Neil Grove is a South Africa

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

n-born English

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

 heavyweight

Heavyweight (MMA)

The heavyweight division in mixed martial arts generally groups fighters between .Although many ambiguities exist within the lower weight classes regarding division naming and weight limits, the Heavyweight division is, for the most part, uniform...

 mixed martial artist

Mixed martial arts

Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...

 currently signed with Bellator Fighting Championships

Bellator Fighting Championships

Bellator Fighting Championships is a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. "Bellator", which is Latin for "Warrior", is organized into seasons with each event hosting the rounds of championship knockout tournaments for three-five weight divisions.-History:In its first season,...

. He holds a black belt rank of shodan

Shodan

, literally meaning "beginning degree," is the lowest black belt rank in Japanese martial arts and the game of Go. The 2nd dan is higher than Shodan, but the 1st dan is called Shodan traditionally and the 1st dan is not called "Ichidan"...

 in Gōjū-ryū karate

Karate

is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...

. He holds notable victories over UFC veterans James McSweeney

James McSweeney

James Adam McSweeney is an English mixed martial artist and former Muay Thai kickboxer. He was a cast member of SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights.-Biography:...

, and Eddie Sanchez

Eddie Sanchez

Eduardo Arturo Sanchez is an American mixed martial arts fighter.-Ultimate Fighting Championship:On February 3, 2007 at the Ultimate Fighting Championship's UFC 67, he lost to Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović by technical knockout due to punches at 4:33 of the first round, in Filipović's debut fight in...

 TUF alumni Zak Jensen

Zak Jensen

Zak Jensen is an American mixed martial artist. He was a cast member of SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights.-Early life:Jensen played football and wrestled at both Northern Illinois University and Augsburg College...

 and Pride veteran James Thompson

James Thompson (fighter)

James Thompson is an English mixed martial artist. He fights as a heavyweight and has appeared in such promotions as Elite Xtreme Combat , Pride Fighting Championship, and Cage Rage. He is known for rushing his opponents at the start of the bout.-Biography:James Thompson grew up in Rochdale,...

.

Early career

Grove made his MMA debut at UKMMAC 17: Iron Circle on November 16, 2006, beating Anthony Okorie by TKO. He next fought at UKMMAC 18: Fists of Fury against Denniston Sutherland, who was 30 kg lighter than Grove at the time. Grove won by TKO in the second round. The fight caused some controversy due to a delay between rounds 1 and 2 caused by a problem with the cage.

Cage Rage

On July 14, 2007, Grove made his Cage Rage

Cage Rage

Cage Rage Championships, also known as Cage Rage, was a United Kingdom-based, mixed martial arts promotion that premiered on 7 September 2002 in London. Cage Rage went bankrupt and is now no longer trading...

 debut at Cage Rage 22: Hard as Hell, stepping in on two days notice to fight PRIDE veteran James Thompson

James Thompson (fighter)

James Thompson is an English mixed martial artist. He fights as a heavyweight and has appeared in such promotions as Elite Xtreme Combat , Pride Fighting Championship, and Cage Rage. He is known for rushing his opponents at the start of the bout.-Biography:James Thompson grew up in Rochdale,...

. Grove knocked out the heavily favored Thompson in just 10 seconds of the first round. Grove followed up with two more stoppages in Cage Rage before facing former Cage Rage heavyweight champion Rob Broughton. Grove lost the bout by majority decision.

Grove fought in a re-match against Robert Berry

Robert Berry (fighter)

Robert "Buzz" Berry is a retired English mixed martial artist. He formerly competed in the Heavyweight division and is a Cage Rage veteran.-Career:...

 at Cage Rage 27: Step Up on July 12, 2008. He won via TKO in the second round. After the fight, Grove called out both Mostapha Al-turk

Mostapha Al-turk

Mostapha al-Turk is a retired Lebanese-born English mixed martial artist and submission wrestler. He has trained with London Shootfighters for the past ten years. Turk was the ADCC European Champion in 2005 and was the British Cage Rage Heavyweight Champion, before relinquishing his title to sign...

 and Kimbo Slice

Kimbo Slice

Kevin Ferguson , better known as Kimbo Slice, is a Bahamian-American boxer, mixed martial artist and occasional actor...

. Grove and Al-turk were scheduled for a heavyweight title fight before Cage Rage closed down.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

On December 16, 2008, Grove announced that he was signing a four fight deal with the Ultimate Fighting Championship

Ultimate Fighting Championship

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...

