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Grove not too happy with Honeycutt

Wailuku fighter aims to work way back to title shot at Bellator 174

Grove

When Kendall Grove takes part in his next mixed martial arts fight, he’ll have more than the usual reasons for wanting to win.

Grove is trying to earn his way to another title shot, which would be incentive enough. This time, though, the 34-year-old from Wailuku just plain doesn’t care for his opponent.

Grove (23-16) will be taking on Chris Honeycutt (9-1) in the Bellator 174 co-main event Friday in Thackerville, Okla.

The middleweights have traded

some barbs on social media — an exchange that began after Grove posted a photo of a ski trip in Oregon in January and Honeycutt tweeted: “Beautiful pic. Looked fun. I was on a little get away myself we could of been in the cage next week, oh well.”

Grove responded: “no dodging I booked this trip Dec 17 they asked me to fight u Dec 30th hopefully I meet u in the cage March 3rd.”

In an interview last week, Grove said: “That’s super disrespectful. He barked up the wrong tree.”

Grove lost his last fight, on a second-round technical knockout by former champion Alexander Shlemenko in October. Before that, Grove had won two straight bouts following a TKO loss to Brandon Halsey with a chance to claim the belt.

“If I get a win, I’m one small step closer to another shot,” Grove said. “I can’t just expect that, though. I’ve got to go out and beat probably three guys.”

Honeycutt, 28, has won his last three fights, all by decision — most recently against Ben Reiter in December.

“I would have preferred to fight earlier,” Honeycutt said last week. “I could be training on my next fight.”

For the second time in just over a year, Grove will be fighting soon after the loss of a family member. His grandfather, Moses K. Kauhaahaa Jr., died on Feb. 16 at age 85.

In February of last year, Grove knocked out Francisco France in the second round at Bellator 150, a month after the death of his brother, Martin Mortensen.

Grove noted the importance of his family, both personally and professionally.

“I’ve got a beautiful wife at home, and I couldn’t do it without this support system,” he said. “If it wasn’t for her, I would be fighting at War Memorial Gym. My wife supports my dream. … I thank my family for being so patient with me.”

* Brad Sherman is at sports@mauinews.com

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