This Friday the 26^th will see the UK middleweight Tom ‘Kong’ Watson mark his debut bout in the Canadian promotion ‘Maximum Fighting Championship’ at MFC 24.

Watson carved a career in the UK through the domestic circuit fighting on cards for ZT Fightnight, Cage Rage / Ultimate Challenge and BAMMA beating notables such as Denniston Sutherland, Pierre Guillet and John Maguire to establish a UK Middleweight rank of number 2 behind Michael ‘The Count’ Bisping.

Seeing that Bisping is now a firm fixture in the UFC the next step up for Watson had to be an international move, so now a well deserved bout will see the well rounded Watson take on the equally experienced and skilled Canadian Travis Galbraith.

Watson known for traveling far and wide to improve his skills, has trained in many notable gyms such as Nottingham’s Rough House, his own gym the Gorilla Academy, Greg Jacksons camp in Albuquerque, New Mexico and the home of George St.Pierre the Tristar Gym in Montreal, Canada which is where he now resides.

We met with Tom recently to discuss his next opponent Travis Galbraith, his move to Canada and his UK return bout with BAMMA against Alex Reid.

How has your fight camp and preparation been for this fight Tom?

Camp has been real great. I broke my hand in my last fight so was out the whole of November and most of December so was worried how I would come back after such an injury. I tested the waters out in Holland with Semtex ahead of his UFC fight and it held up okay. I moved out to Montreal to work with Zahabi MMA (Firass Zahabi and the guys at Tristar) as I really wanted to work hard on my wrestling. I still fight for Jacksons MMA and was there for 2 weeks in the beginning of February for my fight. I get to train with so many great guys, Jardine, Rashad, Georges, Brian Stann, Nate, Denis Kang, Steve Bosse, Nordine Taleb.. the list is endless.

How is life in Canada? Are you happy you made that move, missing the UK much?

I am happy I made the move, of course its very hard for me always moving new places and being away but I feel its very important to sacrifice the comforts in life to chase a dream of becoming the worlds best fighter. One day I’m sure my priorities will change, but right now MMA is my whole life.

Can you tell us your thoughts on Travis Galbraith and how you can see that fight going? He recently spoke to the press on how he want’s to stand with you for this fight.

Travis is a solid fighter and a very hard test, he’s fought in most of the big shows and has only lost to the worlds best (GSP, Feijao, Nakamura) and many of these losses were in the beginning of his career. I’m sure he will stand with me and I’ll happily grapple with him… its MMA. These are the fights I need right now.  I’ve been trying hard to get these fights for the last few years.

There are some great middleweights in MFC. Win’s against the likes of Dean Lister, Thales Leites and Travis Lutter would really lift your world rank up. Are there any of those guys you would particularly like to fight?

I just hope to Win in a dominating fashion and I would happily fight anyone MFC asks me to fight.

After this it will be BAMMA and the fight with Alex Reid. We have heard he will be studying the pressure-point skill of Marma Adi and doing some Kushti Wrestling. Does this have you worried?

Alex is filming this stuff for TV, but before the fight he’ll have at least 6 weeks at London Shootfighters, one of the top gyms in the world so I don’t really take too much notice of this TV program.

Anyone you would like to thank Tom?

TNE Management who help me get Tapout, VAS, Full tilt poker, CNP, Zahabi & Jacksons MMA and everybody please go check out my website www.tomkongwatson.com and join my twitter and facebook page for all the latest videos, blogs and news.

Anyone who wants to see Tom’s fight can do so via the MFC website where they will provide video streams for only $9.99.

Ahead of Ultimate Challenges ‘Payback’ event this Saturday, UK MMA News had a chance to catch up with Neil ‘Goliath’ Grove before his return to the cage after making a full recovery from some his injuries suffered at the UFC 95 bout against Mike Ciesnolevicz.

Grove first made the headlines when he stepped in as a replacement on only two days notice against former pride veteran James Thompson. He was considered the underdog until providing the nights upset by KO’ing Thomson just 10 seconds into the first round.

He then continued to build a respectable 7-2 record suffering only two losses along the way to Rob Broughton and Ciesnolevicz. To this day Grove has won all his fights by TKO / KO and no one is yet to knock out the current Ultimate Challenge heavyweight belt holder.

Neil who stands in at 6ft ‘6 and holds a Shodan black belt in goju ryu karate is now primed and ready to take on his next opponent Markus Hipp at Ultimate Challenges ‘Payback’ on the 22nd of August. He spoke with us on his life working the door, how he came into MMA, the current status with the UFC and more.

As you will see Neil is hearty fighter and larger then life in more ways then just his stature.

UK MMA News: Hi Neil Thanks for talking to us, so how are you doing?

Neil Grove: Hey Luke! I’m fine thank you!

UK MMA News: We know you’re a well-traveled man, so to help us get a feel on where you have come from could you tell us about some of the travels and highlights you have had leading up to your decision to take up Goju-ryu Karate and enter MMA.

Neil Grove: As you know i was born in South Africa, came here in 1996. England is the best place to travel from if you wanted to see Europe, so I found myself living in Brixton / Stockwell in south London. I started working the doors in London due to my size, and after working in a few dodgy places, ended up working in ‘The Church’. It used to be in a big warehouse/ nightclub in Kings Cross, but on a Sunday from 12 to 4 it was a congregation of kiwi’s, ozzies, saffas and barmy army! There were the odd Welshmen, Irishman, jocks and yanks, but they had to put up with a lot of boos from the southern hemisphere crowd! There were strippers and comedians and a lot of drinking games like the boat race, where nations would compete.

