Let’s Talk Sports With Kanoa Leahey: Kendall Grove

Lets Talk Sports. Kanoa Leahey interviews Kendall Grove. 5.13.15. Click to listen.

By Kanoa Leahey and Jordan Helle

Kanoa Leahey and Jordan Helle talk with Maui MMA fighter Kendall Grove as he gears up for a middleweight championship bout with Brandon Halsey in Bellator 137.

KL: It’s fight week and there’s a lot of craziness going on; a lot of media responsibilities. You’re a couple of days out from this title fight. How are you feeling?

KG: Feeling good.  I was just about to go downstairs and catch some waves–anything to prolong it guys.  It’s miserable.  It’s the hardest card, but it has to be done.  I have to make 185.  I don’t have that one pound allowance, so trying to get it done early.  I’m about 10 pounds off right now so I’m going to try cut as much as I can right now so I can eat a little bit tonight and cut the rest in the morning.

KL: I’m glad we’re talking to you before that because I imagine you, like most everybody that goes through that process is going to be feeling a bit ornery and grouchy.

KG: I’m a miserable “C” word bro.  Don’t be by me.  My dad used to hate it.  I’m better now, but before when I used to cut a lot of weight my dad used to always tell me it’s like I don’t know you… and I say I’m hungry.  I starve myself.  I eat, but not what I want to eat.  I’m eating soup; I’m eating nothing.  I’m Hawaiian brah.  I like eating food. That’s definitely the hardest part.

KL: Talking with Kendall Grove, Maui’s very own stepping in against the current middle weight champion, undefeated Brandon Halsey in Bellator 137, which will air on SPIKE TV this Friday (May 15, 2015).  Now there’s been a little bit of back and forth obviously between you and your opponent.  What are your thoughts on him?

KG: It’s no secret we don’t like each other personally.  As a fighter I respect him.  I respect anybody who can muster up the courage to get in there and put it on the line.  And I definitely respect the fact that he’s an All-American NCAA National.  He wrestled for Cal State Bakersfield and he did his thing and obviously he’s a champion.  I got to respect him.  If I didn’t, it would be stupid on my part.  Other than that, as a person, I don’t like him very much.  He’s cocky, he’s arrogant, he’s talked a lot of trash saying that when they told him he was fighting me to defend his belt, his response was: nothing special stood out about him; I’m going to run right through him.  I took that as a blatant disrespect.  I fought the who’s who on a week’s notice.  I’m not afraid to get in there and fight my heart out and represent where I come from.  I thought he spat on everything that I accomplished.  So I’m going in there with a chip on my shoulder… very smart though, but It’s just an added bonus that I get to punch this guy in the face.

MORE: (The full interview is available in podcast form on our sister station ESPN Maui AM 900 website.) 

SPOILER ALERT: Halsey won the May 17 match in a TKO (punches) decision in Round 4 at 2:25.