odds are dead even but he sees it as a clear mismatch.
"Davy Grant should should pants him he should march Davy Grant is legitimately good. Should knock him out real really? This just looks like a levels matchup to me."
LOSS vs Daniel Marcos
Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs. Tybura · Jul 22, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Daniel Marcos 0 70 of 215 32% 70 of 215 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:06
Davey Grant 0 48 of 140 34% 49 of 141 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:13
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Daniel Marcos 0 16 of 49 32% 16 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Davey Grant 0 13 of 35 37% 13 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Daniel Marcos 0 26 of 75 34% 26 of 75 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Davey Grant 0 15 of 51 29% 15 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Daniel Marcos 0 28 of 91 30% 28 of 91 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:06
Davey Grant 0 20 of 54 37% 21 of 55 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:13
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Daniel Marcos 70 of 215 32% 17 of 127 27 of 55 26 of 33 70 of 213 0 of 2 0 of 0
Davey Grant 48 of 140 34% 21 of 90 6 of 24 21 of 26 47 of 139 1 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Daniel Marcos 16 of 49 32% 1 of 28 7 of 10 8 of 11 16 of 49 0 of 0 0 of 0
Davey Grant 13 of 35 37% 1 of 15 2 of 8 10 of 12 13 of 35 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Daniel Marcos 26 of 75 34% 9 of 48 8 of 15 9 of 12 26 of 75 0 of 0 0 of 0
Davey Grant 15 of 51 29% 4 of 33 3 of 8 8 of 10 14 of 50 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Daniel Marcos 28 of 91 30% 7 of 51 12 of 30 9 of 10 28 of 89 0 of 2 0 of 0
Davey Grant 20 of 54 37% 16 of 42 1 of 8 3 of 4 20 of 54 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Davey Grant vs. Daniel Marcos
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Marcos (-140), Grant (+120)

Round 1
In the one corner, “Dangerous Davey” Grant (15-6, 6-5 UFC) stands firm, ready to represent his home country. In the other, lead-fisted and lead-kneed Peruvian Marcos (14-0, 1-0 UFC) puts his unblemished record on the line. Grant has only been defeated in the past via submission, while Marcos has never before forced a foe to tap out. Something’s gotta give in this newly minted bantamweight main card opener that could be a banger, and it begins with a glove touch. Referee Marc Goddard adjusts his gloves, pulls up his pants and sits back to observed the proceedings, and The two fighters come out to the middle of the cage to engage, and Grant goes first with a heavy leg kick. Grant walks down Marcos and kicks on the inside, and he throws one more to the outer calf. Marcos replies with one that sends Grant off-balance, but the Brit adjusts himself and continues coming forward. Grant pushes out a front kick, and he wings a right hand that slides off the top of the guard to bounce off Marcos’ temple. Marcos shrugs at him and kicks so hard on the calf that he takes Grant off his feet. Grant jumps back up and rips a kick to the ribs, and he checks a kick that comes his way. Grant turns an uppercut into a spinning back fist, and Marcos dances out of the way and keeps his guard up high to stop another strike from getting through. Grant comes out swinging, throwing a right hook that puts himself off-balance, and Marcos does not capitalize on it but is able to eat up Grant’s calf with another kick. Grant strides in with a side kick, and he jumps forward with a stomping kick to the knee. The unbeaten fighter ducks down and absorbs a side kick, and Grant then plants the ball of his foot on the chest to follow. Grant snipes out a left hook when Marcos advances, and he jumps forward with a knee that glances off his intended target. Grant counters a leg kick with a clean right hand, and he kicks the body and backs off when Marcos throws hands. Marcos walks “Dangerous Davey” down and kicks him in the chest, and Grant is able to time a right hand when Marcos loads up. Grant sweeps the leg as he comes forward, and he chains a calf kick into a head kick with the same leg. Marcos gives a body kick back, only for Grant to defend against it. Marcos reaches his man with a right hook, and Grant spins with a wheel kick that ricochets off the chest of his foe. Marcos rubs his chest, and the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant

Round 2
The 135ers bump fists before getting after it, and Grant spurs into action in a hurry with several kicks to multiple targets. Grant sprints and pulls back to draw a reaction, and he does this to clip Marcos with a short left hook. Grant aims a right hand when Marcos rushes at him with a jump knee, and Grant scampers away before it reaches him. Grant kicks the side and goes with a hook kick up high, and they proceed to throw fists at the same time. Marcos catches Grant with a solid right hand, and Grant gathers his thoughts and chips at the lead wheel of his foe. Grant punches his way into a combination that ends with a low kick, and he misses with a wheel kick as Marcos backs off. Grant nails a leg kick and wings a right hook over the top, and Marcos ignores it and tries to counter with a right hand. A few jabs from the Peruvian fighter have bloodied Grant’s nose up, and Grant pays it no mind as his offense is still as active as ever. Grant strings three hooks together and pushes off the chest with the ball of his foot when Marcos attempts to reply. Marcos swings as hard as he can with a right hand, and Grant ducks and nails Marcos with a front kick on the chin. Grant swings a high kick that grazes off the red hair of his opponent, and Marcos responds with two punches and a step-in kick that splits the uprights and slams square into Grant’s cup. Grant grimaces and bends over as Goddard calls time, and Grant tells Goddard he is good to go after about 45 seconds off. When restarting, Marcos offers an apologetic glove touch. Grant gets going again with a huge right hand, and he watches Marcos comes towards him and raise up a hook kick. Grant plants his shin on the lower calf of “Soncora,” and he steps in with an elbow. Grant trips on Marcos’ leg when spinning with a strike, and Marcos’ jabs are starting to bloody Grant up further. “Dangerous Davey” plants a dangerous right hand on the nose, and Marcos shakes his head and defends against the standing hook kick. Grant lets go with several punches and a side kick, and he gives chase as Marcos backpedals. The round ends with the lower part of Grant’s face covered in blood.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant

Round 3
Grant nods and winks at Marcos to lead off the last round, and the two hug it out before getting down to business. Marcos strikes first with a calf kick, and Grant strides forward and lets go with a spinning wheel kick. It only takes a jab or two from Marcos to bust up Grant’s nose again. Grant absorbs a jab and goes forward into a takedown. The unbeaten fighter stands him up, and the two fighters stand in the pocket and trade. Marcos backs off first, and Grant follows him down with a head kick, a front kick and a right hand. Grant puts three fists on Marcos before Marcos is able to land one. Marcos, out of nowhere, jumps at his man with a knee, and Grant takes it flush and keeps coming ever forward. Marcos waves his arms around, and Grant comes at him with a knee. Marcos swats him aside and strafes on the outside, and it is up to Grant to initiate the offense. Grant spins with a back fist, and then keeps spinning to throw other strikes. Marcos nods approvingly from the strikes, and he keeps backing off as Grant is pushing the pace. Grant walks through jabs to swing with far harder strikes, and one such blow comes in the form of a right to the body. Marcos jabs up his man, and Grant unloads with a right hand that bounces off the shoulder. Grant walks Marcos down, getting in a leg kick and a right hand, and Marcos tries to reply with a left hook that only slightly connects. Grant ducks a flailing fist to come in and land a straight right to the body, and a subsequent kick makes Marcos drops his guard and back off. Grant jumps with a knee, and when he misses and lands, Marcos greets him with a stern right hand down the pipe. Grant doggedly pursues his opponent, throwing everything and the kitchen sink at him. Marcos times a takedown out of nowhere, hitting it with ease. Grant frantically works his way up with the fence behind him, and he separates. Grant spins with a wheel kick that bounces off the shoulder, and he raise his arm to draw Marcos into a final brawl. Grant spams any kind of kick he can think of, all while Marcos backs away, until time expires.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant (30-27 Grant)

The Official Result
Daniel Marcos def. Davey Grant via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 16, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Angelo is very confident in Daniel Marcos, believing the odds are incredible value. He thinks Davey Grant is chinny and if he can't get a takedown (which he hasn't since 2021), he will get lit up on the feet. He has a half-unit bet at -121 and calls it some of the best value on the card.

half unit bet at -121
"I'm confident Daniel Marcos I have a half a unit on him at minus 121 And I genuinely think as of right now this minute at that 121 line that's some of the best value you're going to get on …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Jul 18, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Big Brady picks Daniel Marcos by decision. He likes Marcos' striking and volume, and thinks he can outwork Grant over 15 minutes. He notes Grant is durable and has power, but Marcos is younger and has upside. He is concerned about Marcos' chin not being tested. He thinks it will be close but Marcos' volume and youth give him the edge.

by decision
"give me Marcos to win this fight by decision I think it is close I think it is competitive but I like a striking I like his volume"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Cody picks Grant, questioning Marcos's hype. He notes Grant has fought tougher competition (Vera, Yanez) and is a gatekeeper. He thinks the line is an overreaction to Marcos's win over Oliveira. He sees Grant as a live dog.

