Tag: ProElite

‘ProElite 3: Grove vs. Minowa’: Simply Put, It Was an Improvement

Brent Schermerhorn vs. Kaleo Gambill, the lone knockout from the main card. All videos props to IronForgesIron.com

When we last checked in on ProElite, the promotion was in the midst of a heavyweight grand prix that had the announcer for the evening tweeting mid-bout that he was falling asleep. Mix in unimpressive victories for Tim Sylvia and Andre Arlovski, and a disappointing performance from Reagan Penn, and the phrase “rock bottom” comes to mind. Things could have gotten more boring, sure. But if they did, we wouldn’t waste time telling you about it.

Needless to say ProElite’s third installment, which took place last night in Hawaii, was a step in the right direction. While the main event and co-main event were nothing to write home about, the card saw some entertaining fights and quick finishes.

In the evening’s main event, Minowa started out strong, landing leg kicks against Kendall Grove and securing a takedown at the end of the round. However, Grove was able to find his range by the second round, and outpointed Minowa en route to a unanimous decision. We don’t know how much time Minowa spent training against a person sitting on someone else’s shoulders poking at him with sticks in preparation for his American debut, but our guess is “not enough”.


Brent Schermerhorn vs. Kaleo Gambill, the lone knockout from the main card. All videos props to IronForgesIron.com

When we last checked in on ProElite, the promotion was in the midst of a heavyweight grand prix that had the announcer for the evening tweeting mid-bout that he was falling asleep. Mix in unimpressive victories for Tim Sylvia and Andre Arlovski, and a disappointing performance from Reagan Penn, and the phrase “rock bottom” comes to mind. Things could have gotten more boring, sure. But if they did, we wouldn’t waste time telling you about it.

Needless to say ProElite’s third installment, which took place last night in Hawaii, was a step in the right direction. While the main event and co-main event were nothing to write home about, the card saw some entertaining fights and quick finishes.

In the evening’s main event, Minowa was ineffective against Kendall Grove. Minowa’s only significant output was some leg kicks at the beginning of the first round and a takedown at the end of the round. For the rest of the fight, Grove was able to keep him outside and outpointed him en route to a unanimous decision. We don’t know how much time Minowa spent training against a person sitting on someone else’s shoulders poking at him with sticks in preparation for his American debut, but our guess is “not enough”.

The co-main event pitted Olympic wrestler Sara McMann against one-time Cyborg victim Hitomi “Girlfight Monster” Akano. Sara McMann grinded out the unanimous decision victory against her more experienced opponent. The less we say about that one, the better.

While the heavyweight grand prix yielded some unspeakably boring fights the first time around, the heavyweights put on a much better show this time around. In tournament action, Jake Heun started out strong against Richard Odoms, slamming the heavier opponent and attempting submissions. Heun got the better of Odoms throughout the fight, but gassed out in the second round, allowing Odoms to secure the fight ending choke. Richard Odoms will meet Ryan Martinez, who outpointed Cody Griffin on his way to a unanimous decision victory.

Main Card Results:

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 2, 1:56 – Odoms advances to heavyweight grand prix final
Ryan Martinez def. Cody Griffin via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) – Martinez advances 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


Griffin vs. Martinez


Heun vs. Odoms


Grove vs. Minowa

ProElite: Kendall Grove Took Conservative Approach To Battling Ikuhisa Minowa

Middleweight Kendall Grove on his unanimous decision victory over Ikuhisa Minowa in the main event of ProElite’s third event from Honolulu, Hawaii. ‘Da Spyder’ says he took a cautious approach to fighting ‘Minowaman’ only because he’s got another fight scheduled in three weeks versus Jay Silva at a Superior Cage Combat on February 16. He says it’s not an excuse, it’s just a fact that fighting is his job and he needs to protect his income.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Middleweight Kendall Grove on his unanimous decision victory over Ikuhisa Minowa in the main event of ProElite’s third event from Honolulu, Hawaii. ‘Da Spyder’ says he took a cautious approach to fighting ‘Minowaman’ only because he’s got another fight scheduled in three weeks versus Jay Silva at a Superior Cage Combat on February 16. He says it’s not an excuse, it’s just a fact that fighting is his job and he needs to protect his income.

ProElite: Sara McMann Everyone At 135-Lbs “Will Have A Hard Time Defending My Takedowns”

Women’s bantamweight fighter Sara McMann moved higher in the world rankings after defeating Japanese fighter Hitomi Akano via unanimous decision in the co-main event of ProElite: Da Spyder vs. Minowaman from Honolulu, Hawaii. The former 2004 Olympic Wrestling Silver medalist feels that anyone in the 135-lbs division will have a hard time defending her takedowns.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Women’s bantamweight fighter Sara McMann moved higher in the world rankings after defeating Japanese fighter Hitomi Akano via unanimous decision in the co-main event of ProElite: Da Spyder vs. Minowaman from Honolulu, Hawaii. The former 2004 Olympic Wrestling Silver medalist feels that anyone in the 135-lbs division will have a hard time defending her takedowns.

ProElite Post Fight Interviews: Grand Prix Finalists Richard Odoms & Ryan Martinez

ProElite Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament winners Richard Odoms and Ryan Martinez won their respective bouts to move into the finals on Saturday in Honolulu, Hawaii. Odoms earned a second round submission win over Jake Heun who appeared to have the heavyweight in trouble in the first. While Martinez went three rounds versus Cody Griffin to earn a unanimous decision victory.

Click here to view the embedded video.

ProElite Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament winners Richard Odoms and Ryan Martinez won their respective bouts to move into the finals on Saturday in Honolulu, Hawaii. Odoms earned a second round submission win over Jake Heun who appeared to have the heavyweight in trouble in the first. While Martinez went three rounds versus Cody Griffin to earn a unanimous decision victory.

