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Grant Dawson

Lightweight · REAL v1.0 (registered) #8; v1.1 (shadow) #8

Descriptive profile. The resume rank is what has been earned; these statistics are context, not a prediction. A test on Oct 20, 2026 found that career statistics add nothing reliable to age, layoff and experience as predictors of the next result (experiments/REGISTER.md, EXP-2026-10-20-14).

Weight band 6-8: the 10th to 90th percentile of his position across weight vectors drawn near the 70/30 weights. Rating 1,737, deviation 115: measured from 16 UFC bouts; a one-bout newcomer sits near 290.

Age 32 (born 1994-02-20) · Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) · Reach 72 in (183 cm) · Stance Switch · 8 days since last bout (2026-10-24) · Last five 4-1 · Streak W2

Why he is ranked here

Rating 1,737 is the division's 6th highest of 96 board fighters; the ledger stands at -0.4 (+0.6 from quality wins, less 1.0 for blowout losses; losses count for three years); 2 quality wins in 15 years, 0 over top-10 opponents; no form penalty (4-1 last five). Score +0.60 = +0.56 (rating term, 70% weight) +0.04 (ledger term, 30% weight) -0.00 (form penalty); score order put him at #8.

TermValueDetail
Score+0.6070% rating term + 30% ledger term - form penalty
Rating term+0.56resume rating 1,737, scaled against the division's interdecile range
Ledger term+0.04quality ledger -0.4: +0.6 QW +0.0 proof -1.0 blowout -0.0 weak
Form penalty0.00last five 4-1
Quality wins, 15 years20 over top-10 opponents, 1 over top-15
Placementscore order #8v1.0 (registered)
Shadow board v1.1#8score +0.49; score order #8

Rules, weights and worked examples: methodology.

Last ten bouts

DateEventOpponentOpp. official rankResultMethodRoundModel p
2026-10-24UFC 333: Volkanovski vs. EvloevNurullo AlievunrankedWunanimous decision3 (5:00)67%
2026-05-09UFC 328: Chimaev vs. StricklandMateusz RebeckiunrankedWsubmission3 (4:42)65%
2025-12-06UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs. Yan 2Manuel TorresunrankedLKO/TKO1 (2:25)61%
2025-01-18UFC 311: Makhachev vs. MoicanoDiego FerreiraunrankedWunanimous decision3 (5:00)54%
2024-10-12UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. TairaRafa GarciaunrankedWKO/TKO2 (1:42)64%
2024-06-01UFC 302: Makhachev vs. PoirierJoe SoleckiunrankedWunanimous decision3 (5:00)57%
2023-10-07UFC Fight Night: Dawson vs. GreenKing GreenunrankedLKO/TKO1 (0:33)45%
2023-07-01UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. MagomedovDamir Ismagulov#12Wunanimous decision3 (5:00)63%
2022-11-05UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. LemosMark MadsenunrankedWsubmission3 (2:05)59%
2022-04-30UFC Fight Night: Font vs. VeraJared GordonunrankedWsubmission3 (4:11)59%

Opp. official rank = the UFC media-panel rank of the opponent on the date (C champion, #1 to #15, unranked; n/a before Feb 2013 or where no official board existed). Model p = the predictive model's pre-fight win chance for him (frozen performance-adjusted Elo; bouts before 2020 were in its tuning sample). Linked opponents have a profile.

Career statistics

Through 2026-10-31, UFC bouts only. Percentile = share of the 96 board fighters at Lightweight at or below this value; high is a position in the division, not a verdict.

Output
Significant strikes landed per minute3.37(23rd percentile at Lightweight)
Significant strike accuracy51%(69th percentile at Lightweight)
Knockdowns scored per 15 minutes0.08(25th percentile at Lightweight)
Share of wins by finish54%(50th percentile at Lightweight)
Defence and damage
Significant strikes absorbed per minute2.38(8th percentile at Lightweight)
Significant strike defence44%(18th percentile at Lightweight)
Knockdowns suffered per 15 minutes0.24(55th percentile at Lightweight)
Significant strikes absorbed, career439(61st percentile at Lightweight)
KO/TKO losses2 (last 2025-12-06, 330 days ago)(77th percentile at Lightweight)
Submission losses0(52nd percentile at Lightweight)
KO/TKO losses per bout over 10 years, each weighted down by the finisher's danger0.069(57th percentile at Lightweight)
Grappling
Takedowns landed per 15 minutes3.74(95th percentile at Lightweight)
Takedown defence67%(50th percentile at Lightweight)
Share of cage time in control63%(99th percentile at Lightweight)
Share of significant strikes landed in the clinch or on the ground46%(95th percentile at Lightweight)
Stylewrestler (9.1 takedown attempts per 15 min; 63% control)
Career stage
Age32.7(59th percentile at Lightweight)
Age at UFC debut25.0(27th percentile at Lightweight)
Years since UFC debut7.6(74th percentile at Lightweight)
UFC bouts16(85th percentile at Lightweight)
Cage time, minutes185(84th percentile at Lightweight)
Bouts per year, last three years2.0(83rd percentile at Lightweight)
Days since last bout8(7th percentile at Lightweight)