"Davey Grant will be my pick here"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jul 20, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Daniel picks Daniel Marcos, calling him the best Peruvian prospect ever and praising his professional approach, training in Florida, and high-tech recovery. He thinks Marcos's pressure and intensity make opponents fight uncharacteristically, as seen in the Simon Oliveira fight. He acknowledges Davey Grant's toughness and experience but believes Marcos is catching him at the right time. However, he is not willing to lay -140 and says he would be interested if the price drops to around -115. He passes on betting but picks Marcos to win.

Daniel says he is not willing to lay -140 and would be interested if the price drops 25 cents. He picks Marcos but does not bet.
"I'm just not willing to lay the chalk at minus 140 to find out"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Jul 18, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

James picks Daniel Marcos to win. He thinks Marcos is a better striker than Grant, with cleaner technique and better footwork. He believes Marcos can play the range game and punish Grant with straight shots. James notes that Grant is older and may be slowing down, while Marcos is on an upward trajectory. He acknowledges that this is a step up in competition for Marcos and that Grant has knockout power, but he favors Marcos's skills and potential.

"I like Marcos in this spot um I bet on Marcos before at an underdog price"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

The host picks Daniel Marcos, believing his overall game, output, grappling, and calf kicks will neutralize Grant's power. He expects Marcos to withstand Grant's early power and win by decision. He notes it's a stiff test but thinks Marcos passes.

"give me Marcos by decision but again big spot for him in Grants you know neck of the woods let's see if he shows up I think he does and I think he wins by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jul 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Daniel Marcos

Paul leans toward Marcos, noting his undefeated record and willingness to engage. He thinks Marcos can outwork Grant, though Grant has power and grappling advantages. He is not fully confident and calls it a dog or pass.

"I feel like I'm leaning towards him if if I had to just chalk it up to a dog or pass situation"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Davey Grant

The MMA Guru picks Davey Grant, initially considering Daniel Marcos but ultimately favoring Grant's experience and power. He notes Grant's win over Aiemann Zahabi is underrated and that Marcos was timid in his fight against Simon Oliveira. The Guru believes Grant's size, power, and front kicks will overwhelm Marcos, and predicts a KO win in a scrap against the cage.

KO
"I'm gonna go Davey Grant here a little bit more damaging"
Technical Submission (inverted triangle choke) R3 4:43 · UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili · Mar 11, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Davey Grant 0 42 of 58 72% 67 of 85 5 of 12 41% 0 0 4:17
Raphael Assunção 1 65 of 138 47% 80 of 154 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:52
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Davey Grant 0 13 of 19 68% 23 of 31 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:46
Raphael Assunção 0 20 of 39 51% 20 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Davey Grant 0 16 of 20 80% 27 of 31 2 of 4 50% 0 0 1:38
Raphael Assunção 0 20 of 44 45% 22 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Davey Grant 0 13 of 19 68% 17 of 23 2 of 7 28% 0 0 0:53
Raphael Assunção 1 25 of 55 45% 38 of 69 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:52
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Davey Grant 42 of 58 72% 16 of 29 8 of 8 18 of 21 38 of 53 3 of 4 1 of 1
Raphael Assunção 65 of 138 47% 28 of 91 18 of 28 19 of 19 59 of 132 4 of 4 2 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Davey Grant 13 of 19 68% 4 of 8 2 of 2 7 of 9 12 of 18 0 of 0 1 of 1
Raphael Assunção 20 of 39 51% 5 of 21 7 of 10 8 of 8 20 of 39 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Davey Grant 16 of 20 80% 4 of 8 4 of 4 8 of 8 14 of 17 2 of 3 0 of 0
Raphael Assunção 20 of 44 45% 6 of 25 4 of 9 10 of 10 18 of 42 2 of 2 0 of 0
3 Davey Grant 13 of 19 68% 8 of 13 2 of 2 3 of 4 12 of 18 1 of 1 0 of 0
Raphael Assunção 25 of 55 45% 17 of 45 7 of 9 1 of 1 21 of 51 2 of 2 2 of 2
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Raphael Assuncao vs. Davey Grant
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Grant (-140), Assuncao (+120)

Round 1
One of the more underrated bantamweight greats might be entering the final fight of his storied career, as longtime Brazilian contender Assuncao (28-9, 12-6 UFC) is a few months away from his 41st birthday. He battles .500 UFC fighter Grant (14-6, 5-5 UFC), who posts an 86% finish rate and generally lives up to his “Dangerous” nickname. The match will be officiated by nonsense-allergic referee Keith Peterson, and the two fighters opt to clap hands. Assuncao moves to the center of the cage briefly, and they clash legs early. As Assuncao pushes back, Grant does the same, and fingers rake eyes. Grant offers an apology, and they resume nailing one another on the legs. Assuncao sits down on a booming right hand, wrapping his arm just around the head and not connecting with it. Grant boots his foe in the body, and Assuncao catches it and scores a right hand to put Grant on his back. Assuncao whips an elbow down, and Grant threatens with a triangle choke that the Brazilian sees coming from a mile away. Grant scoots to the wall on his backside, and Assuncao follows him from behind and slides his left arm around the chest in hopes of setting up a rear-naked choke. Assuncao releases the arm so that he can punch Grant in the side of the head repeatedly, all while Grant tries and fails to scramble away. Grant stands back up despite Assuncao’s arm around his neck, and he spins around and shoves his man back to get space. Grant, with distance to strike, does just that with a front kick. Grant goes to the body and tries to swing a left hand over the top, but Assuncao intercepts him with a push kick. Grant scores a right hand after regaining his balance, and he switches stances right into a right hook in response. Assuncao lets go with a few punches on the inside, and he ducks back and blocks a head kick. Grant darts forward with a few punches, sneaking them in and evading the counters. Assuncao measures a right hand, and he signals to Peterson that the two clashed heads. Grant spins with a wheel kick that just misses, and Assuncao ducks a few leaping punches to clinch up and push Grant to the wire. The Brazilian lands a few knees to the thigh before breaking off with a right hand. Grant winds up with a right hook, landing it a second before the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Assuncao
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Assuncao
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Assuncao

Round 2
The respect is high to start off the second round, as the two gladly high-five to get going again. They trade body kicks, and Assuncao leans back to dodge a spinning wheel kick. Assuncao checks a low kick, and he tries to engage but gets popped with an overhand right. Assuncao chips at the calf of his opponent, while checking those that come back to his lead wheel. Assuncao grabs hold of a single, ducking a punch from his opponent, and he is stood up before securing it. Assuncao does land a right hand on the break, and they reset. The two land lefts at the same time, and Grant goes high with a kick that whizzes past his foe’s face. Grant throws a naked leg kick, and Assuncao counters with an emphatic right hand that makes Grant turn about. Grant steps in to release a spinning back elbow, and Assuncao blocks the worst of it and fires off a low kick. Grant kicks high and low, and the Brazilian swats them away without much concern. Assuncao looses a head kick, and he backs off as Grant walks him down and wings right hooks. Grant lunges forward, and his only strike that lands is a low kick. Grant gets a little too reckless, getting countered on the way in, and he finds himself getting grabbed by the veteran. Grant is warned for grabbing the fence to prevent the takedown, and Assuncao still drags him to his knees despite the foul. Grant fights his way back to his feet, but Assuncao has his arm around Grant’s waist with his legs intertwined for a trip. Grant looks to counter Assuncao with a trip, only to get thrown down once more. Assuncao gets a hook in as he takes the back, and Grant defends himself from anything else until the bell rings.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Assuncao
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Assuncao
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Assuncao

