Grant Dawson: UFC Fight Night 229 win over Bobby Green worth more than higher ranked fighters

LAS VEGAS – Grant Dawson doesn’t mind fighting an unranked opponent, even though some believe it’s time he does.

Dawson (20-1-1 MMA, 8-0-1 UFC) returns to action this Saturday with his first octagon headliner at UFC Fight Night 229 against Bobby Green (30-14-1 MMA, 11-9-1 UFC). “King” is a veteran and a known name, but not one of the 15 fighters on the UFC’s official lightweight rankings.

This doesn’t bother Dawson. In fact, he’s actually glad to be fighting rather than some other names in the rankings.

“Matchups don’t make any sense to me anyway,” Dawson told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 229 media day. “I’m not a really big, anything outside the champion is just suggestion. The rankings change very single day. If he beats me on Saturday night, then the matchup wasn’t that weird.

“I’m taking Bobby Green very seriously. I know how good he is, and I’m going to be honest with you, I think a win over Bobby Green does more for my career than a couple of wins over some other guys in the top 15. I just think he’s got that much of star power, he’s that big of a veteran, and I’m expecting the best Bobby Green on Saturday night.”

Apart from getting someone with a name, Dawson will also get top billing on a card for the first time. This is a special moment for the American Top Team fighter, and he plans to utilize it properly.

“I wanted to be a UFC world champion from day one, and if I want to be a UFC world champion, I have to know that these kind of moments are going to happen,” Dawson said. “They’re great, and I’m so happy that they’re finally starting to get here, but this was supposed to happen. I’m supposed to be in a main event. I’m supposed to be doing this kind of thing. Now I get to show the UFC you can put me in a main event and I can perform, and I can go all five rounds if need be. This is everything I’ve ever worked for.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 229.