Board position since Oct 2023

C5101520252026Oct 2023Oct 20262023-10-06: #4, Lightweight2023-10-13: #7, Lightweight2023-10-20: #7, Lightweight2023-11-03: #7, Lightweight2023-11-10: #7, Lightweight2023-11-17: #7, Lightweight2023-12-01: #7, Lightweight2023-12-08: #6, Lightweight2023-12-15: #6, Lightweight2024-01-12: #6, Lightweight2024-01-19: #6, Lightweight2024-02-02: #6, Lightweight2024-02-09: #6, Lightweight2024-02-16: #6, Lightweight2024-02-23: #6, Lightweight2024-03-01: #6, Lightweight2024-03-08: #6, Lightweight2024-03-15: #6, Lightweight2024-03-22: #6, Lightweight2024-03-29: #6, Lightweight2024-04-05: #6, Lightweight2024-04-12: #7, Lightweight2024-04-26: #8, Lightweight2024-05-03: #8, Lightweight2024-05-10: #8, Lightweight2024-05-17: #8, Lightweight2024-05-31: #8, Lightweight2024-06-07: #8, Lightweight2024-06-14: #8, Lightweight2024-06-21: #8, Lightweight2024-06-28: #8, Lightweight2024-07-12: #8, Lightweight2024-07-19: #8, Lightweight2024-07-26: #8, Lightweight2024-08-02: #8, Lightweight2024-08-09: #8, Lightweight2024-08-16: #8, Lightweight2024-08-23: #10, Lightweight2024-09-06: #10, Lightweight2024-09-13: #10, Lightweight2024-09-27: #10, Lightweight2024-10-04: #10, Lightweight2024-10-11: #9, Lightweight2024-10-18: #8, Lightweight2024-10-25: #8, Lightweight2024-11-01: #8, Lightweight2024-11-08: #8, Lightweight2024-11-15: #8, Lightweight2024-11-22: #8, Lightweight2024-12-06: #8, Lightweight2024-12-13: #8, Lightweight2025-01-10: #8, Lightweight2025-01-17: #8, Lightweight2025-01-31: #5, Lightweight2025-02-07: #4, Lightweight2025-02-14: #4, Lightweight2025-02-21: #4, Lightweight2025-02-28: #4, Lightweight2025-03-07: #4, Lightweight2025-03-14: #4, Lightweight2025-03-21: #4, Lightweight2025-03-28: #4, Lightweight2025-04-04: #4, Lightweight2025-04-11: #4, Lightweight2025-04-25: #5, Lightweight2025-05-02: #5, Lightweight2025-05-09: #5, Lightweight2025-05-16: #5, Lightweight2025-05-30: #5, Lightweight2025-06-06: #7, Lightweight2025-06-13: #7, Lightweight2025-06-20: #7, Lightweight2025-06-27: #7, Lightweight2025-07-11: #9, Lightweight2025-07-18: #9, Lightweight2025-07-25: #9, Lightweight2025-08-01: #9, Lightweight2025-08-08: #9, Lightweight2025-08-15: #9, Lightweight2025-08-22: #8, Lightweight2025-09-05: #8, Lightweight2025-09-12: #8, Lightweight2025-09-26: #8, Lightweight2025-10-03: #8, Lightweight2025-10-10: #7, Lightweight2025-10-17: #7, Lightweight2025-10-24: #7, Lightweight2025-10-31: #7, Lightweight2025-11-07: #7, Lightweight2025-11-14: #7, Lightweight2025-11-21: #7, Lightweight2025-12-05: #8, Lightweight2025-12-12: #11, Lightweight2026-01-23: #11, Lightweight2026-01-30: #11, Lightweight2026-02-06: #10, Lightweight2026-02-20: #10, Lightweight2026-02-27: #10, Lightweight2026-03-06: #10, Lightweight2026-03-13: #11, Lightweight2026-03-20: #11, Lightweight2026-03-27: #11, Lightweight2026-04-03: #11, Lightweight2026-04-10: #11, Lightweight2026-04-17: #11, Lightweight2026-04-24: #11, Lightweight2026-05-01: #11, Lightweight2026-05-08: #13, Lightweight2026-05-15: #10, Lightweight2026-05-29: #10, Lightweight2026-06-05: #10, Lightweight2026-06-13: #10, Lightweight2026-06-19: #10, Lightweight2026-06-26: #10, Lightweight2026-07-10: #12, Lightweight2026-07-17: #12, Lightweight2026-07-24: #12, Lightweight2026-07-31: #12, Lightweight2026-08-07: #12, Lightweight2026-08-14: #11, Lightweight2026-08-21: #11, Lightweight2026-08-28: #12, Lightweight2026-09-04: #12, Lightweight2026-09-11: #11, Lightweight2026-09-18: #11, Lightweight2026-09-25: #10, Lightweight2026-09-26: #10, Lightweight2026-10-03: #9, Lightweight2026-10-10: #9, Lightweight2026-10-17: #9, Lightweight2026-10-24: #9, Lightweight2026-10-31: #8, Lightweight#8

Position on the registered v1.0 board at each weekly snapshot (C = title holder or reserved, drawn at the top; lower is better).