Round 3
The last round opens with a glove touch, and then the two throw hands. Both fighters connect with clean overhand rights, and they back off to measure one another. Assuncao beats the Brit to the punch with another right over the top, and Grant tries and fails to reach him back. As Grant advances, Assuncao kicks at his lead leg, which changes as Grant switches stances a few times. Assuncao hops away from a low kick, and he gets caught with a right hand coming in. Grant shucks him aside and strings a few punches together, ending it with a head kick that slides over the top. “Dangerous Davey” suddenly unleashes a torrent of punishment, blasting Assuncao with punches until he knocks Assuncao off-balance. Assuncao wobbles back to the fence, and he shoots for a desperation takedown to keep himself afloat. Grant defends the first try, but Assuncao redoubles his effort and pulls Grant’s ankle out to strip away his footing and put the Brit on his back. Assuncao holds on from an unorthodox half guard, but this posture allows Grant to explode back up. Grant fires off an uppercut that snaps Assuncao’s head back like a Pez dispenser, and he still has the Brazilian hurt. Grant tosses aside takedown entries from the veteran so that he can lay into him with punches, and he hurts Assuncao again in an exchange. Assuncao dives after a takedown, and Grant grabs the fence again to stop it. This time, Peterson has had enough of this nonsense, and he pauses the fight and deducts a point from Grant. Assuncao also loses his position from this, and Grant is thrilled so that he can tee off on the Brazilian some more. Assuncao struggles to stay on his feet from an onslaught of strikes, and Grant spins with a back fist that drills into the side of Assuncao’s head. Assuncao tries desperately to get the fight down, and he falls on top of Grant as the British fighter still tries to scramble.
“Dangerous Davey” wraps his legs around Assuncao’s neck to set up an inverted triangle choke, and the unexpected move is secured in a hurry. Assuncao is nonresponsive from on top after the choke gets tight, and he goes out without Peterson recognizing it immediately. Peterson reaches in to check on the Brazilian, who is completely unconscious, and he determines that Assuncao is out and stops the fight.
As soon as the fight is stopped, Assuncao’s coach, Eric Nicksick, is outraged from Peterson’s point deduction that also resulted in Assuncao losing his position, and it is explained that Grant had sat up and gained a superior position – and cannot be rewarded for gaining that position due to a foul. After Assuncao comes to, he removes his gloves and places them in the center of the cage to signal his retirement, while saying in his quick farewell interview that, “I think my time has come.”

The Official Result
Davey Grant def. Raphael Assuncao R3 4:43 via Technical Submission (Inverted Triangle Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 5, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Angelo picks Davey Grant as the better striker with takedown defense that should hold up against the aging Assunção. He acknowledges Assunção's past success but believes Grant's power and composure will prevail. He notes the line at -160 is likely to move and considers it a safe pick.

line movement comment: expects line to close at -300
"I'm still going the Davey Grant side because I do think he's going to be the better Striker and his takedown defense should hold up."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 8, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Big Brady picks Davey Grant, noting Grant has never looked this good and is in his prime at 37. He expects Grant to march forward with wild looping shots and put Assunção away, as Assunção has been knocked out recently by Garbrandt and Simon. Brady predicts a second-round knockout, though he acknowledges Assunção could win via wrestling if Grant struggles on the mat.

win by KO in round 2
"I think Davey Grant is going to March this guy down Wing big looping shots wild shots and I think he puts a sunset out here"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Mar 8, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Cody picks Grant, citing Grant's toughness and ability to push the pace. He notes Assunção's age and recent surgery, but acknowledges Assunção could win a close decision. He calls it a close fight.

"I think I will go with Davey Grant don't feel great about it"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Mar 9, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Raphael Assunção

Connor picks Assunção despite concerns about his age and recent performances. He believes Assunção's counter-striking, jab, and wrestling will be key against Grant's wild brawling style. He notes that Grant makes many mistakes and Assunção can take him down and control him, though there's always a risk of Grant landing a lucky shot.

Grant is favorite at -130 to -150; Assunção underdog at +110 to +120. Connor notes the line has moved toward Grant.
"I think I have to pick a Sun Tso too. That's it. I just think it's, I'm worried that he'll get knocked out because Grant's got a weird stuff is going to happen to him more and more."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 6, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Davey Grant

I think Grant's power will be too much for Assunção, who has shown durability issues at 40. Assunção is the better technical striker, but Grant throws heavy shots and can end the fight at any moment. Assunção's recent losses have come by knockout, and Grant has the power to exploit that. I expect a knockout within the first 12 minutes.

Grant by KO
"I think that one of those big shots from David Grant are going to get through within the first 12 minutes of this fight and I think that will likely be the end of the night"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Mar 8, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Paul picks Grant but is not confident, noting Assunção's low volume and close fights. He thinks Grant's volume and takedown defense could be key, but calls it a dicey fight and says he won't bet it.

"I'll take David Grant on price because they got 62 and a half which is super low for a grand fight"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 7, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Davey Grant

The MMA Guru picks Davey Grant, citing his toughness and finishing ability. He believes Grant can finish Assunção, while Assunção is unlikely to finish Grant. He notes Grant's win over Jonathan Martinez and his competitive fight with Adrian Yanez (which he thought Grant won). He predicts a KO in the second round.

by KO, second round
"I'm gonna go with Davey Grant too dangerous I think he finds a finish by KO second round"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Mar 9, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Raphael Assunção

Zane picks Assunção but is hesitant due to his age and recent decline. He notes that Assunção's counter-striking and wrestling should neutralize Grant's wild pressure, but Grant's power and unpredictability make it a risky pick. He mentions that Assunção has seen everything and should be able to handle Grant's style.

"I'm with you. I mean, I would expect these odds to be pretty close. Again, Sun Tso's old and we're both understandably nervous about his chances here."
WIN vs Louis Smolka
KO (punches) R3 0:49 · UFC on ESPN: Blachowicz vs. Rakic · May 14, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Davey Grant 1 81 of 197 41% 84 of 200 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:35
Louis Smolka 0 71 of 139 51% 75 of 145 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:35
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Davey Grant 1 45 of 90 50% 46 of 91 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:22
Louis Smolka 0 14 of 37 37% 14 of 37 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
2 Davey Grant 0 27 of 87 31% 29 of 89 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:06
Louis Smolka 0 56 of 93 60% 60 of 99 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:33
3 Davey Grant 0 9 of 20 45% 9 of 20 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
Louis Smolka 0 1 of 9 11% 1 of 9 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Davey Grant 81 of 197 41% 36 of 134 29 of 42 16 of 21 68 of 180 6 of 8 7 of 9
Louis Smolka 71 of 139 51% 46 of 101 19 of 31 6 of 7 67 of 133 1 of 1 3 of 5
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Davey Grant 45 of 90 50% 17 of 54 18 of 24 10 of 12 39 of 84 2 of 2 4 of 4
Louis Smolka 14 of 37 37% 8 of 24 3 of 10 3 of 3 13 of 36 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Davey Grant 27 of 87 31% 14 of 66 10 of 17 3 of 4 23 of 81 4 of 6 0 of 0
Louis Smolka 56 of 93 60% 37 of 70 16 of 20 3 of 3 53 of 88 0 of 0 3 of 5
3 Davey Grant 9 of 20 45% 5 of 14 1 of 1 3 of 5 6 of 15 0 of 0 3 of 5
Louis Smolka 1 of 9 11% 1 of 7 0 of 1 0 of 1 1 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Davey Grant vs. Louis Smolka
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Grant (-290) Smolka (+230)

Round 1
In a fight clearly booked for its potential entertainment value, “Dangerous Davey” and “Da Last Samurai” square off, with veteran ref Mike Beltran set to supervise the expected violence. Grant comes out in southpaw and is met by the orthodox Smolka. Grant throws a kick to the Hawaiian’s lead leg. Smolka comes forward, bobbing and weaving. He throws a front kick up the middle which lands. Grant launches a spinning high kick, but comes up short. Grant lands a hard pair of hooks to the body. Grant lands a hard outside kick to Smolka’s lead left leg, then just misses with a murderous punch up top. Smolka lunges in and scores with a nice jab. Two minutes left in the round. Smolka lunges in again and lands a left hand, but Grant scores with a pair of counters. Grant lands another hard leg kick, then a spinning back fist. Smolka is still marching forward, but Grant is hitting with just about everything he throws. Smolka walks right into a hard jab and falls to his rear, dazed. Grant jumps on him and after a brief scramble, lets Smolka back up. The round expires.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Grant
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant

Round 2
Smolka charges forward, swinging big hooks. Grant gives ground and circles away, tagging the Hawaiian with punches as he goes. Grant goes to the body several times in the first minute, then follows up with combinations upstairs. Smolka keeps on coming, however, and is landing quite a few of his own shots. Grant appears to be slowing just a bit. Smolka wades in and lands a right kick to the body. Smolka mixes in level elbow strikes at close range, catching the Englishman. Smolka takes a collar tie and looks to punch with the other hand, but Grant shrugs him off and throws a pair of wide hooks. A minute left, and the momentum seems to have shifted. Smolka catches a kick, hoists Grant’s leg high and runs him to the ground. Smolka moves to the back, then out to the side, working for an armbar. Grant defends the hold, and escapes to his feet. They swing wildly as the final seconds expire.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Smolka
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Smolka
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Smolka

Round 3
Grant lands a hard low kick, then a pair of punches upstairs. Smolka sneaks a look at his own leg, comes forward somewhat gingerly, and
Grant lands another low kick that takes his base out from under him completely.
Smolka lunges forward for a desperate takedown attempt, but Grant sprawls all over it, then dives in with punches that land unblocked, the last of which puts “Da Last Samurai” out. Ref Beltran is there a heartbeat later, and it’s another stoppage win for Davey Grant.

