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.

Most men would have stayed down. Grice didn’t. He rebuilt his life as an Oklahoma City police officer, coach, and gym owner.

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.

0:00 start

0:44 MMA History Podcast intro

1:16 Joey Venti’s guest introductions

1:31 interview start

1:47 current life/ career

2:23 4 time state champ in Oklahoma

4:12 recruiting process for wrestling

7:30 getting hurt in a car crash

8:54 wrestling while injured

11:47 taking a season off wrestling

13:05 meeting MMA coach Jason Merrill

14:46 competing in BJJ after 1 day or practice

17:57 taking first amateur fight

19:32 relationship with Ron Tripp

20:16 Mikey Burnett

20:51 training with Anthony Macias

21:45 Matt Grice vs Matt Grey

23:17 choosing to do MMA over wrestling

24:10 being a ticket seller

24:41 Matt Grice vs Marco Adamballi

24:58 Matt Grice vs Rocky Long

26:35 taking 3 fights in 2 months

27:17 Matt Grice vs Shervin Alavi

28:31 Matt Grice vs Joe Davis

29:22 Matt Grice vs Lee King

29:43 manager Greg Stewart

30:55 Matt Grice vs Dan Marks

33:46 offered to be on TUF

35:40 Matt Grice vs Clint Kerley

36:52 flying out to Manchester for UFC debut

37:54 UFC 70 card

38:34 Matt Grice vs Terry Etim

39:20 taking training seriously

41:00 how traveling affects a fighters lungs

42:13 Matt Grice vs Jason Black

45:00 accepted into the police academy

50:22 work day as a police officer

53:51 Matt Grice vs Matt Veach

57:00 Matt Grice vs Shannon Gugerty

58:42 training at shape fitness

1:00:47 getting cut from the UFC

1:02:20 having a supportive wife

1:04:08 current coaches at gym

1:06:03 Matt Grice vs Dave Gardner

1:07:57 earning 3 straight finishes

1:09:09 Matt Grice vs Ricardo Lamas

1:09:51 experience training at Top Notch

1:12:05 connecting with Tom Vanghn

1:12:55 2 cancelled bouts in the UFC

1:13:26 Matt Grice vs Leonard Garcia

1:15:19 Matt Grice vs Dennis Bermudez

1:17:06 crashed into at a red light

1:20:59 ending up in a coma after accident

1:28:40 choosing not to take medications

1:30:06 Matt Grice day April 4th

1:33:32 life after accident

1:35:25 outro/ closing thoughts

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