Maui’s Grove tops Minowa in ProElite 3

One at a time.

Should Kendall Grove make a successful return to the UFC one day, the Maui native knows his only choice is to take each fight one at a time.

Although it wasn’t overly impressive, Grove got the victory he needed, defeating Japan’s Ikuhisa Minowa by unanimous decision in the main event of ProElite 3 on Saturday night at the Blaisdell Arena in front of a crowd of 1,500.

All three judges scored the contest 30-27 for Grove, who won his second straight fight since he was cut by the UFC.

"I should have finished him," Grove said. "I was trying to finish strong from the back. He was tough. He defends well."

Minowa proved to be stubborn, defending a rear naked choke for much of the final two rounds after Grove easily took the Japanese fighter’s back.

The best defense wasn’t a good enough offense as the submission attempts were enough to give Grove the decision victory.

Grove is now 14-9 overall, improving to 2-0 in ProElite.

"Whoever they want at 185 (pounds), I will be your huckleberry," Grove said.

Minowa is 51-33-8 in his professional career after losing his first fight ever in the United States.

In the co-main event, Sara McMann established herself as one of the top bantamweights in the world, easily handling Hitomi Akano, the fifth-ranked 135-pounder, to win a unanimous decision.

McMann (5-0), the 2004 Olympic silver medalist in wrestling, is a relative newcomer to MMA.

Akano was supposed to be a huge test, but McMann’s power and wrestling dominated the fight, as she was able to take down Akano with ease.

Akano, known for her jiujitsu, tried all fight to submit McMann from the ground. She nearly pulled off a triangle armbar before the bell sounded to end the second.

"I came into this fight respecting her jiujitsu ability tremendously," McMann said. "I knew where I could hold position and try to maintain it and not get submitted."

The finals of the heavyweight grand prix will feature undefeated Richard Odoms (7-0) against Ryan Martinez (7-1) and is likely to take place in April in Chicago.

Both were winners on Saturday night. Odoms wore down former University of Hawaii linebacker Jake Heun before earning a second-round submission victory.

"I could sense he was tired," Odoms said. "He picked me up in the first round, which was surprising to me, but when he got me down I knew if I could last the first round he would be gassed."

Heun opened the fight with a huge slam that Odoms said hurt his left shoulder. Heun showed much improvement in his overall game, trying for armbars and transitioning to different positions on the ground, but couldn’t outlast the much bigger Odoms.

Heun got another takedown to start the second round, but Odoms eventually secured a rear naked choke from the ground to end the fight at the 1 minute, 56 mark.

"When I saw the opening I was able to catch the rear naked choke," Odoms said. "I wanted to wear him out during the first round, but he wore himself out, so it worked out."

Martinez won a lackluster decision over Cody Griffin in the other semifinal.