Prediction: Daniel Santos (Winner)
Both fighters have defensive flaws, but Santos is the one who will be pressing forward, keeping Grant on the back foot, and landing the higher volume of strikes.
Grant is dangerous because he throws wild, looping shots with serious power, but there’s little setup behind them. He doesn’t use feints, and his entries are predictable, which makes it easier for an opponent like Santos—who thrives in close-range exchanges—to walk him down and force engagements. Grant’s power is real, but his success depends on landing big, clean shots rather than methodically breaking an opponent down. Against someone who can take a shot and fire back in combination, that’s not a great formula for sustained success.
Santos, on the other hand, fights at a high pace and is constantly moving forward. He doesn’t give opponents time to breathe, and his pressure alone can break guys who aren’t able to fight off the back foot. The blueprint to beating him is already well established—you have to be able to move constantly and pick your shots wisely. Grant doesn’t do either of those things well. He’s not a stick-and-move fighter, and he’s not going to be able to slow Santos down with clean, accurate counterstriking. Instead, he’ll be forced into the kind of fight that favors Santos, where they trade in the pocket and exchange at a high pace. That’s where Grant’s defensive openings will cost him.
Beyond the striking, Santos also holds the grappling advantage. Grant is prone to leaving his hips wide open, especially when he throws those big looping shots, and that makes him susceptible to takedowns. If Santos chooses to mix in his wrestling, he’ll have a clear path to control time and potentially work toward a submission or dominant ground positions.
Grant’s only real win condition is landing a knockout shot, but given that Santos has the cardio to push for all three rounds and the style to keep Grant reacting rather than setting up his own offense, the more likely outcome is a Santos win. Expect him to overwhelm Grant with pressure, land the cleaner volume, and have the grappling advantage if he decides to use it.