Grant Dawson bloodies Rafa Garcia for TKO

No one can accuse Grant Dawson of being cautious with his grappling approach after a brutal beatdown of Rafa Garcia at UFC Fight Night 244.

Dawson (22-2-1 MMA, 10-1-1 UFC) added another win to this stellar octagon record when he used his wrestling to put Garcia (16-4 MMA, 4-4 UFC) on the mat. A big elbow from top position opened up a nasty cut, and the American Top Team product poured on strikes until the referee stepped in for the TKO stoppage at the 1:42 mark of Round 2.

Check out the replay of Dawson’s handiwork in the video below (via X):

Grant Dawson wins in dominant fashion at #UFCVegas98 👏 pic.twitter.com/lPDw8W5MRu

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 13, 2024

Dawson has now won back-to-back fights after suffering his sole UFC defeat in a 33-second knockout to King Green in October 2023. The 30-year-old said this is just the start after the triumphant performance.

“It’s a testament I’ve been doing to all the great work I’ve been doing in the best gym in the world at American Top Team,” Dawson said in his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping. “I am better than everybody in this division gives me credit for, and I will be a world champion one day.”

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 244 results include:

• Grant Dawson def. Rafa Garcia via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 1:42
• Daniel Rodriguez def. Alex Morono via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Ramazonbek Temirov def. CJ Vergara via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:50
• Pat Sabatini def. Jonathan Pearce via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:06
• Themba Gorimbo def. Niko Price via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Junior Tafa def. Sean Sharaf via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 2:15
• Julia Polastri def. Cory McKenna via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
• Cody Haddon def. Dan Argueta via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Clayton Carpenter def. Lucas Rocha via technical submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:12

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 244.