'What a ride' - UFC's longest-serving Brit Davey Grant to face Elijah Smith in Las Vegas

Davey Grant, the UFC's longest-serving Briton, will fight American bantamweight Elijah Smith in Las Vegas on Saturday, the 40-year-old confirming he has been with the promotion for almost 13 years.

Grant made his UFC debut in November 2013 and has competed 16 times in the promotion, winning nine of those fights. Although Michael Bisping and Leon Edwards have recorded more UFC appearances — 29 and 19 respectively — no British fighter has been in the organisation for longer than Grant.

Grant reflected on his career in the promotion, saying: "What a ride – it's been the best portion of my life," said Grant. "I'm so grateful to still be doing this. I thank my lucky stars, I've lived the life I've wanted to live and I'm so thankful to still be here and doing what I love."

Smith, aged 24 and 16 years younger than Grant, has won all three of his UFC fights after debuting in the organisation last year. Smith's father Gilbert fought in the UFC only seven months before Grant debuted in the promotion.

Grant, who is from Darlington but has moved to Las Vegas with his wife and children, described his motivation behind continuing to fight, saying: "Everything I do is for the family. I'm a father first, then I'm a husband, then I'm a fighter," said Grant. "Doing well in fighting helps me do those. As well as that I just love it so much, I don't want it to stop. The harder I train, the better I do in fights, the healthier I keep myself, I'll get to keep doing what I love."

He acknowledged the toll of injuries across his UFC tenure and noted that his 16 fights in the promotion are fewer than Bisping's 29 and Edwards' 19. Grant has given no indication his fight against Smith will be his last and said: "Just because I don't want to retire it doesn't mean I'm not looking forward to it and I won't absolutely enjoy it," said Grant. "No matter what happens I'm living the live I could only ever have dreamed of."

The bout with Elijah Smith in Las Vegas on Saturday is Grant's next confirmed fight in the UFC and will determine whether he extends his run as the longest-serving British fighter in the promotion.