Matt Grice: UFC Fight of the Night Vet Who Survived Two Car Wrecks and a Coma

<p>Matt “The Real One” Grice was supposed to be unbreakable. A four-time Oklahoma state wrestling champion at Harrah High School, three-time Outstanding Wrestler, and the most recruited wrestler in his weight class, a car wreck threw him through a windshield and stole the college career everyone saw coming. He clawed his way back, made it to the UFC, earned Fight of the Night honors against Jason Black and Dennis Bermudez, then a second crash in Shawnee shattered his skull and ended his fighting career. </p><p><br></p><p>Most men would have stayed down. Grice didn’t. He rebuilt his life as an Oklahoma City police officer, coach, and gym owner.</p><p><br></p><p>On episode 347 of the MMA History Podcast, Matt Grice sits down with Mike Davis and Joey Venti to recount his legendary high school career, the wreck that cost him his years at Oklahoma, the promise he kept to his parents before his first fight, his UFC run, the 2013 accident that put him in a coma, and how he came back to coach the next generation at American Elite MMA.</p><p><br></p><p>0:00 start </p><p>0:44 MMA History Podcast intro</p><p>1:16 Joey Venti’s guest introductions</p><p>1:31 interview start </p><p>1:47 current life/ career </p><p>2:23 4 time state champ in Oklahoma</p><p>4:12 recruiting process for wrestling </p><p>7:30 getting hurt in a car crash </p><p>8:54 wrestling while injured </p><p>11:47 taking a season off wrestling </p><p>13:05 meeting MMA coach Jason Merrill</p><p>14:46 competing in BJJ after 1 day or practice </p><p>17:57 taking first amateur fight</p><p>19:32 relationship with Ron Tripp</p><p>20:16 Mikey Burnett</p><p>20:51 training with Anthony Macias </p><p>21:45 Matt Grice vs Matt Grey </p><p>23:17 choosing to do MMA over wrestling </p><p>24:10 being a ticket seller </p><p>24:41 Matt Grice vs Marco Adamballi</p><p>24:58 Matt Grice vs Rocky Long </p><p>26:35 taking 3 fights in 2 months </p><p>27:17 Matt Grice vs Shervin Alavi</p><p>28:31 Matt Grice vs Joe Davis </p><p>29:22 Matt Grice vs Lee King </p><p>29:43 manager Greg Stewart </p><p>30:55 Matt Grice vs Dan Marks </p><p>33:46 offered to be on TUF </p><p>35:40 Matt Grice vs Clint Kerley</p><p>36:52 flying out to Manchester for UFC debut </p><p>37:54 UFC 70 card</p><p>38:34 Matt Grice vs Terry Etim </p><p>39:20 taking training seriously </p><p>41:00 how traveling affects a fighters lungs </p><p>42:13 Matt Grice vs Jason Black </p><p>45:00 accepted into the police academy </p><p>50:22 work day as a police officer </p><p>53:51 Matt Grice vs Matt Veach</p><p>57:00 Matt Grice vs Shannon Gugerty</p><p>58:42 training at shape fitness </p><p>1:00:47 getting cut from the UFC</p><p>1:02:20 having a supportive wife </p><p>1:04:08 current coaches at gym </p><p>1:06:03 Matt Grice vs Dave Gardner </p><p>1:07:57 earning 3 straight finishes </p><p>1:09:09 Matt Grice vs Ricardo Lamas </p><p>1:09:51 experience training at Top Notch</p><p>1:12:05 connecting with Tom Vanghn</p><p>1:12:55 2 cancelled bouts in the UFC</p><p>1:13:26 Matt Grice vs Leonard Garcia </p><p>1:15:19 Matt Grice vs Dennis Bermudez</p><p>1:17:06 crashed into at a red light </p><p>1:20:59 ending up in a coma after accident </p><p>1:28:40 choosing not to take medications</p><p>1:30:06 Matt Grice day April 4th</p><p>1:33:32 life after accident </p><p>1:35:25 outro/ closing thoughts</p><p><br></p><p>Instagram </p><p>https://www.instagram.com/mmahistorypodcast?igsh=aHVweHdncXQycHBy&amp;utm_source=qr</p><p><br></p><p>Spotify </p><p>https://open.spotify.com/show/3q8KsfqrSQSjkdPLkdtNWb?si=aL3D5Y3aTDi-PQZdweWL8g</p><p><br></p><p>Apple Podcast </p><p>MMA History Podcast</p><p><br></p><p>YouTube </p><p>https://youtube.com/@MMAHistoryPodcast?si=bj1RBXTZ2X82tv_J</p><p><br></p><p>Outro song: Power - https://tunetank.com/t/2gji/1458-power</p><p><br></p><p>Mike - The MMA Detective - @mikedavis632 </p><p>Cash App - $mikedavis1231</p><p>Venmo - Mike-Davis-63</p><p>ZELLE: Cutthroatmma@gmail.com / ph#: 773-491-5052 </p><p><br></p><p>Thank You for your suppor