TJ Grant weighing risk/reward of return to MMA
“I don’t know if it’s necessarily the best for my health to go out there and fight the way I fight. It’s going to be exciting for the fans but I want to live a long time.”
UGer ieswideopen shared with us a story about TJ Grant working in Saskatchewan, hoping to make a comeback.
The fighter suffered a concussion while rolling in July of 2013, and has not fought since. Grant lived off savings and appearances for as long as he could, but is now working the K+S potash mine in Bethune, SK, more than halfway across the country from his native Cole Harbour, NS,
Grant, 31, feels completely healed and trains on a schedule-permitting basis and without all out head contact in sparring, but now has to decide if the juice is worth the squeeze.
To be honest I haven’t really worked a regular job since maybe 2005, said Grant Basically, I’ve gotta make a living. When you’re injured it’s one of those sports where you can live off what you made for a little bit but we don’t make that much money so you have to go on to other things.
I’m just taking care of myself and my family as best I can right now,. I gave returning to fighting a real shot as far as living off of money I made, appearances and stuff, but it’s a fighting sport. It’s all about, ‘What have you done for me lately?’
In my opinion I’m not done fighting. I feel 100-per-cent healthy. It’s just there’s a little bit of hesitation as far as returning to competition. In my heart I want to do it but I’m trying to be smart. I want to make the best decisions I can and make some money while doing it.
When you’ve been through what I’ve been through you have to really take your time and come up with a battle plan. I also know that, in fighting, there are no guarantees. I have a life to live, I have a mortgage to pay, I have bills. Do I stop working, live off my credit in order to fight when I could get injured? There’s a big risk-reward thing. I’m not ruling it out. I definitely love fighting. I want to do it but why not take a little break and let the rest of the world catch up (laughs)?
You can’t be out of it for that long and expect to just hold your spot. There are hungry guys doing their thing, fighting, putting their own careers on the line. I would obviously have to reintroduce myself to a few people. I would not be against that. I’ve had to do that my whole career.
I know what I would do if put in a situation to fight.”
I fight for my life when I’m out there. I’ll do what I have to do (to win). Later on is when I’d have to live with the repercussions potentially. That’s part of the reason I’m still a little hesitant to return.
I don’t know if it’s necessarily the best for my health to go out there and fight the way I fight. It’s going to be exciting for the fans but I want to live a long time. I want to enjoy my family. I have a wife, I have a baby on the way, I have a two-year-old. That’s what is important. Why not just take a little time? I’m taking care of my family and I’m enjoying myself. We’ll see what happens.