The Official Result
Davey Grant def. Louis Smolka R3 0:49 via TKO (Leg Kick and Punches)
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 11, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Cody is confident in Davey Grant, citing his durability, cardio, power, and improved striking. He notes Grant has been fighting more frequently and showing heart, while Smolka has durability issues, poor wrestling, and was knocked out by Vince Morales. He thinks Grant is much stronger and will march Smolka down, though the -300 price is rich.

"davey grant is that dog he is that guy that comes forward he's that guy that makes it up he's got a lot of durability his cardio checks out he's got big power punching standing he can wrestle he can …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 11, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Davey Grant

Paul agrees with Grant, struggling to see where Smolka wins unless by submission. He notes Grant is making up for lost time, has made significant improvements, and is an Ultimate Fighter winner. He thinks Grant's style and effort make him the pick despite the high price.

"i struggle to see where where smoke really wins i guess if he takes him down and and and finds a submission but otherwise like we've seen like david graham really seems like a guy you know he's like six …"
Da'Mon Blackshear - Fight History
LOSS vs Davey Grant
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder · Jul 26, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Davey Grant 0 66 of 130 50% 66 of 133 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:19
Da'Mon Blackshear 0 33 of 74 44% 36 of 78 1 of 5 20% 1 0 3:52
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Davey Grant 0 3 of 5 60% 3 of 8 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:19
Da'Mon Blackshear 0 2 of 4 50% 4 of 7 1 of 1 100% 1 0 3:52
2 Davey Grant 0 29 of 57 50% 29 of 57 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Da'Mon Blackshear 0 17 of 33 51% 18 of 34 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Davey Grant 0 34 of 68 50% 34 of 68 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Da'Mon Blackshear 0 14 of 37 37% 14 of 37 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Davey Grant 66 of 130 50% 17 of 67 27 of 39 22 of 24 65 of 128 1 of 1 0 of 1
Da'Mon Blackshear 33 of 74 44% 12 of 45 7 of 13 14 of 16 31 of 72 1 of 1 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Davey Grant 3 of 5 60% 0 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 4 3 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 1
Da'Mon Blackshear 2 of 4 50% 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 3 0 of 0 1 of 1
2 Davey Grant 29 of 57 50% 9 of 31 13 of 19 7 of 7 29 of 57 0 of 0 0 of 0
Da'Mon Blackshear 17 of 33 51% 6 of 17 5 of 9 6 of 7 17 of 33 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Davey Grant 34 of 68 50% 8 of 35 14 of 20 12 of 13 33 of 67 1 of 1 0 of 0
Da'Mon Blackshear 14 of 37 37% 4 of 24 2 of 4 8 of 9 13 of 36 1 of 1 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Davey Grant vs. Da'Mon Blackshear
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Blackshear (-270); Grant (+210)

Round 1
Turning 40 in December, Grant (16-7, 7-6 UFC) knows he may be fast approaching the age cliff, although he did win his last bout. He faces a submission magician in Blackshear (17-7-1, 5-3-1 UFC) nearly a decade his junior, which might not be in his best interest as “Dangerous Davey” posts more losses by sub than any other method. With three rounds to work, the bantamweights meet in the middle with no plan on bumping fists, and referee Jason Herzog will take it from there.
Grant opens up with wide low kicks to the thigh, hoping to keep an arc on them that would dissuade an early takedown effort. He goes after the longer legs of Blackshear a few times on the inside and out, and Blackshear still manages to pursue a takedown and hit it. Grant scoots his way to put his back to the fence, and he uses his legs to try to post off and gets some space from “Da Monster.” Grant gets to a knee, and Blackshear welcomes this as he hops to the side and slides a hook in. Blackshear sneaks his leg around the other side, and he follows a turning Grant until he can secure both hooks.
Blackshear does not set up a body triangle, instead retaining control while thwarting attempts to buck and escape. Grant turns over and finds himself in submission danger, as Blackshear grips hold of what turns into a face and neck crank rather than a textbook rear-naked choke. Grant toughs it out and tries to get out of the back take, only for Blackshear to turn to the proper direction to isolate the Brit’s left arm for a potential armbar. Grant stays heavy on his opponent to not allow Blackshear to extend a limb, and he explodes just enough to wrench his arm out of danger. Grant rains down a couple left hands and an elbow as the round concludes.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Blackshear
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Blackshear
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Blackshear

Round 2
Grant takes to the center of the cage to start the round, walking down the grappler and punching him a couple times in the stomach. Grant’s blitz forces Blackshear to ricochet off the wire, and he digs a kick to the ribs. Grant doubles up on a jab and follows with an overhand right that is parried, but his jab to the midsection does connect. They back off to disengage for a time, reaching one another with single low kicks but little else. Grant turns his hips into a thumping kick to the lead leg, and Blackshear drives him away with an overhand right. Grant plants punches to the midsection, a left to the dome and a head kick on the other side to keep Blackshear guessing.
Blackshear rebounds off the wire but has become target practice at this point, with little offense offered on his side other than the occasional kick. Grant times a shot by catching Blackshear with an uppercut, and he gets his foe’s attention with a string of punches to follow. Blackshear nods at him, and he wades forward trying to mask a takedown setup with punches that he does not let fly. Both men land hard punches, but Grant’s are far heavier and knock Blackshear back a step or two when he lands flush. Blackshear circles on the outside offering a body kick and keeping his guard up to block a series of punches and a high kick, the similar combination to earlier. Blackshear goes for body kicks, and Grant peppers him with punches and a low kick that makes Blackshear evaluate his footing. As Grant spams high kicks, the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Grant
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant

Round 3
The bantamweights reach the final frame, and Blackshear says hello again with a calf kick. Grant misses his counter, and Blackshear jabs him up and opens a cut on the bridge of his foe’s nose. Grant is putting a lot of mustard behind his swings, including two concussive blows that make Blackshear bounce off the fencing. Blackshear responds with kicks, but Grant’s fists are having an impact as Blackshear reacts poorly when struck. Grant keeps his man guessing with mixed up punches and kicks to varied targets, like a calf kick to a body shot to a high kick upstairs in rapid succession.
Blackshear targets the wounded spot on his opponent’s forehead to set up a takedown, and Grant’s defense holds up as he clubs “Da Monster” in the jaw with a right hand after stopping the shot. Blackshear goes to his knees for a double, and Grant once more tosses it aside and hurls a right hand at his foe. Blackshear tries to intercept the hard-charging Brit with a knee, and Grant avoids it and starts hammering the front leg with kicks as Blackshear is starting to limp. The kicks from Grant are so powerful that getting checked splits his shin open, as blood flows down his foot to leave partial scarlet footprints around the Octagon. This does not slow him from pitching kicks one second, as he keeps beating on the taller man’s front leg until Blackshear switches stances. When this happens, Grant starts kicking the other leg, and he stops a takedown in its tracks and holds back on firing off a knee that would have been illegal. He lets Blackshear stand, marching him down and hurling right hands at him. Blackshear blocks the worst of them, evading the final strikes as the match comes to a close.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Grant (29-28 Grant)
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Grant (29-28 Grant)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Grant (29-28 Grant)

The Official Result
Davey Grant def. Da'Mon Blackshear via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 20, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Angelo picks Da'Mon Blackshear, stating he wins 7 out of 10 times. He notes Blackshear's athletic striking, speed, power, and grappling, but worries about his hesitancy. Davey Grant is old, chinny, but relentless with volume. Angelo likely will bet on Blackshear but wishes he knew Blackshear would let his hands go.

Likely will bet on Blackshear
"Dean Blackshere is going to be the pick and I'm gonna pick him. I likely have a bet on him at some point this week."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jul 22, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Big Brady picks Da'Mon Blackshear but with hesitation, noting Blackshear has not wrestled in his last four fights despite having a huge grappling advantage. He believes if Blackshear grapples, he will win easily via submission, but if he strikes, he could lose to Grant's awkward volume and power. He predicts a first-round submission.

first round submission
"I got to go Blackshere just because it's like so clear. ... I think he finishes Davy Grant in the very first round by submission."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 23, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Blackshear should be able to chip away at Grant from distance, mix in takedowns, and ultimately lock up a submission to force the tap.

submission
"I believe Blackshere should be able to chip away at Grant from distance, maybe even mix in a few takedowns, but I ultimately think it leads to Blackshire locking up a submission and forcing the tap from Davy Grant."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 24, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

The MMA Guru picks Da'Mon Blackshear over Davey Grant, citing Blackshear's underrated submission and grappling game, and his composed performance against Eli Alateng. He worries Grant may have declined after neck surgery and time off. He predicts a second-round finish by submission or TKO after a wild first round.

