Sunday, October 25 12:00 am PT: LONDON -- Neil Grove needed just 53 seconds to retain his heavyweight championship against Martin Thompson at Ultimate Challenge UK “Dynamite” on Saturday at The Troxy.
Thompson, the top-ranked domestic heavyweight entering the fight, struggled from the outset in dealing with the size of the 6-foot-6, 265-pound “Goliath,” as he appeared tentative to commit any force behind his jittery jab. Grove, in contrast, maintained his customary static stance and waited for an opportunity to strike.
The end came swiftly. Thompson overextended throwing a right hook and was punished with a brutal counter right that lifted him from his feet and planted him face first into the canvas. Grove, a UFC veteran, followed with half a dozen unanswered ground strikes before the referee intervened.
