Grant Dawson is aiming to rebound in a big way when he meets Mateusz Rebecki on the UFC 328 prelims at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on May 9.
Dawson, 23-3-1 in MMA and 11-2-1 in the UFC, is coming off a knockout loss to Manuel Torres at UFC 323 in December, which halted his three-fight winning streak. That setback followed a 33-second knockout defeat to King Green in 2023, his first loss in the UFC.
Despite the recent results, Dawson remains upbeat about where he stands. “I think other than being undefeated and in the running for a title, I can't be much happier,” he said. “The UFC is paying me an amount of money that I never thought I would make in my entire life, so I have to work two days a year to live a life that I absolutely adore.”
Dawson views Rebecki, who is 20-4 in MMA and 4-3 in the UFC, as a serious test. “This is a big fight for me. This is going to show that I'm still top level. Rebecki is coming off of a couple of losses, but those losses and his win over (Myktybek) Orolbai are Fight of the Year contenders. Everybody knows how tough he is. Everybody knows that he's not going to give up. Even if I get his arm or his neck, I just don't see this guy tapping. I do think I will finish him, but mentally I am prepared for 15 minutes of war if need be.”
Dawson and Rebecki previously spent brief time training together at American Top Team. UFC 328 is scheduled to air on Paramount+.
