Grant Dawson demonstrated elite back control and back-taking ability to secure his fifth rear-naked choke submission in the UFC. His opponent Rebecki made a tactical error by engaging in grappling exchanges, playing into Dawson's strengths. Despite persistent issues with his striking defense and overall standup instability, Dawson has compiled an impressive 12-2-1 record in the UFC. His five rear-naked chokes put him on track to potentially surpass legends like Demian Maia, Michael Chiesa, and Renato Moicano in total submission finishes. The victory was built on Dawson's ability to dominate positionally across dozens of rounds throughout his UFC career.
Grant Dawson added another submission victory to his growing résumé at UFC 328 on May 9, securing his fifth rear-naked choke finish in the UFC against Rebecki and further cementing his reputation as one of the promotion's most dangerous grapplers.
Dawson, 32, competes at lightweight and enters the rankings at number 11 in the division with an overall record of 24-3-1, including a remarkable 12-2-1 mark inside the UFC. The American Top Team product stands five-foot-ten with a 72-inch reach and fights out of a switch stance. His statistical profile tells the story of a wrestler-turned-finisher: he averages 3.81 takedowns per 15 minutes and attempts submissions at a rate of 1.1 per 15 minutes, while also posting a striking accuracy of 52 percent and landing 3.21 significant strikes per minute.
Against Rebecki, Dawson's path to the finish opened when his opponent chose to engage in grappling exchanges rather than keeping the fight standing. That decision played directly into Dawson's strengths, and his elite back-taking ability did the rest. The rear-naked choke, his signature finish, arrived once he established the back control he has built his UFC career upon.
Why it matters
- Five rear-naked choke finishes puts Dawson within range of submission legends such as Demian Maia, Michael Chiesa, and Renato Moicano in total UFC submission finishes
- A win at lightweight pushes the ranked number-11 contender further into title-picture conversation at 155 pounds
- Dawson's well-documented struggles with striking defense and standup instability remain the clearest path for future opponents to exploit, shaping how the division's contenders may approach a potential matchup
Saturday, May 9, 2026
