UFC 96 Breakdown: The Undercard

Kendall Grove vs. Jason Day

Kendall “Da Spyda” Grove Scouting Report
Ht/Wt: 6’6/185 lbs.
Age: 26
Hometown: Maui, Hawaii
Fighting out of: Maui, Hawaii
Team: B.J. Penn’s MMA
Record: 9-5(1 NC)

The breakdown: Whatever Grove does, he has to avoid Day’s power. Considering the well-documented similarities between Grove’s chin and Humpty Dumpty’s physiology, the Canadian could easily ruin his night with a single blow. That means Grove needs to get Day down early and use the underrated jiu-jitsu that he often ignores in favor of the striking game. As long as Grove uses his reach early and transitions to the ground before Day can cut loose, he has all the tools to put on a show-stopping beat down.

The X factor: Grove’s biggest downfall has been putting too much faith in his striking. Granted, Grove is a solid striker, but his chin is too much of a liability for him to be spending the bulk of his time on the feet. Accepting that weakness is a step Grove must take to move forward as a fighter.

Jason “Dooms” Day Scouting Report
Ht/Wt: 6’1/185 lbs.
Age: 29
Hometown: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Fighting out of: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Team: Canadian Martial Arts Centre
Record: 17-7

The breakdown: Day needs to make like the Predator and go head hunting. While Grove’s reach makes barreling forward a dicey proposition, as long as Day engages on the feet, he should be able to draw Grove into some exchanges. The toll may be heavy, but every exchange represents another opportunity for Day to hand Grove another knockout loss.

The X factor: Being aggressive can be a good thing, but Day can get himself in trouble when he shuffles forward like a zombie. Grove would be all too happy to pick apart Day from afar, so he will need to show much improved footwork if he wants to get within striking distance of Grove.

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The bottom line: It seems like Grove is destined to either put on a top-notch show or get leveled within the opening moments. While Day certainly has the power to implode Grove’s head, he lacks the skill and fight IQ to get the job done. Watch for the lanky Hawaiian to use his reach and grappling to frustrate Day en route to a lopsided decision win.