If it were up to T.J. Grant, he would be UFC lightweight champion by now. Instead, he hasn’t fought in more than 16 months.

Post-concussion syndromes have kept the highly regarded 155-pound contender out of action since a May 2013 knockout of Gray Maynard. He was scheduled to challenge then-champion Benson Henderson for the title at UFC 164 in August 2013, but an unfortunate training accident caused the damage and he hasn’t fought since.

“It’s definitely difficult,” Grant (21-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) told MMAjunkie of his layoff. “The whole year’s been difficult. Being a professional fighter, you need to be at another level and I’m optimistic going forward that I’ll get better.”

Injuries are commonplace in MMA, but rarely does a fighter slated to challenge for UFC gold get pushed to the sidelines for such an extended period.

Grant’s particular injury is quite sensitive, though. Mental health is significant in all walks of life, but for a professional fighter who can absorb brain damage as part of his living, it’s particularly important.

The 30-year-old said there are days he feels at 100 percent, and others when that’s not the case. He would rather be safe than sorry, which is why he’s taking his time before stepping back in the octagon.

“I could fight tomorrow – I just know it wouldn’t be good for my long-term health,” Grant said. “Physically, I can do everything I need to, it’s just my brain. I want to make sure that’s OK, because it’s a lot more important than the other stuff. I know I can fight. I just want to be smart about it.”

Grant was the No. 1 contender before he suffered the injury. Since then, the lightweight division has evolved in many ways. Anthony Pettis is now the reigning titleholder and a number of up-and-coming fighters have established strong records in pursuit of a title shot.

Whenever he does come back, Grant knows it’s unlikely he’ll be viewed in the same light as before. Even though he has a five-fight winning streak to his name, the division’s more active athletes have passed him by.

Because of that, Grant believes he’ll have to win at least one more fight to remind everyone he is still worthy of vying for a championship.

“At this point I know it’s just not realistic for me to ask for a title shot,” Grant said. “There’s so many guys that have been fighting in the lightweight division and have found success lately. I accept that. I believe in myself and I’ve got to go back and just start working my way up. No matter what happens, I still won my last five fights and I knocked out the last two guys.

“The UFC likes that when guys come in and do their job and bring the fight. That’s really all I can control is my performances. There’s no easy fights and no tune-up fights. So whether I fight the world champion or I fight another guy, they’re all dangerous.”

Grant’s lack of activity has allowed him to step out of the box of a fighter and view the sport from a non-participants perspective. His Twitter account is loaded with fight analysis during live events and the Canadian rarely hides his opinion on hot topics.

The ability to remain close to the sport keeps Grant grounded and focused on his recovery. While he would like more than anyone to have a date circled on the calendar for his return to competition, he said it’s just not realistic at this point.

Grant has already lost out on the biggest opportunity a fighter can get in the sport when he was forced to withdraw from a championship contest. It doesn’t get much worse, and that’s why Grant is not rushing his way back into the octagon.

“There’s no timetable,” Grant said. “I can work out at high intensity, I just don’t spar and stuff like that. We’ll see what happens. I’m just doing what I can and not getting too far away from the sport. Still somehow stay involved in it, watch it and keep my body in good shape. That’s really all I can do.”

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