The Maturation of Kendall Grove Continues

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By Debbie Lee

Just when did Kendall Grove become so mature? One minute he’s a tatted-up punk known for hard partying, reality show antics, and a brazen, if not cringe-inducing, victory dance; the next, he’s a humble, sensitive guy who fights for his family’s welfare and the honor of his native Hawaii.

As he’s said in prior interviews, personal obligations – a year-old daughter, fiancée, and a new business – have definitely played a part in his reinvention. But there’s more to it than that. The truth is, there’s nothing like hitting bottom to put one’s life in perspective. With back-to-back losses and the looming threat of a pink slip, the Maui fighter knew he would need an attitude adjustment if he was going to see another day in the Octagon.

So Grove, once known for talking a big game, tried a new tack: shutting up. He also tuned out the pressure coming from higher-ups and trash-talking fans so that he could zero in on his own modest goals.

“Getting put on notice can be a motivation for some people, but not for me,” said Grove. “To be honest, it kind of screwed with my head. So I had to tell myself that I’m not here to live up to anyone’s expectations but my own, and that losing isn’t the end of the world for me. There’s a bigger picture. I am just happy to say that I’m living my dream and wake up doing what I love. I never want to be the guy who is overconfident. I wasn’t supposed to win the show or a contract; I wasn’t supposed to fight – and even beat – some of the best guys in the sport. When you look at it that way, this kid from Maui has already accomplished a lot and then some.”

So he’s reached new heights in terms of personal growth and self-awareness. Some of you might be thinking, “Good for him, but who cares?” The cruel reality is that for fight fans, the more important issue is whether or not he can still deliver a crisp punch or tight submission.

Fortunately, the answer is an unequivocal “yes.” After a nine-month hiatus, Grove returned to the cage to face Canadian Jason Day at UFC 94 in March. It took all of 1:32 for him to deliver a knockout blow and receive a stay of execution. It looks like the new mental strategy worked – so much that if you congratulate Grove on the performance, he is almost reluctant to bask in the achievement.

“There wasn’t anything behind the punch,” he said. “I feel like I’ve punched people harder without the same outcome, but this time it just connected perfectly. It wasn’t even like that was the game plan. Going into the fight I was prepared to take it anywhere: standing up or on the ground. It just so happened that I capitalized on my reach advantage and it paid off.”

The win was a spectacular follow-up to his 2008 split decision victory over the late Evan Tanner. Not a bad way to validate his title as the UFC’s third Ultimate Fighter (and save his job.)

But it’s hard to forget that trailing behind those two consecutive wins are two consecutive losses. Dropping two fights (not to mention his hands) to Patrick Cote and Jorge Rivera at UFC 74 and 80, respectively, Grove almost kissed his status as a promising up-and-comer goodbye. He described the experience as a devastating learning lesson.

“Yeah, I learned from it – learned to keep my hands up,” he said with a laugh. “No excuses, I know I lost those fights fair and square. I was one hundred percent physically prepared, but it was my mind that wasn’t all there. When you’re so worried about getting hit with that big shot, that’s exactly what happens. I got caught and went down. But I’m quick to recover and move on, so let’s see what happens come August 8th.”

Now 2-2 in his last four fights (12-5 total), Grove will be back at square one that evening, when he’ll face submission specialist Ricardo “Big Dog” Almeida at UFC 101 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Almeida, who is 2-1 (10-3 total) since his return to the Octagon last year, is coming off of an April decision victory over Matt Horwich. But besides sharing fairly recent first-round stoppages (Almeida with a guillotine submission over Rob Yundt to match Grove’s KO over Day) and losses to Cote, that’s where the similarities end. Skill-wise, it’s a safe bet that Almeida will look to take things to the mat while Grove hopes to stand.

Predictable plans coming from both men, but that hasn’t made training any easier for Grove.

“Some could call him one-dimensional, but if that was really true, it would be an easy payday, right?” asked Grove. “Almeida is dangerous and well accomplished as a jiu-jitsu practitioner. I respect his skills. He’s killing everybody, and I might get choked unconscious if I don’t come correct. I’ll have my hands full if we go to the ground, but then again, every fight starts on the feet. So we’ll both be rolling those dice to see where it goes.”

In preparation for next week, Grove has culled a solid team of partners to work with at I & I, the Maui training center he runs with childhood friend and former UFC welterweight Troy Mandaloniz. But if you want specifics, forget about it – Grove is keeping mum about his plan of attack. He’s even reluctant to promise a win.

“I’m mentally and physically prepared to handle whatever comes in that fight, and that includes taking a loss,” said Grove. “I mean hey, I’ve already been knocked out and choked out unconscious. So let’s say I lose. I’m going to wake up, watch the tape, see what I did wrong, and say, ‘Oh well, next time.’ You know, I’m not even trying to be the best in the world. There’s too much responsibility in having that label. I should just be happy that I’m not spending 10 hours laying shingles on a roof anymore.”

Okay, so maybe he’s taking the humility schtick a bit far. But if the overly modest, self-protective version of Kendall Grove can deliver the kind of fight we saw in March, who are we to complain?

And it’s not as if all traces of “Da Spyder” we first met in 2006 are gone. If things go his way on Saturday, you can still expect to see his signature victory dance.

“Come on,” he joked, “I’m not the kind of guy who’s cocky, but I think I look good doing it.”

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