Predictive rating by bout

1,5001,6001,7001,80020212022202320242025Mar 2019Oct 20262019-03-09: 1,520 (W vs Julian Erosa)2019-05-18: 1,591 (W vs Michael Trizano)2020-02-29: 1,627 (W vs Darrick Minner)2020-07-18: 1,656 (W vs Nad Narimani)2021-03-20: 1,692 (W vs Leonardo Santos)2021-10-23: 1,680 (D vs Ricky Glenn)2022-04-30: 1,675 (W vs Jared Gordon)2022-11-05: 1,710 (W vs Mark Madsen)2023-07-01: 1,731 (W vs Damir Ismagulov)2023-10-07: 1,672 (L vs King Green)2024-06-01: 1,710 (W vs Joe Solecki)2024-10-12: 1,753 (W vs Rafa Garcia)2025-01-18: 1,787 (W vs Diego Ferreira)2025-12-06: 1,734 (L vs Manuel Torres)2026-05-09: 1,731 (W vs Mateusz Rebecki)2026-10-24: 1,752 (W vs Nurullo Aliev)1,752

Rating after each UFC bout from the frozen predictive model (performance-adjusted Elo, data/processed/elo_history.csv; a debut starts at 1,500). The resume rating's history is not stored, so this is the predictive line, which is a different number from the resume rating in the header.

Trajectory

Recent performances are in line with the rating (-19 points).

ComponentPointsMeaning
Age component-18what fighters aged 32.7 typically run relative to their rating (population curve, all UFC bouts since 2011)
Own recent results-1his recency-weighted mean and trend over 15 bouts, shrunk toward zero; trend -6 points a year
Combined-19the rating's likely distance from his current performance level, in rating points
Readingin line with ratingahead of, in line with (within 30 points), or behind the rating

Performance relative to the rating, by age

-1.0-0.5+0.0+0.5+1.024252627282930313233342019-03-09 (age 25.0): W vs Julian Erosa, residual +0.192019-05-18 (age 25.2): W vs Michael Trizano, residual +0.542020-02-29 (age 26.0): W vs Darrick Minner, residual +0.382020-07-18 (age 26.4): W vs Nad Narimani, residual +0.202021-03-20 (age 27.1): W vs Leonardo Santos, residual +0.562022-04-30 (age 28.2): W vs Jared Gordon, residual +0.382022-11-05 (age 28.7): W vs Mark Madsen, residual +0.322023-07-01 (age 29.4): W vs Damir Ismagulov, residual +0.242023-10-07 (age 29.6): L vs King Green, residual -0.632024-06-01 (age 30.3): W vs Joe Solecki, residual +0.192024-10-12 (age 30.6): W vs Rafa Garcia, residual +0.302025-01-18 (age 30.9): W vs Diego Ferreira, residual +0.262025-12-06 (age 31.8): L vs Manuel Torres, residual -0.692026-05-09 (age 32.2): W vs Mateusz Rebecki, residual +0.292026-10-24 (age 32.7): W vs Nurullo Aliev, residual +0.09-0.03

Each dot is one decided UFC bout at his age then: the performance score minus the rating's expectation, on the score's own scale from -1 to +1 (filled = win, hollow = loss; above zero is better than the rating implied; a finish as a slight favourite is about +0.45). The dashed line is the population curve for all fighters; the solid line is this fighter's own fitted level and trend as of the data date, weighted toward recent bouts. One unit sustained over many bouts corresponds to about 695 rating points; a single bout's residual is noisy.

Held-out evidence (walk-forward 2016 to 2026, EXP-2026-10-21-01): the age curve held in every test year; the individual component is a weak signal (correlation 0.06 with the next bout's residual; among fighters aged 33 or over, the lowest predicted quartile won 38% of next bouts against 53% expected, the highest 48% against 52%) and adds nothing to bout prediction beyond the shadow model. No board uses any of it: the rankings answer who has earned the place, not who wins next (EXP-2026-10-20-09). Method: src/mmalab/decline.py; settings: config/decline.yaml (expectation from the resume rating; one unit of residual is about 695 rating points).

Context flags

Descriptive only. Each line is a population fact about fighters like him, not a forecast for him; the register entries hold the measurements.

REAL v1.0 (registered method) · build c166ee8 · data through 2026-10-31 · page built 2026-11-06 · changelog. Independent fan research project built on public UFCStats data. Not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by UFC, Zuffa, LLC, TKO Group Holdings, or any athlete. All trademarks belong to their owners and are used only to identify athletes and events.