“Da Spyder” Dominates Minowa at ProElite3

Maui's Kendall Grove dominated Ikuhisa Minowa on the mat Saturday at the ProElite 3 in Honolulu. ProElite photo.

By Rodney S. Yap

Maui’s Kendall “Da Spyder” Grove put on a dominate performance en route to a unanimous decision against popular Japanese fighter Ikuhisa Minowa in Saturday’s main event of ProElite 3 at the Neil Blaisdell Center in Honolulu.

Grove, who has only been submitted once in 25 fights, used his nine-inch height and 7.5-inch reach advantage to claim a lopsided win and improve to 14-9. The former Baldwin wrestler won 30-27 on all three judges scorecards. The loss snapped Minowa’s five-fight winning streak and spoiled the Japanese professional wrestler’s American debut.  Veteran Minowa suffered his 33d defeat (52-33-8) and spent most of the match on the mat trying to avoid submission while engulfed by Grove’s long limbs.

“I was trying to finish him from the back,” said a frustrated Grove after the match. “He’s tough and defends well, but I should have finished him.”

Grove, who won Season 3 of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series, has now won consecutive bouts for the first time in almost three years. In August, Grove defeated Joe Riggs and hopes to continue to work his way back to the UFC, which released him last year, under the ProElite promotion.

“I’m a fighter. I’ll fight whoever you want me to fight,” he said. “That’s my job. I don’t duck guys.”

Maui’s Ilima Maiava, the older brother of NFL linebacker Kaluka Maiava, made his pro MMA debut on the preliminary card against Tatsuya Mizuno. The Japanese veteran, however, proved to be cagey as Maiava was forced to tap from an arm-triangle choke submission at the 1:47 mark of the second round.

MAIN CARD

Kendall Grove def. Ikuhisa Minowa via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Sara McMann def. Hitomi Akano via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Richard Odoms def. Jake Heun via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 1:56 – to advance to heavyweight grand prix final

Ryan Martinez def. Cody Griffin via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) – to advance to heavyweight grand prix final

Patrick Cummins def. Tasi Edwards via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 1, 4:01

Brant Schermerhorn def. Kaleo Gambill via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 0:45

PRELIMINARY CARD

Tatsuya Mizuno def. Ilima Maiava via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 2, 1:47

Toby Misech sef. Steven Saito via TKO (knees) – Round 1, 1:53

Collin Mansanas def. Bryson Kamaka via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:27

Sean Rush def. Jaymes Schulte via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:37