Fighting changed Jarod Grant’s life.

“It took me off the street and molded me as a man. It made me very disciplined. It taught me to be humble – that’s the most important thing that I’ve taken from the sport,” Grant said after a recent training session. 

Grant found boxing as a directionless teenager, having recently dropped out of high school at the time. 

“Boxing really made me who I am today.”

Who Grant is today is the BKFC World Bantamweight Champion. At 23, the undefeated Florida fighter is also the youngest champion on the BKFC roster. 

But more importantly, Grant is also now the head of his own household, and he’s parlaying his success in BKFC to other successful business ventures, like real estate. Grant grew up with his father in and out of jail. He’s now expecting his first child.

“All my success is due to boxing, and my coach (Ryan Perez).”

Grant defends his World Bantamweight Championship for the first time against Reggie Barnett Jr. (6-2) in the Main Event of BKFC Fight Night: Tampa 2 on July 23, LIVE on the BKFC app. He'll be trying to improve to 6-0.

Grant says the judges won’t be necessary, predicting he’ll stop Barnett in the third or fourth round.

“I feel like he’s going to want to fight me dirty, but I’m way too technical for him. I’m way more precise. There’s going to be a lot of power behind my shots and a lot of speed,” Grant said.

“I’m going to be too much for him to handle.”

When Grant began boxing as a teenager, he wanted to become a star. His mission is accomplished, but he’s just getting started.

“I walked into that boxing gym and I didn’t know it would lead to this, but I just knew that I was going to be something special, and I knew I was going to work hard for it.”

Tickets are still available for BKFC Fight Night: Tampa 2, and you can watch all the action LIVE on the BKFC app.