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Neil “Goliath” Grove Speaks: MMA, Bellator, the State of the Game & More

Exclusive Interview by Kevin Nelson

“I see every fight as a fight to the death”- Neil Grove

Neil Grove is a heavyweight in the number two mix martial arts organization Bellator. He sports an 11-3 MMA record with all 11 of his wins coming by knockout. In the inaugural Bellator tournament, he spent a total of 2 minutes 17 seconds in the cage before moving on to the final and losing to Bellator champ Cole Konrad by submission.

Grove is an exciting heavyweight that brings fans out of there seat when he fights. He fights to finish. He is by all definitions a fighter.

KN: You have a background in traditional mix martial arts. Do you feel that has benefited you in your success and if so, how?

Indeed it has! My Sensei Gavin Mulholland, who teaches Goju Ryu, has helped me in and out of the Dojo… Respect for others, male, female, younger, older, regardless of your ethnicity, religion and beliefs. Discipline, to train regardless of how tired you are, injuries or not, and empathy towards others.

Since starting my fighting career, Sensei Gavin encouraged me to learn all the other skills needed to succeed in MMA; Muay Thai training from Steve Gladstone has helped me! He also studied traditional martial arts (Kyokushin, an art very similar to Goju Ryu), Combat Sambo from Anton Davidovich from Cork City Combat Sambo in Cork, Ireland, has broadened my knowledge on submissions and ground control and as of late, I’ve been training in Orange County at Reign Training Center under Mark Munoz, the arts in wrestling and MMA.

KN: You started your pro career relatively late at age 35; what did you do before then and what convinced you to give MMA a try?

I was 2 months shy of 36 when I had my 1st MMA bout, and it was purely to test my ability as a black belt in Goju Ryu. Obviously, by winning my first 5 fights purely on my Goju Ryu training, I had to continue. Once I had my first loss, I had to see if by adding other fighting arts as skills, and this is why I’m still competing.

KN: What improvements do you feel you need to make in order to become a better mix martial artist?

I’ve had to change camps. And by doing so, you learn more. I’ve had to change the way I eat and recover! Once I decided to do this full time, that’s all you really have to do, eat, sleep, train, recover, eat, sleep…

KN: What do you think is the most dominant MMA Style today?

Striking. Although the art of wrestling has been dominating, all fights start with standing up, and as much as the wrestlers and BJJ specialist like to argue the fact that they are the best, most of them seek the KO or TKO in their fights, as do the supporter and fan!

KN: What can you tell us about your fight with Zak Jensen?

(Laughing) That I was right never to under estimate a fighter! The guy was tough, had a good chin and because he is young, can with some good training and discipline, keep his head up and continue fighting at a good level!

KN: What do you think of the tournament format of Bellator?

I love it! They have the super fights in between tournaments, which help, but the tournaments are a great way of 8 of the best available fighters to fight for the right to have a go at the title holder! It also makes it fair so that fighters who get cut from other MMA events, could find their “place” in Bellator and establish their ‘ranking’. I for one would love the Overeem’s and Emelianenko to sign up!

KN: You called out Cole Konrad recently what makes you certain that it will be a different outcome if you were to face him again?

It wasn’t a ‘call out’. It’s not how Bellator works. I have to focus on winning the tournament 1st, and then it’s inevitable. I mentioned him in previous interviews and after my fight, as he is the target. I’m sure his fighting game has improved since our last fight, but mine is too, and I have purely been training to make sure the outcome is different, by studying what he knows best. What that has done though is increase my confidence as a striker, which is all he has to worry about next time we face each other…

KN: There are many fighters that are cautious and do not take any chances inside the cage. You are the polar opposite and try and finish your opponent. Do you fight that way for the fans or because you love to simply fight?

(Laughing) I see every fight as a fight to the death, not that I go in there wanting to kill anyone! But to me MMA does seem a bit watered down with some fighters trying to protect their titles, get the win by only showing off their ability to ‘lay’ on someone, their take downs, or just control in the cage… it should be EVERYTHING I just mentioned, in one, short bout. I know that there is an event that has made their main events 5x5min rounds, I wish it was 3x1min rounds, and if one doesn’t win in that time, no one wins!!!

KN: What are some of your hobbies outside of Mix Martial arts?

Karaoke, watching movies. I do like cooking, spending as much time possible with my family and playing with my son, Ethan!

KN: If you had to fight one man outside of Bellator who would it be and why?

Alistair Overeem, we met once in Amersfoort, Holland, and he sized me up, it wasn’t necessary, as it was at a football match and we were amongst friends. Also the fact that he claims what he claims regarding horsemeat.

KN: Do you have any final words?

Thank you for the interview, I would love to thank my sponsors, in particular Razor Wear, Fight Bite, Hooligans United, OCfightDOCS, these guys keep coming back for more!

My coaches Steve Gladstone of Semtex Gym in Swanley, Kent, UK. Ben Moreland of Huntington Beach Ultimate in HB, OC, LA. Anton Davidovich and Shane Long of Cork City Combat Sambo in Cork, Ireland. Mark Munoz and crew of Reign Training Center in Lake Forest, OC, CA. Sensei Gavin Mulholland.
And last but not least, my wife Emalene, son Ethan and soon to be born little baby girl, for having to spend all this time alone in England so that I can train in America! That reminds me! I would love a job here in America once I finish fighting, so I can bring them over! The support and fans over here are incredible! Not saying the fans in the UK, South Africa, NZ, Canada, OZ and everywhere else are bad, but I like it here!

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