. Grove expressed interest in fighting fellow European standout Mostapha al-Turk

Mostapha Al-turk

Mostapha al-Turk is a retired Lebanese-born English mixed martial artist and submission wrestler. He has trained with London Shootfighters for the past ten years. Turk was the ADCC European Champion in 2005 and was the British Cage Rage Heavyweight Champion, before relinquishing his title to sign...

, who has also signed with the UFC.

He lost his long awaited UFC debut UFC 95

UFC 95

UFC 95: Sanchez vs. Stevenson was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on February 21, 2009 at The O2 Arena in London, England. It was broadcast live for viewers in Europe and Canada and later tape delayed for U.S. viewers on Spike...

 in London, England, to Mike Ciesnolevicz

Mike Ciesnolevicz

Michael David Ciesnolevicz is an American mixed martial artist. He fought for the Quad City Silverbacks of the International Fight League. Ciesnolevicz is also a veteran of the Ultimate Fighting Championship....

 via Heel hook submission early in the first round. Grove was released from his UFC contract in May.

Ultimate Challenge

Afterwards he returned to Ultimate Challenge UK at the The Troxy

Troxy

The Troxy is an art deco theatre and concert venue at 490 Commercial Road in Stepney, in the East End borough of Tower Hamlets, London, UK.-History:...

 in London, he defeated brawler Martin Thompson to retain his UCUK Heavyweight title.

He then fought to a draw with Stav Economou

Stav Economou

Stavros Economou is an English mixed martial artist of Cypriot descent, who fights at heavyweight. He is known for his rotund figure, strange hairsyles and nickname "Crazy Bear".-Mixed martial arts career:...

 at Ultimate Challenge MMA - Never Back Down.

Bellator Fighting Championships

Grove made his Bellator

Bellator Fighting Championships

Bellator Fighting Championships is a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. "Bellator", which is Latin for "Warrior", is organized into seasons with each event hosting the rounds of championship knockout tournaments for three-five weight divisions.-History:In its first season,...

 and US debut against Eddie Sanchez

Eddie Sanchez

Eduardo Arturo Sanchez is an American mixed martial arts fighter.-Ultimate Fighting Championship:On February 3, 2007 at the Ultimate Fighting Championship's UFC 67, he lost to Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović by technical knockout due to punches at 4:33 of the first round, in Filipović's debut fight in...

, winning via TKO (Punches) at 1:32 of round 1.

He next faced Alexey Oleinik

Alexey Oleinik

Alexey Oleinik is a Ukrainian-Russian mixed martial artist who is a M-1 Global veteran and has fought for Bellator Fighting Championships, Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki, BodogFight and YAMMA Pit Fighting.-Mixed martial arts career:...

 at Bellator 29. He won via TKO at 0:45 in the first round. This win earned Graove a spot in the finals of the Bellator Heavyweight Tournament, where he faced undefeated wrestler Cole Konrad

Cole Konrad

Cole Konrad is an American mixed martial arts fighter. He is currently a student at the University of Minnesota and former wrestler for the Golden Gophers. Konrad won a gold medal at the 2005 Pan-American Championships...

. Grove lost the fight via submission in the first round.

Grove was scheduled to make his return to the promotion at Bellator 43 where he would face The Ultimate Fighter 10

The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights

The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights is the tenth installment of the Ultimate Fighting Championship -produced reality television series The Ultimate Fighter. In a press conference following UFC 98, Dana White announced that filming for the season would begin on June 1, 2009...

 alumnus Zak Jensen

Zak Jensen

Zak Jensen is an American mixed martial artist. He was a cast member of SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights.-Early life:Jensen played football and wrestled at both Northern Illinois University and Augsburg College...

. However, Grove pulled out of the bout due to an injury. Grove instead fought Jensen at Bellator 47. He won the fight via TKO in the first round.

Grove entered the second heavyweight tournament in Bellator's fifth season. He faced Mike Hayes

Mike Hayes (fighter)

Mike Hayes is an American mixed martial artist who currently competes in the heavyweight division of Bellator Fighting Championships.-Mixed martial arts career:...

 at Bellator 52 and lost the back-and-forth bout via split decision.

Grove faced Thiago Santos

Thiago Santos (fighter)

Thiago Santos is a Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter. He competes in the Heavyweight Division. He currently fights for Bellator Fighting Championships.-MMA career:...

 at Bellator 56 in the semi-finals of the heavyweight tournament after Blagoi Ivanov

Blagoi Ivanov

|-| Win| 5-0 | Zak Jensen| Technical submission | Bellator 52| |align=center| 2|align=center| 2:35|Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States| Bellator Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal|-| Win| 4–0 | William Penn| TKO...

 pulled out of the bout due to an injury. He lost the fight via submission in the first round.

