Tommy Gantt news
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The gist
Tommy Gantt fights Drakkar Klose at Noche UFC 4 in Glendale on Sep 12, 2026.
Gantt is 12-0 but Klose questions the level of his past opponents.
Background
Gantt, a North Carolina State alum, earned a UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series season nine in September 2025 and trains under two-division champion Daniel Cormier at The Academy in Gilroy, California. In his debut he took a late opponent switch to undefeated Artur Minev and finished him in the second round, extending his record to 12-0 with one no contest. Klose returns after a year out recovering from a shoulder tear suffered in his August 2025 win over Edson Barboza, and wants a Beneil Dariush rematch if he wins.
How it unfolded
- Sep 16, 2025Tommy Gantt earns a UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series season nine, week six, at UFC APEX in Las Vegas.
- Sep 8, 2026On Just Scrap Radio Ep. 230 on BJPENN.com, Drakkar Klose previews his lightweight bout against Gantt; Dan Ige also appears to discuss his bantamweight debut.
- Sep 10, 2026Klose says he plans to 'make it dirty' against Gantt and eyes a Beneil Dariush rematch; he expects to finish Gantt by the third round after a year out with a shoulder tear.
- Sep 11, 2026Gantt reflects on his debut win ahead of his sophomore appearance opposite Klose on Saturday afternoon at Noche UFC.
- Sep 12, 2026Noche UFC 4 takes place at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, with Klose vs. Gantt on the card; betting odds list Klose at +320 and Gantt at -469.
Who’s saying what
- Caution
- Klose said the videos he has seen of Gantt show him fighting 'guys that are Uber drivers, dudes with losing records,' so it is hard to take much from those, though he expects Gantt to lean on wrestling when pressured.
- Support
- Gantt said his debut was 'a little bit of a whirlwind' because of the opponent change but that he learned he can persevere and deal with adversity, and described training camp under Daniel Cormier at The Academy as 'two good days' after messaging that was 'just killing my confidence.'
- Party
- Klose said he is comfortable serving as a gatekeeper if the UFC keeps him active, but that the Dariush fight is the one he wants back.