Grant Dawson laments ‘completely insane’ betting line vs. Rafa Garcia at UFC Struggle Evening 244

LAS VEGAS – Grant Dawson is the largest betting favourite at UFC Struggle Evening 244 on Saturday.

And whereas that sometimes may be a badge of honor heading right into a struggle for a fighter, Dawson (12-2-1 MMA, 9-1-1 UFC) needs the MMA collective would pump the brakes a bit on his roughly 4-1 favourite standing towards Rafa Garcia (16-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) on the UFC Apex.

“I feel he’s a really, very powerful opponent, and to not put myself down or something like that – I feel the betting line is completely insane,” Dawson mentioned at Wednesday’s media day. “I feel he’s rather a lot higher than the betting line is displaying, which sort of sucks. If I’m going on the market and dominate him, it doesn’t look good for me. And if I’m going on the market and have a detailed struggle, I simply beat a extremely, actually good man – and I don’t even get the credit score for beating a extremely good man that manner (due to the chances).”

And whereas Dawson surmised Garcia’s 18-month layoff, which included a knee surgical procedure, is enjoying a component in making him the cardboard’s greatest underdog, he additionally is aware of his personal main success is a giant issue.

“I feel folks know the way good I’m. I feel persons are underestimating how good he’s,” he mentioned.

Dawson is preventing only a yr previous what stands as his solely UFC loss – a 33-second knockout towards Bobby Inexperienced. It was one among 2023’s greatest stunners and his first loss in additional than seven years.

The light-weight thinks that put a giant crimp in his plans to turn into a UFC champion, however he’s left with no selection however to work his manner again to competition, the place he was knocking on the door when Inexperienced shocked him.

“I need to be a world champion, and I completely get that thrilling guys get to skip that line,” Dawson mentioned. “However there’s plenty of actually thrilling guys that by no means acquired the belt as a result of they lose fights they shouldn’t. It’s a recreation of inches on this sport. It’s a recreation of inches, and if you happen to make one mistake … We noticed it towards Bobby Inexperienced. I made one mistake and he made me pay for it. It set my profession again in all probability two, three years, and I’ve acquired to struggle my manner again now.”

After his loss to Inexperienced, he bounced again in June this yr with a call win over Joe Solecki. He thought the subsequent identify may be somebody he might use to make his declare for spot within the rankings, however he hopes he would possibly discover himself within the prime 15 subsequent week, anyway.

“I used to be pondering that my subsequent struggle was going to be within the prime 15, however I undoubtedly suppose that it is a segue into the highest 15,” Dawson mentioned. “I wouldn’t be shocked if on Monday I used to be ranked after beating Garcia. I feel he’s top-15 worthy.”

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC Fight Night 244.