Championships and accomplishments

• Ultimate Challenge MMA
  • Ultimate Challenge MMA Heavyweight championship (One time)

Mixed martial arts record

|-
| Loss
| align="center" |11-5-1
| Thiago Santos

Thiago Santos (fighter)

Thiago Santos is a Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter. He competes in the Heavyweight Division. He currently fights for Bellator Fighting Championships.-MMA career:...

| Submission (rear-naked choke)
| Bellator 56
|
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 0:38
| Kansas City, Kansas

Kansas City, Kansas

Kansas City is the third-largest city in the state of Kansas and is the county seat of Wyandotte County. It is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, and is the third largest city in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The city is part of a consolidated city-county government known as the "Unified...

, United States
| Bellator Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal; Replaced an injured Blagoi Ivanov

Blagoi Ivanov

|-| Win| 5-0 | Zak Jensen| Technical submission | Bellator 52| |align=center| 2|align=center| 2:35|Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States| Bellator Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal|-| Win| 4–0 | William Penn| TKO...

|-
| Loss
| align="center" | 11–4–1
| Mike Hayes

Mike Hayes (fighter)

Mike Hayes is an American mixed martial artist who currently competes in the heavyweight division of Bellator Fighting Championships.-Mixed martial arts career:...

| Decision (split)
| Bellator 52
|
| align="center" | 3
| align="center" | 5:00
| Lake Charles, Louisiana

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...

, United States
| Bellator Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal
|-
| Win
| align="center" | 11–3–1
| Zak Jensen

Zak Jensen

Zak Jensen is an American mixed martial artist. He was a cast member of SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights.-Early life:Jensen played football and wrestled at both Northern Illinois University and Augsburg College...

| TKO (punches)
| Bellator 47
|
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 2:00
| Rama, Ontario

Rama, Ontario

Rama is the Ontario, Canada home of the Chippewas of Rama First Nation and Casino Rama. The community sports complex is called the Mnjikaning Arena Sports Ki, which was the home arena of the Couchiching Terriers ice hockey team, once affiliated with the Barrie Colts. The Ramakings lacrosse team...

, Canada
|
|-
| Loss
| align="center" | 10–3–1
| Cole Konrad

Cole Konrad

Cole Konrad is an American mixed martial arts fighter. He is currently a student at the University of Minnesota and former wrestler for the Golden Gophers. Konrad won a gold medal at the 2005 Pan-American Championships...

| Submission (keylock)
| Bellator 32
|
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 4:45
| Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...

, United States
| Bellator Season 3 Heavyweight Tournament Final
|-
| Win
| align="center" | 10–2–1
| Alexey Oleinik

Alexey Oleinik

Alexey Oleinik is a Ukrainian-Russian mixed martial artist who is a M-1 Global veteran and has fought for Bellator Fighting Championships, Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki, BodogFight and YAMMA Pit Fighting.-Mixed martial arts career:...

| TKO (punches)
| Bellator 29
|
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 0:45
| Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...

, United States
| Bellator Season 3 Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal
|-
| Win
| align="center" | 9–2–1
| Eddie Sanchez

Eddie Sanchez

Eduardo Arturo Sanchez is an American mixed martial arts fighter.-Ultimate Fighting Championship:On February 3, 2007 at the Ultimate Fighting Championship's UFC 67, he lost to Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović by technical knockout due to punches at 4:33 of the first round, in Filipović's debut fight in...

| TKO (punches)
| Bellator 24
|
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 1:32
| Hollywood, Florida

Hollywood, Florida

-Demographics:As of 2000, there were 59,673 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of...

, United States
| Bellator Season 3 Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal
|-
| Draw
| align="center" | 8–2–1
| Stav Economou

Stav Economou

Stavros Economou is an English mixed martial artist of Cypriot descent, who fights at heavyweight. He is known for his rotund figure, strange hairsyles and nickname "Crazy Bear".-Mixed martial arts career:...

| Draw
| UCMMA 12: Never Back Down
|
| align="center" | 3
| align="center" | 5:00
| London, England
| For the Ultimate Challenge MMA Heavyweight title
|-
| Win
| align="center" | 8–2
| Martin Thompson
| TKO (punches)
| UCMMA 8: Dynamite
|
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 0:53
| London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

, England
|
|-
| Loss
| align="center" | 7–2
| Mike Ciesnolevicz

Mike Ciesnolevicz

Michael David Ciesnolevicz is an American mixed martial artist. He fought for the Quad City Silverbacks of the International Fight League. Ciesnolevicz is also a veteran of the Ultimate Fighting Championship....