Finish, round 2
"I'm gonna take Deon Blackshere to get this one done by finish. Submission TKO. Second round finish for Deon Blackshere."
WIN vs Alateng Heili
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Machado Garry vs. Prates · Apr 26, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Da'Mon Blackshear 0 125 of 273 45% 127 of 275 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Alateng Heili 0 61 of 190 32% 61 of 191 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:18
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Da'Mon Blackshear 0 37 of 78 47% 37 of 78 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Alateng Heili 0 11 of 45 24% 11 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Da'Mon Blackshear 0 40 of 96 41% 42 of 98 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Alateng Heili 0 25 of 60 41% 25 of 61 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:18
3 Da'Mon Blackshear 0 48 of 99 48% 48 of 99 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Alateng Heili 0 25 of 85 29% 25 of 85 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Da'Mon Blackshear 125 of 273 45% 75 of 200 37 of 50 13 of 23 123 of 270 2 of 3 0 of 0
Alateng Heili 61 of 190 32% 34 of 148 19 of 34 8 of 8 60 of 189 1 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Da'Mon Blackshear 37 of 78 47% 17 of 45 15 of 21 5 of 12 37 of 78 0 of 0 0 of 0
Alateng Heili 11 of 45 24% 7 of 38 1 of 4 3 of 3 11 of 45 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Da'Mon Blackshear 40 of 96 41% 24 of 74 11 of 15 5 of 7 39 of 95 1 of 1 0 of 0
Alateng Heili 25 of 60 41% 11 of 41 13 of 18 1 of 1 24 of 59 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Da'Mon Blackshear 48 of 99 48% 34 of 81 11 of 14 3 of 4 47 of 97 1 of 2 0 of 0
Alateng Heili 25 of 85 29% 16 of 69 5 of 12 4 of 4 25 of 85 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Apr 20, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Angelo picks Da'Mon Blackshear, citing his athleticism, speed, power, and ability to mix striking and grappling. He notes that Alateng Heili struggles to combine his skills, and that Blackshear's technical boxing and clean takedowns should prevail. He has Blackshear in a parlay with Joselyne Edwards.

Parlay with Joselyne Edwards at -105 odds
"De Man Blackshere is the pick. He is in the other half of that parlay with Joselyn Edwards."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 22, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Big Brady is confident in Da'Mon Blackshear, highlighting his superior grappling and Alateng Heili's low volume and lack of wrestling. He expects Blackshear to get the fight to the ground and submit Heili, noting a massive skill gap on the mat. He predicts a second-round submission.

second round submission
"I'll take him to win this fight by second round submission."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 25, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

The host acknowledges Heili's wrestling could cause issues but believes Blackshear's striking power and BJJ black belt will keep him safe and allow him to grind out a decision win.

"I believe Black Shear's power in his striking as well as his BJJ black belt should allow him to stay safe in most of these positions and end up grinding this fight out and winning it on the scorecards."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 22, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

The MMA Guru picks Da'Mon Blackshear to win by finish in the first two rounds. He cites Blackshear's reach advantage (5.5 inches), activity, and ability to dictate range. He notes Heili is not a pressure fighter and fights once a year, which hurts his development. He expects Blackshear to hurt Heili and finish via TKO or submission.

finish in first two rounds
"I'm actually going to go De Man Blackshere getting a finish in the first two rounds. I don't know what way he's going to do it. Maybe he hurts him and then finishes him with a submission."
WIN vs Cody Gibson
Submission R2 4:09 · UFC Fight Night: Vettori vs. Dolidze 2 · Mar 15, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Da'Mon Blackshear 0 13 of 39 33% 46 of 74 0 of 1 0% 3 1 3:32
Cody Gibson 0 45 of 71 63% 53 of 82 1 of 5 20% 0 0 2:42
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Da'Mon Blackshear 0 6 of 16 37% 9 of 21 0 of 0 --- 2 0 1:11
Cody Gibson 0 30 of 43 69% 37 of 52 0 of 4 0% 0 0 2:13
2 Da'Mon Blackshear 0 7 of 23 30% 37 of 53 0 of 1 0% 1 1 2:21
Cody Gibson 0 15 of 28 53% 16 of 30 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:29
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Da'Mon Blackshear 13 of 39 33% 11 of 35 2 of 4 0 of 0 11 of 37 2 of 2 0 of 0
Cody Gibson 45 of 71 63% 23 of 47 12 of 14 10 of 10 31 of 53 14 of 18 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Da'Mon Blackshear 6 of 16 37% 5 of 14 1 of 2 0 of 0 5 of 15 1 of 1 0 of 0
Cody Gibson 30 of 43 69% 16 of 27 9 of 11 5 of 5 21 of 30 9 of 13 0 of 0
2 Da'Mon Blackshear 7 of 23 30% 6 of 21 1 of 2 0 of 0 6 of 22 1 of 1 0 of 0
Cody Gibson 15 of 28 53% 7 of 20 3 of 3 5 of 5 10 of 23 5 of 5 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Da'Mon Blackshear vs. Cody Gibson
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Blackshear (-455), Gibson (+350)

Round 1
Despite their middling records with the promotion, the UFC elected to slot this bantamweight tilt between Blackshear (15-7-1, 3-3-1 UFC) and Gibson (21-10, 3-5 UFC) over names like Spann…and others. Grappling could be the difference maker in this contest, and it commences without the fighters touching gloves. Referee Chris Tognoni stands back and stands by. Gibson loads up on a big right hand to start up, and when it is blocked, Blackshear responds in kind. Blackshear surges forward with body shots and a power right hand, and Gibson replies with an identical flurry that knocks Blackshear to the fencing. Gibson looks for a level change, energetically attacking a single and lifting Blackshear’s leg up. Blackshear frees himself, and Gibson marches him down and pummels him in the ribs several times. Blackshear turtles up, perhaps still compromised from body blows, and Gibson is on him not giving him a moment to breathe. Gibson drills Blackshear with a few more body shots and drops down in pursuit of a double. Blackshear defends with a guillotine choke, using the stalling time to recover. Gibson drives a few knees to the body before breaking off, and he plods forward whipping a kick to the lead leg. When Blackshear scores as left hand, Gibson is in his face with a combination. Blackshear backs him away with a few kicks, and simultaneous kicks results in both men toppling to the mat. They spring back up, and Gibson stabs out a jab and shoots for a single. Blackshear backs to the wall and grips a guillotine choke, pulling guard for it but not completing it. Gibson adjusts himself and lowers Blackshear all the way to the floor, and Blackshear fastens his arm around the chin but does not appear to be threatening in this position. Gibson stays calm in the position, and when he sits up, Blackshear transitions to a power guillotine where he imposes his body weight. Blackshear releases the sub to take side control, and Gibson throws his legs up and briefly snares Blackshear in an inverted triangle choke. Blackshear fights out of it and isolates an arm, and he abandons it to wrap up a brabo choke in a north-south position. Gibson hand-fights well enough to defend the efforts, and he retaliates with an armbar that surprises Blackshear but does not get him. The spirited round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Gibson
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Gibson
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Gibson

Round 2
Replays show that right at the tail end of the round, Blackshear rips a nasty elbow that opened a cut on Gibson’s face. The two get back to business, and Blackshear is immediately giving chase with leaping strikes. Gibson walks into a right hand and is stunned, and Blackshear keeps swinging with bad intentions. Gibson throws back, working the body until he tries to hit a takedown, and Blackshear shuts it down and pushes him away. Gibson strings four punches together, wrapping them around the guard and punctuating the combo with a slapping leg kick. Blackshear fakes a kick and slashes an elbow up top, and Gibson steps in with his fists flying. The two engage in a clinch battle where they slug another with uppercuts, and Gibson gets tired of punching and scoops “Da Monster” up and dumps him to the mat. Blackshear keeps his back to the wire, and he hits a switch to flip Gibson to his back. Blackshear finds himself in side control, keeping tightly pressed to “The Renegade” having opened Gibson up again. Blackshear isolates Gibson’s right arm, and he elbows Gibson in the thigh several times with the sharp part of his elbow. Gripping the two-on-one wrist lock, Blackshear alternates between trying to pull on that arm and elbowing his opponent wherever he can. Blackshear grinds the elbow on Gibson’s increasingly bloodied face, and he stays heavy to disallow Gibson from any bucking or twisting. Blackshear hooks Gibson’s left arm between his legs and traps his foe’s right arm under him as well to set up a crucifix position, where he hammers the California native with elbows.
Blackshear finds the kimura again, and he grabs it while seated on top of Gibson’s face in a dominating move. The new Kill Cliff FC convert cranks the limb behind Gibson’s back, giving it all he has until Gibson has no choice but to say “Matte” and tap out.
Remarkable! Back-to-back kimura wins in the Octagon is definitely a rarity in company history, and it will be interesting to determine how many times this has ever happened in UFC history. Blackshear lifts his UFC record above .500 while giving “The Renegade” something to be disappointed about.

