But a persistent hip injury put Glenn on the sidelines, and the recovery from having surgery to repair the issue kept him out of the gym for a year. Working his way back was a long, grueling process, which is why his impressive performance against Joaquim Silva this summer meant so much to him.
“I finally was able to get back in there and do what I enjoy,” offered the 32-year-old, who inked a new four-fight deal following the victory. “(I was out for) over two-and-a-half years, and every day I was working towards getting back in there, fighting for the UFC, and having a good performance, performing like I know I could, and it happened.
“I was pumped, and I knew it was going to happen — I felt it, it happened, and it’s hard to put it into words.
“I thought for my next fight, it would be nice to get a ranked opponent,” continued Glenn, who said he’d spoken with the UFC following his rapid finish of Silva about short-notice opportunities and wanting to hustle back into the Octagon. “I saw Grant’s opponent backed out and I mentioned I was interested.
Athlete Profiles: Grant Dawson | Ricky Glenn
“Grant’s on a tear — he’s 5-0 in the UFC, 17-1; a tough Midwestern guy,” he added. “He’s a good prospect and I’m looking to make another statement, perform like I know I can, and prove all the doubters wrong.”
Each man loves the pairing, and it’s one of those rare short-notice matchups where a victory can tell you a lot about either competitor, and where they stand in the lightweight division.
For Glenn, it’s a chance to topple a streaking emerging talent — a kid with burgeoning momentum and buzz that is knocking on the door of the Top 15 — and instantly put himself into the thick of things in the loaded 155-pound weight class just five months and two fights after returning from an extended absence.