| Submission (heel hook)
| UFC 95

UFC 95

UFC 95: Sanchez vs. Stevenson was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on February 21, 2009 at The O2 Arena in London, England. It was broadcast live for viewers in Europe and Canada and later tape delayed for U.S. viewers on Spike...

|
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 1:03
| London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

, England
|
|-
| Win
| align="center" | 7–1
| James McSweeney

James McSweeney

James Adam McSweeney is an English mixed martial artist and former Muay Thai kickboxer. He was a cast member of SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights.-Biography:...

| TKO (punches)
| UCMMA 1: Bad Breed
|
| align="center" | 2
| align="center" | 1:38
| London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

, England
| Won Ultimate Challenge MMA Heavyweight title
|-
| Win
| align="center" | 6–1
| Robert Berry

Robert Berry (fighter)

Robert "Buzz" Berry is a retired English mixed martial artist. He formerly competed in the Heavyweight division and is a Cage Rage veteran.-Career:...

| TKO (punches)
| Cage Rage 27

Cage Rage 27

Cage Rage 27: Step Up was a mixed martial arts event held by the Cage Rage Championships on July 12, 2008 at Wembley Arena in London, England. It was televised on Nuts TV in the United Kingdom....

|
| align="center" | 2
| align="center" | 1:29
| London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

, England
|
|-
| Loss
| align="center" | 5–1
| Rob Broughton

Rob Broughton

Rob Broughton is an English mixed martial artist who competes as a heavyweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is a former Cage Rage British heavyweight champion.-Background:...

| Decision (majority)
| Cage Rage 25

Cage Rage 25

EliteXC Presents Cage Rage 25: Bring it On was a mixed martial arts event co-promoted by England's Cage Rage Championships and the United States' Elite Xtreme Combat that took place on Saturday, March 8, 2008 at the Wembley Arena in London, England...

|
| align="center" | 3
| align="center" | 5:00
| London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

, England
|
|-
| Win
| align="center" | 5–0
| Robert Berry

Robert Berry (fighter)

Robert "Buzz" Berry is a retired English mixed martial artist. He formerly competed in the Heavyweight division and is a Cage Rage veteran.-Career:...

| TKO (corner stoppage)
| Cage Rage 24

Cage Rage 24

out dated: see http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/316996_2473542808109_1538580287_32616791_798713040_n.jpgCage Rage 24: Feel the Pain was a mixed martial arts event held by the Cage Rage Championships on December 1, 2007 at the Wembley Arena in London, England...

|
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 5:00
| London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

, England
|
|-
| Win
| align="center" | 4–0
| Domagoj Ostojić

Domagoj Ostojic

Domagoj "Buco" Ostojić is a Croatian Super Heavyweight kickboxer and heavyweight mixed martial artist.-Kickboxing record:- Mixed martial arts record :| Loss|align=center| 3-2| Miodrag Petkovic| Submission...

| TKO (punches)
| Cage Rage 23

Cage Rage 23

Cage Rage 23: Unbelievable was a mixed martial arts event held by the Cage Rage Championships on September 22, 2007 at the Wembley Arena in London, England. It was televised on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom....

|
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 0:34
| London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

, England
|
|-
| Win
| align="center" | 3–0
| James Thompson

James Thompson (fighter)

James Thompson is an English mixed martial artist. He fights as a heavyweight and has appeared in such promotions as Elite Xtreme Combat , Pride Fighting Championship, and Cage Rage. He is known for rushing his opponents at the start of the bout.-Biography:James Thompson grew up in Rochdale,...

| KO (punch)
| Cage Rage 22

Cage Rage 22

Cage Rage 22: Hard as Hell was a mixed martial arts event held by the Cage Rage Championships on July 14, 2007 at the Wembley Arena in London, England. It was televised on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom....

|
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 0:10
| London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

, England
|
|-
| Win
| align="center" | 2–0
| Denniston Sutherland

Denniston Sutherland

Denniston Sutherland is a British Jamaican mixed martial artist, who competes in the middleweight division. He is currently the Cage Rage UK Middleweight Champion.-Mixed martial arts career:...

| TKO (punches)
| UKMMAC 18: Fists of Fury
|
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 3:05
| Purfleet

Purfleet

Purfleet is a place in the Thurrock unitary authority in Essex, England. It is situated south of the A13 road on the River Thames and within the easterly bounds of the M25 motorway but just outside the Greater London boundary. It was within the traditional Church of England parish of West Thurrock...

, England
|
|-
| Win
| align="center" | 1–0
| Anthony Okorie
| TKO (punches)
| UKMMAC 17: Iron Circle
|
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 0:54
| England
|

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