The Official Result
Da'Mon Blackshear def. Cody Gibson R2 4:09 via Submission (Kimura)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 9, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Angelo picks Da'Mon Blackshear over Cody Gibson. He believes Blackshear's striking is far superior and that he will 'smoke Cody on the feet.' However, he notes that Cody is durable and may look to wrestle. Angelo is confident Blackshear wins but chooses not to bet due to the risk of big favorites losing this year.

"I think the Striking Gap is so wide that I am going to pick them on here I'm pretty confident him to get it done."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 10, 2025 (5 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Big Brady picks Da'Mon Blackshear, calling him underrated with good striking and slick grappling (BJJ black belt). He notes that Cody Gibson often looks to take fights to the ground, which could put him in bad positions against Blackshear, who has submitted opponents via guillotine before. Brady expects a ground battle where Blackshear's superior grappling leads to a submission win, likely in the second round.

Blackshear second round submission
"I like blackshire here... I'll take blackshire to win this fight by second round submission."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 6, 2025 (fight day)

Cody picks Christian Rodriguez, citing Andre Fili's decline and Rodriguez's youth. He notes Fili's recent close decisions and losses, and believes Rodriguez can stuff takedowns and win on the feet. He is wary of Rodriguez's tendency to struggle against experienced fighters but thinks Fili is past his prime.

"I got Crod as well because a lot of the same things, which is just narrative. I feel like Phy's kind of on the back nine. Not only is it a little bit slower, he's just a little more disinterested."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Mar 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Connor agrees with Zane, emphasizing that Blackshear is one of the best scramblers in the bantamweight division and that Gibson's style will inevitably lead to grappling exchanges where Blackshear has the advantage. He notes that Gibson is fun and courageous but lacks the athleticism to keep up with Blackshear's scrambling.

"Got to take him here."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert picked Jan 31, 2024 (409 days before fight)

Daniel does not make a clear pick for this fight. He discusses the matchup briefly but does not state a preference or bet.

MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

The host believes Blackshear's grappling advantage and power striking approach will keep Gibson on the defensive, leading to Blackshear grinding out a win on the scorecards.

"I believe Black Shear is grappling uh Advantage I think he'll be able to keep Gibson at Bay utilizing his power striking approach wrapping Gibson up keeping him on the defensive and that should eventually lead to Black sh grinding …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Aug 6, 2025 (fight day)

Paul also picks Rodriguez, noting Fili's inconsistency and Rodriguez's ability to stuff takedowns. He points out that Fili's recent wins have been split decisions and he could be on a losing streak. He believes Rodriguez's volume and wrestling defense will be enough.

"Crod's a pick for me. What about you?"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 14, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

The MMA Guru picks Da'Mon Blackshear, calling him underrated and noting his good fight with Mario Bautista. He mentions Blackshear's takedown defense clinic against Brett Johns and his recent submission win over Cody Stamann with a 50k bonus. He criticizes Cody Gibson for lacking finishing ability and not impressing against Miles Johns. He predicts a first or second-round finish for Blackshear.

First or second round finish
"I'm going to say first or second round finish for Deon black year I think he's pretty underrated"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Mar 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Zane picks Blackshear because he is a significantly better athlete and scrambler than Gibson. He notes that Gibson's high-energy style leads to him fading, and that Blackshear excels in scrambles, which is where the fight will likely go. He also points out that Gibson is underpowered and that Blackshear's only losses come to fighters who can survive his scrambles and out-strike him.

Odds: Blackshear opened -428, now -484; Gibson opened +302, now +335.
"Got to take him here."
WIN vs Cody Stamann
Submission (rear-naked choke) R1 4:19 · UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Prates · Nov 09, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Da'Mon Blackshear 0 13 of 33 39% 13 of 33 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Cody Stamann 0 20 of 44 45% 21 of 46 0 of 0 --- 3 0 1:19
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Da'Mon Blackshear 0 13 of 33 39% 13 of 33 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Cody Stamann 0 20 of 44 45% 21 of 46 0 of 0 --- 3 0 1:19
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Da'Mon Blackshear 13 of 33 39% 5 of 21 5 of 9 3 of 3 13 of 33 0 of 0 0 of 0
Cody Stamann 20 of 44 45% 15 of 36 3 of 4 2 of 4 19 of 43 0 of 0 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Da'Mon Blackshear 13 of 33 39% 5 of 21 5 of 9 3 of 3 13 of 33 0 of 0 0 of 0
Cody Stamann 20 of 44 45% 15 of 36 3 of 4 2 of 4 19 of 43 0 of 0 1 of 1
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 3, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Angelo believes Da'Mon Blackshear is the better fighter with far better striking and good wrestling. He thinks Cody Stamann will get outstruck and then shoot sloppy takedowns. However, he notes Blackshear is 2-4 in the UFC and hasn't had a key win over a division staple like Stamann, so he is not confident enough to bet. He might consider a plus 3.5 round bet on Stamann if the odds are good.

considering plus 3.5 round bet on Cody Stamann if odds are favorable
"Daman is just the better fighter here in my opinion he's got the far better striking even though Cody's been boxing for a very long time Daman is faster and he's more than just hands"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 7, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Big Brady favors Blackshear due to his size, reach, and youth advantage over the 35-year-old Stamann. He believes Blackshear's striking is underrated and his grappling is elite, with a black belt in BJJ. He expects Blackshear to have success wherever the fight goes and predicts a decision win, though he acknowledges the line may be too wide.

Blackshear by decision
"I'm going to take blackshire to win this fight I'll take him to win this fight by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Cody Stamann

Cody is high on Stamann as a dog, citing Blackshear's cardio issues and lack of power. He notes Stamann's wrestling credentials and ability to get back up from takedowns. Cody expects a close decision and thinks the +230 line is too wide for a veteran like Stamann.

"I think Cody ston as a doger pass type situation plus 230 on Cody staman like me likey me likey."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Nov 8, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Cody Stamann

Connor picks Stamann, noting Blackshear is too willing to start from negative positions and it has cost him. He thinks Stamann's neutralizer style will make Blackshear make mistakes. Connor expects a narrow split decision, possibly ugly. He mentions Stamann is the underdog at +217 to +232.

Odds: Stamann +217 to +232, Blackshear -254 to -275. Connor says 'Surprising. I mean, I get that Stamann's coming, you know, he's lost a lot of fights lately, but you can't have to look at, have you seen the fight?'
"I think I have to, I have to pick Stamen. Blackshear is too willing to start from negative positions and it's cost him regularly."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Lean picked Nov 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Daniel Vreeland picks Da'Mon Blackshear, citing his physical advantages (reach, height) and higher aspirations compared to Cody Stamann, who may be nearing retirement. He acknowledges Stamann's takedown defense and ability to make fights close, but believes Blackshear's grappling and motivation give him the edge. Vreeland expects a close fight.

"I'm gonna pick him for that reason but I would not at all be surprised if this was a very close fight."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 8, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Cody Stamann

Stamann is being overlooked as a +230 underdog. His defensive wrestling should keep him away from Blackshear's BJJ, allowing him to dictate the striking pace and pull away in the second and third rounds as Blackshear slows down. Expect a decision win.

underdog +230, wins by decision
"I do believe staman is being overlooked as he is a plus 230 Underdog I believe his defensive wrestling will allow him to stay away from the BJJ heavy approach of black here allowing him to dictate the pace in …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Cody Stamann

Paul agrees, questioning how Blackshear can be such a favorite given his recent KO loss and cardio problems. He thinks Stamann's experience and wrestling will keep the fight competitive, and the price is too good to pass up. Paul calls it a clear dogger pass.

"Clear clear dogger pass I will have money on staman as well this week."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

The Guru picks Da'Mon Blackshear, citing his size, strength, and youth. He criticizes Cody Stamann's lack of finishing ability and short reach. He notes Blackshear gave Mario Bautista a tough fight and believes he is the better fighter. He mentions the odds might be worth betting on Blackshear as a favorite.

Might be worth some money as a favorite
"I'm very confident he's going to win this fight um I got them on Black Shear I think he's just way better as a fighter"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean picked Nov 8, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Cody Stamann

Zane picks Stamann, agreeing with Connor. He describes Stamann as a solid defensive striker who can bang in the pocket, but notes he never presses advantages. Zane thinks Blackshear's poor striking and tendency to start from negative positions will allow Stamann to neutralize him. He expects a narrow split decision.

