DWCS 69 winner Bogdan Grad says to ‘expect always just fire’ in UFC

LAS VEGAS – Bogdan Grad embraces UFC CEO Dana White’s praise.

Grad (13-2) earned a UFC contract when he defeated Michael Aswell (9-1) in an all-out war Tuesday at Dana White’s Contender Series 69. White awarded both fighters the show and win portion of their purses.

White called Grad a “dog,” and the 28-year-old vows to live up to his reputation in the UFC.

“He called me a dog. I think that’s cool,” Grad told reporters, including MMA Junkie. “I’m for sure a dog. I don’t say I’m a samurai, but I prefer to go that way with respect, with honor and to be humble. But when it’s about stepping in that octagon, I’m a f*cking dog, and you can expect always just fire, and I always try to knock them out.”

A brawl wasn’t exactly Grad’s game plan, but he was able to show heart by outlasting a bloodied Aswell.

“The first part, I executed my game plan, but I didn’t feel that good,” Grad said. “I was a little bit stiff. I can be much faster and much better. This is where my heart came into the game, and I pushed through it.

“At the end of the third round, he caught me with a liver hook, and I was like, ‘Oh, f*ck!’ He saw that, and he tried to finish me, but I was like, ‘No, no. You’re not going to finish me.’ I’m too strong mentally, and I felt that.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for DWCS 69.