 vs
UFC 80: Rapid Fire
Saturday January 19, 2008 9:00PM (EST)
Kendall Grove vs. Jorge Rivera
Grove -350
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Kendall Da Spyda Grove (8-4) is a heavy favorite in this fight and rightfully so. Grove was a contestant on the mixed martial arts reality television show The Ultimate Fighter 3 where he defeated Ed Herman in the finals in a close but unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) in the series finale, winning a six-figure contract. Since the TUF show, he has improved his skilsl and his fight game is on another level now. After taping the series, Grove was invited to Ortiz's training camp, Team Punishment, and he currently trains with Randy Couture's camp at Xtreme Couture.
Jorge El Conquistador Rivera (14-6) use to be a great greater but at this stage in his career he has fought too many fights and is too battle worn. Rivera has fought and beaten some very good fighters like Edwin DeWees, Dennis Hallman at UFC 55-Fury, Mark Weir and Travis Lutter. Given the opportunity any time Rivera has fought more powerful or upper echelon fighters like Terry Martin at UFC 67: All or Nothing, Chris Leben, Anderson Silva, Rich Franklin at UFC 50-The War of '04, Branden Lee Hinkle or Lee Murray at UFC 46-Supernatural, he loses.
Rivera has no real outstanding flaws in his fight game but he does not excel at any particular aspect either. Grove has very good jujitsu skills and has a very good guard game. At 6 foot 6, Grove is very tall and lean for a middleweight and it will be very difficult for Rivera to attack from the top or the bottom. Having such long limbs Groves likes to be on his back and he can transition to arm bars or triangle chokes very easily because of his lankiness due to his long arms and legs he has the ability to pull rubber guard.
Bottom Line: Rivera is a good fighter but not a great fighter. He does not possess the stand up or knock out skills to hurt Grove and because of his reach disadvantage he will not be able touch Grove. Out of all his 14 wins, Rivera has 9 by knock out and at UFC 80 his main bread and butter will be quashed. Should the fight go to the ground, Rivera has never been that great of a submission grappler. If this goes to the ground it will be over very very quick. Da Spyda has just raised his fight game to a new level and I feel his mixed martial arts game has pass Rivera’s who has not acquired the necessary skills to remain a real threat in the UFC anymore.
Arm bar, triangle, or omaplata Gorge will transition from to win by first round submission
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