Odds: Stamann +217 to +232, Blackshear -254 to -275. Zane says 'Surprising. I mean, I get that Stamann's coming, you know, he's lost a lot of fights lately, but you can't have to look at, have you seen the fight?'
"I think I have to, I have to pick Stamen. Blackshear is too willing to start from negative positions and it's cost him regularly."
LOSS vs Montel Jackson
KO (punch) R1 0:18 · UFC on ESPN: Namajunas vs. Cortez · Jul 13, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Montel Jackson 1 4 of 6 66% 4 of 6 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Da'Mon Blackshear 0 1 of 1 100% 1 of 1 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Montel Jackson 1 4 of 6 66% 4 of 6 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Da'Mon Blackshear 0 1 of 1 100% 1 of 1 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Montel Jackson 4 of 6 66% 4 of 5 0 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 3 0 of 0 3 of 3
Da'Mon Blackshear 1 of 1 100% 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Montel Jackson 4 of 6 66% 4 of 5 0 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 3 0 of 0 3 of 3
Da'Mon Blackshear 1 of 1 100% 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Da'Mon Blackshear vs. Montel Jackson
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Jackson (-162), Blackshear (+136)

Round 1
The prelims continue as bantamweights meet in the Octagon, with Jackson (13-2, 7-2 UFC) putting together a quietly successful run in the UFC as he enters into his 10th fight. The same cannot be said for Blackshear (14-6-1, 2-2-1 UFC), who hopes to break out of his .500 record with a victory. The two will be joined in the cage by referee Nick Berens, who checks them in as they bump fists. Blackshear lands a leg kick earl y, and Jackson responds with a right hand that loops around the guard. They hand-fight, and Jackson sticks out a front kick.
As Blackshear steps in to attack, Jackson releases a lightning-quick one-two that knocks Blackshear clean off his feet. As Blackshear’s head ricochets off the mat, it is clear he is out cold, and Jackson knows that his work here is done but understands the rules and drops down a few unnecessary punches until Berens leaps in.
While the audience explodes in favor of the ultra-fast knockout, Jackson signals to bring it down a few notches and drops a knee out of concern for his wrecked opponent. Blackshear comes to, although he needs to lean on his coach to remain upright, and Jackson is relieved and goes to embrace his fallen foe. The confident Jackson, who finds himself on a mighty win streak after a vicious knockout, simply tells upcoming adversaries during his post-fight interview that they need to “sign the contract.”

The Official Result
Montel Jackson def. Da’Mon Blackshear R1 0:18 via KO (Punch)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 7, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Montel Jackson

Angelo picks Montel Jackson, citing his superior wrestling background (Olympic Training Facility), power, and speed. He notes that while Da'Mon Blackshear is a good underdog with early wrestling initiation, Montel's offensive wrestling and power should be the difference. Angelo plans to wait for prop bets before placing a wager.

Waiting for prop bets to drop before placing a bet.
"Montel is the pick before I place a bet on this fight I'm going to wait for all the props to drop"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Montel Jackson

Cody picks Jackson, citing his striking advantage and improved grappling. He notes Blackshear's cardio issues and short notice, and believes Jackson will win by decision or late TKO. He expects Jackson to stuff takedowns and outwork Blackshear.

"Montel Jackson is going to figure out a way how to get the job done."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Lean picked Jul 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Daniel Vreeland leans with Da'Mon Blackshear as a plus 130 underdog. He notes that Montel Jackson is talented but inconsistent, often having long periods of inactivity. He thinks Blackshear's pressure and cardio could be factors, though he acknowledges Jackson's high ceiling. He calls it a tough fight to call but prefers the dog.

"I'll lean with the plus 130 dog just because I I could see this you know potentially being line minus 110 a piece so I'll go with the plus 130 dog."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 12, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Montel Jackson

Montel Jackson has shown improvements in surviving early rounds and taking over in the second and third. Blackshear tends to slow down later in fights. Jackson will keep the fight upright and use his power to finish Blackshear in the second or third round.

"I think we'll see good improvements here from Jackson in terms of being able to survive early then really start to take over in these second and third rounds"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jul 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Montel Jackson

Paul picks Jackson but is less confident, citing Blackshear's wrestling threat. He notes Jackson's inactivity but believes his striking and cardio advantage will prevail. He expects a competitive fight and may wait for weigh-ins.

"Jackson will be the pick for the purpose of this show."
LOSS vs Mario Bautista
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 292: Sterling vs. O'Malley · Aug 19, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Mario Bautista 0 90 of 174 51% 108 of 192 4 of 7 57% 0 0 3:00
Da'Mon Blackshear 0 79 of 137 57% 102 of 161 2 of 10 20% 1 0 4:04
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Mario Bautista 0 29 of 48 60% 38 of 57 4 of 5 80% 0 0 2:28
Da'Mon Blackshear 0 19 of 25 76% 27 of 33 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:19
2 Mario Bautista 0 40 of 74 54% 44 of 78 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:27
Da'Mon Blackshear 0 32 of 67 47% 34 of 69 0 of 5 0% 0 0 1:01
3 Mario Bautista 0 21 of 52 40% 26 of 57 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
Da'Mon Blackshear 0 28 of 45 62% 41 of 59 2 of 5 40% 0 0 2:44
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Mario Bautista 90 of 174 51% 48 of 123 22 of 30 20 of 21 52 of 129 37 of 42 1 of 3
Da'Mon Blackshear 79 of 137 57% 48 of 103 21 of 22 10 of 12 51 of 101 24 of 30 4 of 6
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Mario Bautista 29 of 48 60% 11 of 27 11 of 14 7 of 7 13 of 28 15 of 18 1 of 2
Da'Mon Blackshear 19 of 25 76% 11 of 17 3 of 3 5 of 5 13 of 18 6 of 7 0 of 0
2 Mario Bautista 40 of 74 54% 25 of 54 7 of 11 8 of 9 23 of 56 17 of 18 0 of 0
Da'Mon Blackshear 32 of 67 47% 22 of 55 8 of 9 2 of 3 21 of 53 11 of 14 0 of 0
3 Mario Bautista 21 of 52 40% 12 of 42 4 of 5 5 of 5 16 of 45 5 of 6 0 of 1
Da'Mon Blackshear 28 of 45 62% 15 of 31 10 of 10 3 of 4 17 of 30 7 of 9 4 of 6
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 12, 2023 (7 days before fight)
Mario Bautista

Big Brady picks Mario Bautista to win by first-round knockout, despite hating the line. He notes Bautista has been dominating on the ground but doubts he can take down and submit Cody Garbrandt, who has excellent takedown defense. Instead, Brady believes Bautista will knock Garbrandt out on the feet, as Garbrandt's chin is compromised and he fights cautiously.

win by KO, round 1
"I just see Mario Batista knocking him out just touching the chin at some point... first round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 15, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Mario Bautista

Cody thinks Bautista is the better fighter with superior wrestling and striking, but notes Blackshear is durable and has never been finished. He expects Bautista to win a decision, possibly fading in later rounds. He suggests live betting Blackshear after the first round if Bautista starts fast.

over on fight duration; Bautista by decision
"I still gotta take Batista again I just think he is the better Fighter the what ifs of what if this thing gets extended well listen I'm sure he was ready for that"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Aug 17, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Mario Bautista

Daniel Levi slightly leans toward Mario Bautista, citing his body work, aggression, and pace. He thinks Bautista's pressure will pull him away in the second and third rounds, leading to a decision win. However, he acknowledges that Blackshear is a live dog with plus money, and that the quick turnaround for Blackshear could be a factor. Levi calls it a dog-or-pass situation and respects Blackshear's skills.

Dog or pass; Bautista by decision
"I'm just going to slightly lean towards Bautista... I think the pace of Bautista is going to kind of pull him away in the second and third rounds and kind of get him this decision"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Hesitant picked Aug 18, 2023 (1 day before fight)
Mario Bautista

Lucrative James picks Mario Bautista but with hesitation, citing Blackshear's tough weight cut twice in two weeks and Bautista's high pace. He admits he has been wrong on Blackshear twice before, so he is not fully confident. He expects a decision win for Bautista.

"I'm picking Batista to win and I think Batista probably gets it done by decision"
WIN vs Jose Johnson
Submission (twister) R1 3:47 · UFC on ESPN: Luque vs. dos Anjos · Aug 12, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Da'Mon Blackshear 0 18 of 30 60% 30 of 46 2 of 4 50% 1 0 2:57
Jose Johnson 0 8 of 12 66% 16 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Da'Mon Blackshear 0 18 of 30 60% 30 of 46 2 of 4 50% 1 0 2:57
Jose Johnson 0 8 of 12 66% 16 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Da'Mon Blackshear 18 of 30 60% 7 of 16 2 of 5 9 of 9 5 of 13 6 of 8 7 of 9
Jose Johnson 8 of 12 66% 4 of 7 2 of 3 2 of 2 7 of 9 0 of 2 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Da'Mon Blackshear 18 of 30 60% 7 of 16 2 of 5 9 of 9 5 of 13 6 of 8 7 of 9
Jose Johnson 8 of 12 66% 4 of 7 2 of 3 2 of 2 7 of 9 0 of 2 1 of 1
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 9, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Cody picks Blackshear, citing his solid striking and top game. He notes Johnson's poor takedown defense and that Blackshear can mix in takedowns and control on the ground. He thinks Blackshear's experience against better competition (Yusuf Zalal, Basharat) will pay off. He expects Blackshear to get his first UFC win.