Click here to view the embedded video.

ProElite Holds Another Successfull Show With Grove & McMann Picking Up Big Wins (Photo Gallery)

(Check out all of the event photo’s at ProElite.com) Press ReleaseHONOLULU, HI (January 21, 2012) – ProElite (PK:PELE) held another successful event in the beautiful state of Hawaii as Kendall “Da Spyder” Grove (14-9) dominated all three rounds in his main event tilt with Japanese MMA legend Ikuhisa “Minowaman” Minowa (51-33-8). With effective stand up […]

Kendall Grove vs Ikuhisa Minowa

(Check out all of the event photo’s at ProElite.com)

Kendall Grove vs. Ikuhisa Minowa

Press ReleaseHONOLULU, HI (January 21, 2012) – ProElite (PK:PELE) held another successful event in the beautiful state of Hawaii as Kendall “Da Spyder” Grove (14-9) dominated all three rounds in his main event tilt with Japanese MMA legend Ikuhisa “Minowaman” Minowa (51-33-8). With effective stand up and picture perfect back control, Grove took the score 30-27 on all three judges’ score cards. “I put my own pressure on myself. Minowa has very dangerous leg locks and I know if I gave him the opportunity, he would have broken my leg.” Grove said about going the distance in his bout.

Sarah McMann vs Hitomi Akano

In the co main event of the evening, Sara McMann (5-0) continued her dominance in the 135 pound women’s weight class with her unanimous decision over #5 ranked Hitomi “Girlfight Monster” Akano (18-9). McMann used her extensive wrestling pedigree to complete some cage shaking slams throughout the bout. Sara addressed what she wants next by saying “I won’t call out individuals in my class because I want everyone in it. I want to fight the best.” With this win you can certainly expect Sara to be ranked well above the #9 spot she held before this fight.

Cody Griffin vs Ryan Martinez

The semifinals of the heavyweight Grand Prix saw two men emerge from their bouts who cannot wait to square off in the final. First Ryan Martinez (7-1) used solid kicks to welt the ribcage and thighs of Cody Griffin (5-3) on his way to a unanimous decision. On the other side of the bracket, Richard “The Black Eagle” Odoms (7-0) overcame a tough first round that saw him get slammed to the canvas and controlled on the ground by Jake Heun (2-2). In the second round Odoms took over the fight and ended it with a rear naked choke at 1:56 of the second round.

Richard Odoms vs Jake Heun

The card started off with two great opening round finishes. In the first bout of the night Brent Schermerhorn (5-1) showed off the dynamite he contains in his hands by blasting B.J Penn trained fighter Kaleo Gambill (1-1) with a left hook that put him to sleep at 45 seconds of the very first round. After the victory Schermerhorn said “That’s what happens when I put my hands on someone, they go to sleep.” The second bout of the card showcased wrestling standout Pat Cummins (2-0), who submitted a very game Tasi “The Tyrant” Edwards (2-1) with an arm triangle at 4:01 of round one.

ProElite: Da Spyder vs. Minowaman ‘Quick Results’

ProElite returned for it’s third event Saturday night (January 21, 2012) at the Neil S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, Hawaii with ProElite Presents Da Spyder vs. Minowaman. The live card kicked off at 10pm EST (2pm HAST) featuring a six bout main card headlined by a middleweight bout between season three TUF winner Kendall ‘Da […]

ProElite returned for it’s third event Saturday night (January 21, 2012) at the Neil S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, Hawaii with ProElite Presents Da Spyder vs. Minowaman.

The live card kicked off at 10pm EST (2pm HAST) featuring a six bout main card headlined by a middleweight bout between season three TUF winner Kendall ‘Da Spyder’ Grove and DREAM ‘Super Hulk’ Tournament winner Ikuhisa Minowa.

In the co-main event former women’s wrestling Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann took on Japanese fighter Hitomi Akano, while the semifinals of the ProElite heavyweight Grand Prix saw Jake Heun face Richard Odoms, and Cody Griffin battle Ryan Martinez.

The full ‘Quick Results’ for the ProElite 3 event is as follows:

Main Card (HDNet)

Middleweight bout: Kendall Grove def. Ikuhisa Minowa via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Women’s bantamweight bout: Sara McMann def. Hitomi Akano via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Heavyweight Grand Prix Semifinal bout: Richard Odoms def. Jake Heun via submission (Neck Crank) – R2 @ 1:56
Heavyweight Grand Prix Semifinal bout: Ryan Martinez def. Cody Griffin via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Catchweight (215 lbs) bout: Pat Cummins def. Tasi Edwards via Submission (Arm Triangle choke) – R1 @ 4:01
Middleweight bout: Brent Schermerhorn def. Kaleo Gambill via KO (Punch) R1 @ 0:45

Preliminary Card (prelim results via MMAMania.com)

Featherweight bout: Steven Saito def. Toby Misech via TKO – R1 @ 1:53
Light heavyweight bout: Tatsuya Mizuno def. Ilima Maiava via Submission (Arm Triangle choke) – R2 @ 1:47
Welterweight bout: Collin Masanas vs. Bryson Kamako via Submission (Rear Naked choke) – R1 @ 2:07
Welterweight bout: Sean Rush def. Jaymes Schulte via Submission (Rear Naked choke) – R1 @ 2:37
Lightweight bout: Ray Cooper def. Kyle Foyle via TKO – R1 @ 2:07
Bantamweight bout: Keli’i Valencia def Zach Close via Submission (Triangle choke) – R2 @ 2:00
Catchweight (165 lbs) bout: Sebastian Mariconda def. Dan Ige via Submission (Armbar) -R1 @ 1:12