The winner of the fight between Jesse Bongfeldt and TJ Grant (Pictures) at TKO 32 will lay claim to the title of Canada's best welterweight. Well, other than you know who.
Bongfeldt (14-3) is a rough-and-tumble westerner now living in Ontario. He won his title last September in a gritty effort against Team Tompkins member Chris Clements (Pictures) and told Sherdog.com that he's not ready to give it up.
"It's still a buzz. It feels good," Bongfeldt said about being TKO champ. "This is a huge steppingstone for me. It's going to help me to move up, and I'm not going to stop no matter what."
His challenger, Grant, has racked up an impressive 9-1 record in the two years he has been fighting professionally.
"It's such a great honor to get to fight for such a good organization," Grant said. "They're so well known, and having GSP as a former champion means that the title is worth something. A lot of tough guys have fought for that title and came up short. And this is my opportunity, and I look forward to taking advantage of it."
Each is aware that the other is a step up in competition from previous opponents. Both also think they know what they'll have to do in order to emerge victorious.
"If anything, it's probably my aggressiveness and ability to get in and drive for the finish that's my strong point," Bongfeldt said.
The 27-year-old is very aware of Grant's varied skill-set. He knows that Grant recently traveled to Thailand to train muay Thai and also watched him perform his ankle lock submission on Stephane Dube (Pictures) at the last TKO event.
Likewise, Grant knows that he is facing someone who could potentially beat him.
"Jesse brings a lot of tools," he said. "He always finishes the fight or gets finished. He's a tough guy, the toughest to date. So I've got to be mentally strong, and physically I'm strong, so I'm ready to go."
Bongfeldt doesn't know exactly how the fight will play out, but he's ready to go where he has to.
"Getting in with him, it's going to be a learn-as-you-go experience," he said. "There's not too many ways a guy can move these days, so we'll get in there and we'll both do what we do."
Grant has a similar attitude: "It doesn't matter for me where the fight goes, personally. Those are the battles you have to win inside the cage, and I plan on doing that and dominating the fight."
Final words from each fighter should serve notice to the other that he is in for a battle. "I've never made it to the end of any fight ever," Bongfeldt said. "I usually get better as I go, and my opponents don't usually last."
Concluded Grant: "I plan on going out there and doing my best and put on a good show. I think we're both going to bring out the best in each other. We'll have a good fight, and I plan on winning."