MMAOddsBreaker’s Frank Trigg speaks with Bellator 143 middleweight Kendall Grove as he prepares for his upcoming co-main event bout tonight (September 25, 2015) against Joey Beltran at the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas.
The longtime veteran has worked with Beltran in the past and he’d prefer not having to taste “The Mexicutioner’s” power in an extended stand-up fight:
“I’ve been training with Tito Ortiz…Obviously Joey [Beltran]’s a big puncher, a good boxer, a well-rounded guy, but he’s more focused on trying to knock you out. I’m also working on my boxing, defense and looking for that takedown and trying to finish him on the ground where I’ve had a lot of success in my career. Here we are, one fight at a time and it just so happens I’ve got a fight coming up against a tough Joey Beltran. Obviously if I use my range right on the feet, it’s gonna be good, but if that Hawaiian kicks in and I start slugging with him, it’s gonna be a long night for me, or a short night because of his heavy hands.”