  Kendall Grove 'From Hilo to Day'
PDG: It has been quite a while since we last saw you fight. I understand since then you had a daughter? Kendall: Yeah, I just had my daughter. I also opened my own school in Maui – my own MMA academy. I've just been busy with that. I figured I would open my school because I have my daughter and was going to take six months off because of her anyways, so I needed a source of income and [owning a gym] has been a dream of mine anyway. Maui has a lot of talent but not really the resources to get [up-and-coming fighters'] names out.
PDG: You have a fight coming up against Jason Day; what are your thoughts on him and what are you doing to prepare for him? Kendall: First thing is first, I respect the guy a lot. He is a great fighter. He's a jack-of-all-trades, but a master in none. I said this in a recent interview, if I don't come correct then it is going to be a short night for myself. I don't like to downplay myself or build him up, but he's a great fighter. I think this is a good fight for me coming off a six month layoff. I'm not taking him lightly and I am training hard. I'm out here in Hilo at B.J. Penn's academy training with Jake Clark, who is a phenomenal wrestler and was ranked number two in the world at one point in Greco-Roman [wrestling], [Renato “Charuto” Verissimo], J.D. Penn – all these guys are pushing me and just getting me ready for this upcoming fight. It is a little bit harder from the last time I was down here, and I'm just excited to get back in there and start fighting again this year.
PDG: You came off The Ultimate Fighter reality show. I'm not sure if you have seen the most recent seasons of the show, but as someone who came from it how do you feel about how some of these guys act and some of the shenanigans – I mean a lot of casual viewers sort of lump all of you guys together? Kendall: Yeah, good question. It kind of sucks because we are in the same category, coming off reality shows. Honest to God, I think my season and maybe four and five were the last seasons of real fighters. Don't get me wrong, there are real, serious fighters that come on the show now; but you can count those guys on one hand. The rest are just there to boost their movie careers or get their fifteen minutes of fame. It kind of takes away from the guys who are there for the real reasons and not just be there to be actors or jackasses. If you want to make an ass out of yourself, don't put me in the same category as you guys. It is kind of like a slap to the face. It has been frustrating for me because people put me in the same category as them because I came off the show - “you're just like the rest of them”, but I'm not. I take my job seriously. I'm a fighter. I'm not trying to be famous or try to act. How many fighters have you seen try to act that were good? Don't worry, I'll wait [laughs]. I went on that show for a reason and that was to become a UFC superstar. I had a dream and I'm still trying to become one. I'm still trying to accomplish a lot in this sport. It just burns my ass, you know? If they want to make an ass of themselves then fine, but don't bring the rest of us down too.
PDG: Yeah, it is tough because on one hand you have the producers from Spike TV that are looking for ratings... Kendall: Yeah. I hate to get into a debate with you, but I totally agree. They are there for ratings, but good ratings are kicking someone's ass and elbowing their face into the mat. That is better ratings then pissing or jacking off into someone's food.
PDG: I definitely agree. Kendall: Honestly I probably would have gotten kicked off and sent to jail if somebody did that to me. I don't care if a contract is on the line, that is crossing the line.
PDG: I'm not in the same position as you as a notable fighter, but I love this sport and take it very seriously and it sucks talking to someone about MMA and they can only come up with “oh yeah, that guy pissed in somebody's fruit.” Its like great, this is what people know of the sport. Kendall: Exactly. What does that do for the guy who has never seen the sport and they see that? He is just going to think that we are jokes. So far everyone who I have talked to who has seen that, not professional fighters but people who just started watching the show, are like “wow you guys are pieces of [expletive].” But c'mon, don't put me in that same category. These guys are just trying to be famous or funny or make money, but they forget about the real reason they should be there. Or maybe that was their reason, to just fool around and make a fool of themselves.
PDG: In your last fight you had a chance to fight one of the major players in the history of our sport in Evan Tanner. Now with the recent influx of talent from PRIDE and other sources, like Dan Henderson, Denis Kang, and Demian Maia; what kind of opportunities are you looking forward to in the near future? Kendall: I've got three more fights on my contract and once I'm out of that contract I will start negotiating bigger and better fights for myself. I think I can hang in the division with the Rich Franklins and the Dan Hendersons. I still have a lot to learn. I'm still a young buck in this sport, but I know what I can do and I know what my mind and my body can accomplish in this sport. I'm not going to be fighting these guys for nothing though, you know what I'm saying? Especially with the economy how it is now and especially having a baby – its not cheap. I'm going to fight three or four times this year. I have three fights left on my contract and hopefully I come out of this year strong. But that is not to take anything away from Jason Day. I take all of my opponents seriously and if I don't bring my A-game it could be a short night for me. I'm taking this fight seriously and looking forward to March 7th. One fight down from my contract and two to go, then hopefully next year I'll be on the road to the title.
PDG: How is your diet, do you have to be very strict or are you able to get away with eating what you want? Kendall: I can get away with it, but I have been pretty strict. My dad has been out here ever since he was hurt almost three years ago on the job. He's been permanently disabled – he broke his back. He worked on a boat, but he used to cook a lot on the boat so I asked if he wanted to come cook for me. Ever since my Chris Price fight he's been out here cooking for me, and he cooks a lot of healthy stuff. He cooks a lot of fish and chicken, and brown rice mixed with white rice. I eat a lot of salad, and try to eat clean. I can get away with eating steak and whatever I want because I have a high metabolism, but I try to keep it clean because your body is a temple. If you put bad fuel in there you are going to run bad. Once in a while, like today I cheated and drank a soda, but my weight is right where I want it to be and I feel good.
PDG: To wrap things up are there any sponsors you'd like to mention or any final words you'd like to say? Kendall: I'd like to thank Punishment Athletics, www.bjpenn.com, Cage Fighter, all the Hilo boys that have been helping me out for this fight, Loyalty Pitbulls in Hawaii – it is a pitbull breeding kennel, the Penn family in Hilo for helping me out so much, my boy Timmy, everybody who has helped me out in the past that isn't fake, Mickey's Malt Liquor for putting me on a beer can, www.daspyder.com, my dad Eric Grove for helping me out, cooking for me, and dealing with all my bullshit, and my girlfriend Shaundy and my daughter Khloe Grove for being so supportive of my career.
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