Charles Jourdain delivered a highlight-reel efficiency on house soil at UFC Vancouver, stopping Davey Grant by way of guillotine choke at 3:05 of the primary spherical on October 18, 2025, at Rogers Area.
Charles Jourdain
The Quebec native entered the bantamweight contest coming off a successful debut at 135 pounds, where he submitted Victor Henry in November 2024. Jourdain had moved down from featherweight after consecutive losses earlier in 2024, seeking better results in a division where his frame fits more naturally. The decision has paid dividends, as the 29-year-old has now secured back-to-back first-round guillotine finishes in his new weight class.
Grant, a 39-year-old veteran from England, carried a two-fight winning streak into the bout after earning unanimous decision victories over Ramon Taveras in December 2024 and Da’Mon Blackshear in July 2025. The experienced bantamweight had proven difficult to finish throughout his career, making Jourdain’s stoppage all the more significant.
The Finish
The fight began with Grant immediately establishing cage control and chopping at Jourdain’s legs with low kicks while the Canadian circled on the outside, firing kicks from his southpaw stance. Halfway via the opening spherical, Jourdain exploded with a superbly timed leaping knee that caught Grant flush on the face, dropping him immediately.
Jourdain followed Grant to the canvas and unloaded ground strikes before transitioning to a guillotine choke because the Englishman tried to recuperate. The Canadian locked in what he referred to as a “energy guillotine,” a variation that doesn’t lure the opponent’s arm and focuses on cranking the neck relatively than slicing off blood circulation. With the submission secured, Jourdain started celebrating even earlier than Grant tapped out moments later.
The finish marked Jourdain’s fourth career UFC guillotine victory and his second consecutive submission win by that technique. The leaping knee was a way Jourdain had visualized all week throughout his preparation. He defined that Grant’s tendency to throw looping pictures left him open to linear assaults, making the flying knee a perfect counter.
Post-Fight Reaction
Following the victory, Jourdain addressed the Rogers Arena crowd of 17,671, expressing his gratitude for competing in Canada and calling out Marcus McGhee as his next opponent. McGhee, ranked 14th within the bantamweight division, not too long ago fought Peter Yan in a aggressive bout. Jourdain acknowledged he prefers preventing harmful opponents that others keep away from, acknowledging that this method explains his 8-7 UFC report on the time.
The finish earned Jourdain a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus, his fourth such award in the promotion. UFC executive Hunter Campbell personally moved the bout from the preliminary card to the main card, recognizing the fan appeal of having Jourdain compete in front of a Canadian audience.
Jourdain improved his professional record to 17-8-1, with his bantamweight record now standing at 2-0 since dropping from featherweight. The Beloeil native has expressed confidence in his guillotine game, claiming he possesses the best guillotine choke in the UFC. His recent performances have supported that assertion, as he has seamlessly adapted to the lighter division while maintaining his explosive style.
Career Context
Grant fell to 17-8 with the loss, marking his first defeat since a split decision to Daniel Marcos in July 2023. The 39-year-old remains a durable veteran in the bantamweight division, though the stoppage represented a rare finish on his record. Grant had never been submitted by guillotine choke in his professional career prior to this bout.
The event drew an announced attendance of 17,671 fans and generated a gate of $2,702,134, ranking it among the most successful UFC Fight Nights of 2025. The main event saw Brendan Allen defeat Reinier de Ridder by TKO due to corner stoppage after four rounds. Canadian fighters performed well throughout the card, with four of the five Canadian competitors on the main card earning victories.
Jourdain’s performance has positioned him for a potential step up in competition within the bantamweight rankings. His combination of finishing ability, crowd appeal, and willingness to face dangerous opponents makes him an intriguing prospect in a competitive division. Whether the UFC books him against McGhee or another ranked opponent, Jourdain has made clear that he has found his home at 135 pounds.