"Damon Blackshear will be the pick"
LU
Lucrative James Expert picked Aug 9, 2023 (3 days before fight)

James has not taped this fight, which was made 12 hours ago, and offers no pick.

"This fight was made a few hours ago... haven't done tape."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 10, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Blackshear is an explosive and athletic striker with a BJJ black belt, and he does great work in scrambles. Johnson is a striker coming in on short notice, and I have questions about his takedown defense. Blackshear should be able to take advantage of Johnson's layoff and short notice to grind out a decision.

Blackshear by decision
"give me blackstrike here to grind this fight out and Win It by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Aug 9, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Paul picks Blackshear, noting his improvements and solid grappling shown in his last fight against Luan Lacerda. He is surprised early action is on Johnson and thinks Blackshear's cardio and grappling will be too much. He expects Blackshear to win by decision or submission.

"for the purposes of this show will be Damon Blackshear with ya"
WIN vs Luan Lacerda
TKO (punches) R2 3:54 · UFC on ESPN: Kara-France vs. Albazi · Jun 03, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Da'Mon Blackshear 0 66 of 135 48% 85 of 158 1 of 2 50% 0 1 2:14
Luan Lacerda 0 28 of 64 43% 31 of 67 1 of 4 25% 1 1 0:26
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Da'Mon Blackshear 0 30 of 60 50% 44 of 76 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:29
Luan Lacerda 0 17 of 34 50% 20 of 37 1 of 2 50% 1 0 0:20
2 Da'Mon Blackshear 0 36 of 75 48% 41 of 82 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:45
Luan Lacerda 0 11 of 30 36% 11 of 30 0 of 2 0% 0 1 0:06
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Da'Mon Blackshear 66 of 135 48% 42 of 103 11 of 17 13 of 15 38 of 96 8 of 13 20 of 26
Luan Lacerda 28 of 64 43% 16 of 42 9 of 19 3 of 3 25 of 61 3 of 3 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Da'Mon Blackshear 30 of 60 50% 17 of 41 4 of 8 9 of 11 19 of 43 8 of 13 3 of 4
Luan Lacerda 17 of 34 50% 11 of 24 5 of 9 1 of 1 14 of 31 3 of 3 0 of 0
2 Da'Mon Blackshear 36 of 75 48% 25 of 62 7 of 9 4 of 4 19 of 53 0 of 0 17 of 22
Luan Lacerda 11 of 30 36% 5 of 18 4 of 10 2 of 2 11 of 30 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Angelo picks Blackshear, impressed by his toughness and performance in his loss to Fareed. He thinks Blackshear is better than his winless UFC record and can defend Lacerda's takedowns, noting Lacerda is not the wrestler Fareed was. Angelo acknowledges Lacerda is dangerous everywhere but believes Blackshear's speed and accuracy will be key. He placed a $20 bet on Blackshear at +111.

Bet $20 on Blackshear moneyline at +111.
"I think Damon's gonna win this fight I think he's better than his winless UFC record"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Luan Lacerda

Cody picks Lacerda, agreeing with Paul. He notes Lacerda looked like a problem in his debut against Stamann, showing strong takedown defense and striking. Cody highlights Blackshear's poor takedown defense and inability to get back to his feet. He thinks Lacerda's physicality and grappling will be too much, and that -150 is fair.

"minus 150 seems more than fair for Luan lucerta in this spot"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jun 3, 2023 (fight day)
Luan Lacerda

Connor fully agrees with Zane, praising Lacerda's assertiveness and well-rounded skills. He compares Lacerda favorably to a more aggressive version of Hacran Dias, noting that Lacerda knows how to lead and break opponents down methodically. Connor believes Blackshear's lack of striking comfort and tendency to give up the initiative will be exploited by Lacerda's pressure and takedowns.

"I just I really like the look of lasserta"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jun 1, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Luan Lacerda

Daniel picks Lacerda, praising his elite Jiu-Jitsu and ability to sweep and take backs. He notes that Blackshear is explosive and athletic but makes defensive mistakes and puts himself in deep submissions. He believes Lacerda's consistency and grappling will be the difference, and he wouldn't be surprised by a submission win.

"pure pic lacera and I cannot wait"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Luan Lacerda

Jacob picks Lacerda, believing he is the better striker with more power and Muay Thai kicks. He thinks Lacerda is next level on the ground and Blackshear will be outclassed everywhere. Jacob notes Lacerda struggled against Cody's elusive style but Blackshear will be more in front of him. He does not see a finish but expects Lacerda to out-grapple and out-strike Blackshear to win a decision.

"I absolutely have viserada in this fight I believe in the Striking he's a better Striker he's a more powerful Striker"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 1, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Luan Lacerda

Lacerda is a BJJ black belt who gets most of his work done on the mat with submissions. Blackshear has cardio issues and his efficiency drops after the first two rounds. Lacerda will land takedowns, establish dominant control, and find a submission in the latter half of the fight.

submission round 2
"give me Luan lacerda via submission let's call it round two"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Luan Lacerda

Paul picks Lacerda confidently, calling him the most value on the card at -150. He notes Lacerda's strong grappling and physicality, and that Blackshear cannot fight off his back. Paul recalls Lacerda's impressive UFC debut against Cody Stamann, where he nearly won. He thinks Lacerda's second fight will show an even better version, and that he has the tools to submit or dominate Blackshear.

"I feel like Lucerne is probably the most value on the card at -150 to be honest with you"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Lean picked May 29, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Luan Lacerda

The MMA Guru leans towards Luan Lacerda, acknowledging it's a tough matchup to predict. He notes Lacerda had a competitive fight with Cody Stamann, a tough veteran, and that Lacerda is more talented and had momentum coming into the UFC. He also mentions that Blackshear had a close fight with Farid Basharat and made big mistakes. The Guru thinks Lacerda will mix in grappling and get takedowns, but warns that Blackshear could win by finish as an underdog.

"I am going to lean towards lacerda because he was doing... he did okay against Cody stamen"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jun 3, 2023 (fight day)
Luan Lacerda

Zane picks Lacerda based on his assertive, front-foot style and well-rounded game. He notes that Blackshear is a good scrambler but tends to let opponents be first, which is dangerous against Lacerda's pressure. Lacerda's solid Muay Thai, power, and wrestling (he even took down Kody Stamann) should allow him to control the fight. Zane believes Blackshear's passive approach will lead to him being outworked and outgrappled.

"luon lasserta is not a fighter you want to let be first"
Expert Picks (4)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 20, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Angelo picks Da'Mon Blackshear, stating he wins 7 out of 10 times. He notes Blackshear's athletic striking, speed, power, and grappling, but worries about his hesitancy. Davey Grant is old, chinny, but relentless with volume. Angelo likely will bet on Blackshear but wishes he knew Blackshear would let his hands go.

Likely will bet on Blackshear
"Dean Blackshere is going to be the pick and I'm gonna pick him. I likely have a bet on him at some point this week."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jul 22, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Big Brady picks Da'Mon Blackshear but with hesitation, noting Blackshear has not wrestled in his last four fights despite having a huge grappling advantage. He believes if Blackshear grapples, he will win easily via submission, but if he strikes, he could lose to Grant's awkward volume and power. He predicts a first-round submission.

first round submission
"I got to go Blackshere just because it's like so clear. ... I think he finishes Davy Grant in the very first round by submission."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 23, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

Blackshear should be able to chip away at Grant from distance, mix in takedowns, and ultimately lock up a submission to force the tap.

submission
"I believe Blackshere should be able to chip away at Grant from distance, maybe even mix in a few takedowns, but I ultimately think it leads to Blackshire locking up a submission and forcing the tap from Davy Grant."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 24, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Da'Mon Blackshear

The MMA Guru picks Da'Mon Blackshear over Davey Grant, citing Blackshear's underrated submission and grappling game, and his composed performance against Eli Alateng. He worries Grant may have declined after neck surgery and time off. He predicts a second-round finish by submission or TKO after a wild first round.

Finish, round 2
"I'm gonna take Deon Blackshere to get this one done by finish. Submission TKO. Second round finish for Deon Blackshere."
Comments (1)
BR
brian 10 months, 1 week ago

Two people fighting tonight have a twister. Da'mon no handshake in the weigh-ins. Davey body is looking deformed after years of fighting not saying he is or isnt in good shape.. Da Mon is 100 for the twister.