To make a long story short, one Sunday things kicked off, not that it did on a regular basis… but I found myself back to back with a Kiwi mate of mine, Tiger, or better known to his family as Bernie! Because of this altercation, I was given the opportunity to either join in with Sensei Gavin, doing goju ryu, or leave…

It took me 5 years to get my 1st Dan (black belt). Hard work on my part and belief in me from my sensei, as it normally takes 6 to 7 years to accomplish that! I wanted to then see what my abilities would be like, in an MMA event. The rest is history!

UK MMA News: So you have had some injuries as of late, how are you doing now and how has the training been, anything in particular or new you have been working on?

Neil Grove: After my loss in February at the O2 arena for UFC 95, I broke 3 ribs falling on my opponents knee, got heel hooked and tore tendons in my ankle and medial meniscus cartilage. So nothing too serious!!! haha! I’ve had the best surgery and physio therapy, all paid by the UFC, and I’m as good as new!

I’ve been fortunate enough to be sponsored by Excel Health and Performance Gym in Southend. They have helped me through rehabilitating my injuries, strengthening me up again, improving my fitness and stamina through MMA related conditioning training techniques and nutrition! My trainer is Craig Maddox and my nutritionist is Natasha Gant.

I have also increased my training sessions at Semtex fight club. My stand up is off the wall! My Muay Thai trainer there is Steve Gladstone. I have also been training and improving my wrestling with training partners Andy, Pete, old john and the other Pete! haha!

UK MMA News: Next you have Markus Hipp, what could you tell us about this opponent and without giving to much away how do you see the fight going?

Neil Grove: I understand Markus has had 5 wins, 3 losses and 1 no contest. He is from a kick boxing academy, so another stand up fighter. 6′4” and weighs anything between 108-118kg. That’s about it…

UK MMA News: As a goju ryu man yourself, tell us what you make of ‘The Machida Era’ and seeing the renewed interest that it has brought to Karate in the MMA world?

Neil Grove: Well, Machida isn’t the only Karateka doing well! GSP is also a karate man! It does however in my opinion depend on the teacher! Sensei Gavin is a 6th Dan now. His way of teaching has given me the foundation I think is necessary for any mma’tist to become one of the best. Having any form, boxing, kick boxing, judo, Muay Thai, etc is a good start, then adding to your training something else, wrestling, ju jitsu, etc, to become a complete fighter. There’s a lack of discipline and respect in most MMA clubs popping up everywhere. This is making traditional fighting arts more and more popular. Natural ability of integrating what you know and now have learnt as a new art of fighting, is also important.

UK MMA News: Where would you like to see yourself going next and into the future Neil?

Neil Grove: Fighting and winning! I would like to fight for the UFC again, they are keeping an eye on me to see if my injury reoccurs. If not, I hope to be back there again, soon! In the meantime I will fight for whoever offers me the best purse and opponent. I am not a fan of rematches. Only one rematch interests me, Rob Broughton…

UK MMA News: Finally are there any sponsors or individuals you would like to thank?

Neil Grove: I would like to thank Primal! We have renegotiated our original contract and it’s a pleasure working with them! Excel HP in Southend, thanks Craig and Natasha! Semtex fight club, thanks to Steve Gladstone! Rebel Red beer, one of my best mates, Shane Long in cork, Ireland manages a pub named Franciscan well. They have been fantastic! One of my clients, Mike Elsom, known as ‘breff’ another mate, Steve Hopwood, known as ‘hoppy’ and my Sensei Gavin Mulholland of goju ryu karate and the DKK fighters.

Please see my website www.goliathgrove.com and join me on facebook. I’m looking for more sponsors, so contact me!!

For details on Ultimate Challenge – Payback please visit the UCUK site.

Whilst the internet and media is awash with speculation on who will be fighting Fedor Emelianenko after Josh Barnett tested positive for a banned substance, British Fighter Paul Daley will be starting to wind down his training as it leads towards the last week before his fight against Xtreme Couture MMA’s Jay Heiron at Affliction Trilogy.

Paul Daley is well known amongst UK fans for carving a career through many UK promotions including Cage Rage, Cage Warriors and FX3 whilst marking up a respectable 21 – 8 – 2 record. He has since then moved on to fighting in the US and Canada for promotions such as Maximum Fighting Championships, Strikeforce and now Affliction.


Daley will be coming into the bout on the back of two pasts wins (both KO) and his opponent Heiron has won his last five. He is known for his striking and is another Team Rough House lad so he has had the good company of fighters such as Dan Hardy, Jimmy Wallhead, Dean Amersigner & Andre Winner. He also trains in Amsterdam at Mike Passeniers Muay Thai gym where a lot of top K1 Fighters have come from.

Affliction Trilogy is due to screen on Bravo via tape delay on the 1st of August.

Ultimate Challenge UK Light-Heavy World Champion Jimi ‘The Poster Boy’ Manuwa’s has now got a new great looking website.

Be sure to call in often to get the latest news of this exciting MMA fighters career!

I have yet to see Jimi fight, but I caught the title belt fight online and was very impressed by his striking abilty. Quite frankly he domainted Ryan Robinson both Standing up and on the ground to take the title and chalk up a 5 – 0 record. Look forward to seeing how far this guy can go!