PRESS RELEASE / CHICAGO, Ill. — After posting back-to-back unanimous decision victories to gain entry into the Bellator Season 4 Heavyweight Tournament finals, it took Cole “The Polar Bear” Konrad just four minutes and 45 seconds to finish his most dangerous opponent to date last Thursday night becoming the first-ever Bellator World Heavyweight Champion.

Konrad pulled off a rare Keylock submission on powerful striker Neil Grove during Bellator 32 in Kansas City to force the tap after successfully taking the fight to his territory, the canvas. In retrospect, Konrad says he knew the massive Grove would be out of his element on his back.

“It was something we worked on. I knew if I could take him to the ground I would have a huge advantage. That was the game plan and everything just worked out well,” said Konrad. “Once I got him down and got a little ground and pound going, I knew he’d put his hands up trying to block. Fortunately as I started going for his head, I was able to grab his arm and transition right into a Keylock.”

Konrad is now the second heavyweight title holder fighting out of the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy along with UFC Heavyweight Champ Brock Lesnar. Konrad says this fact is significant for the general morale at the gym.

“There’s only a handful of us [heavyweights] training there, so we’re obviously doing something right,” said Konrad. “It’s good for all of us to know that things are moving in the right direction.”

Konrad’s road to the finals, on paper, should have presented a challenge to the two-time Division I NCAA Wrestling Champion. Drawing decorated Spanish submission-fighter Rogent Lloret in the quarterfinal round, Konrad easily controlled the three-round fight, taking him down with ease and imposing his will to gain the unanimous decision victory. In the semifinal round Konrad faced previously undefeated Damian “The Polish Pitbull” Grabowski and again was able to dictate the location of the fight, repeatedly putting Grabowski on his back where he pummeled the highly touted European prospect on his way to the unanimous decision victory.

Now able to check a major accomplishment off of his list, the newly crowned heavyweight champ says he’s ready to relax for awhile.

“I’m just going to sit back and let my batteries recharge for the next couple of weeks. I’m going to head over with Brock for his fight this weekend and kind of just let my mind rest from fighting,” said Konrad. “I’m just looking forward to defending my belt and seeing where this brings me.”

Always seeking a new challenge, Konrad has recently begun taking night classes at a local law school. He says after his fighting career is over, law is absolutely something that he would like to focus on.

“Definitely once fighting is over it’s something I’d like to look into. It’s a good change of pace from working out. It’s a totally different mindset from fighting and a real challenge, so I like it,” said Konrad. Similar Posts:

• Bellator scheduled to crown promotion’s first heavyweight champ at Bellator 32
• Undefeated heavyweights clash at Bellator 29 for spot in tournament final
• Carter upset, Konrad cruises at Bellator 25
• Konrad, Grove advance to heavyweight final with Bellator 29 performances
• Cole Konrad joins Bellator Heavyweight Tournament

While there was little doubt Cole Konrad and Neil Grove would both be under 265 pounds when they stepped on the scale Wednesday in Kansas City, both Bellator Heavyweight Tournament finalists certainly didn’t leave much room for error as each was within a few pounds of the allowed limit. All other Bellator 32 competitors made weight as well meaning the event will go on tonight as originally scheduled.

Konrad was the slightly bigger of the two top contenders, registering in at 264 lbs. with his opponent weighing in at a single pound less. The 26-year old training partner of UFC heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar will be looking to go 7-0 in his career when steps into the cage later this evening. However, while the Minnesotan may be undefeated, the 6’6″ Grove has been in twice as many fights and has won three of his last four bouts by way of TKO (with the other being a draw).

Also notable at the proceedings, bantamweight title-contender Zack “Fun Size” Makovsky matched his opponent Ed West at 134.25 pounds for their championship clash but will still enter the cage with an advantage in the “nickname” department regardless of the weight.

Additionally, Ryan Thomas checked it at 169.5 pounds for his attempt to break newcomer Jim Wallhead‘s seven-fight win streak with the Brit being 168.75 lbs. respectively.

The complete results of the Bellator 32 weigh-in are as follows:

Shane Hutchinson (144 lbs) vs. Brian Davidson (145.75 lbs)
Jared Downing (134.9 lbs) vs. Danny Tims (135.9 lbs)
Chad Reiner (176 lbs) vs. Rudy Bears (180.75 lbs)
Ryan Roberts (145.75 lbs) vs. Eric Marriott (145.75 lbs)
Chris Page (166.50 lbs) vs. Michael Chandler (164.50 lbs)
Ryan Thomas (169.50 lbs) vs. Jim Wallhead (168.75 lbs)
Ed West (134.25 lbs) vs Zack Makovsky (134.25 lbs)
Cole Konrad (264 lbs) vs. Neil Grove (263 lbs)

Similar Posts:

• Bellator, Bellator Wherefore Art Thou Bellator?
• Bellator 29 weigh-in results
• Bantamweight title up for grabs at Bellator 32
• Eric Marriott vs. Ryan Roberts booked for Combat Sports Championships
• Bellator 22 Weigh-In Results

Bellator Fighting Championships will crown its first-ever heavyweight champ on Oct. 14.

That's when Cole Konrad and Neil Grove, finalists from the organization's eight-man heavyweight tournament, meet to determine a tourney winner and first-ever heavyweight title-holder.

Bellator 32 takes place in Missouri at the Kansas City Power & Light District.

PRESS RELEASE / CHICAGO, IL. (September 22, 2010) – Bellator Fighting Championships will crown its first Heavyweight Champion when powerful striker Neil “Goliath” Grove meets 2-time NCAA Division I Heavyweight Wrestling Champion Cole “The Polar Bear” Konrad for Bellator’s World Heavyweight Title at Bellator 32 at the Kansas City Power & Light District on October 14th.

“This fight pits a world-class striker against a world-class wrestler. Both Neil and Cole have been completely dominant in the quarter and semi-final rounds, so whoever wins this fight has earned this title without any questions,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney.

The Championship fight will be televised LIVE nationwide on FOX Sports Net – featuring two fighters at the top of their games, each taking very different routes to the finals.

The 6’5” 265 lbs. U.K-based Grove paved his way to the finals with two devastating first round stoppage victories. In quarterfinal action Grove made quick work of hard-hitting Eddie Sanchez, TKO’ing the UFC veteran in just 92 seconds. His dominance continued at Bellator 29 where “Goliath” needed a mere 45 seconds to secure his spot in the Bellator Heavyweight Finals, dispatching of highly touted Russian Alexey Oleinik with a brutal TKO. Each of Grove’s 10 victories has come via TKO or KO; he will look to continue that streak on October 14th against an undefeated Konrad.

“I’m just excited to get to the finals,” said Grove. “Everyone knows I’m a striker, but I haven’t really had to show off my wrestling skills. They’re certainly going to be on display against Cole, and I’m ready to show people what I can do.”

Konrad, a protégé and training partner of reigning UFC Heavyweight Champ Brock Lesnar, will be looking to keep his undefeated record intact on his way to becoming Bellator Heavyweight Champion. After recording back-to-back unanimous decision victories over Spanish submission artist Rogent Lloret and the previously undefeated Polish sensation Damian Grabowski, Konrad plans on decisively finishing Grove.

“It’s going to end early,” said Konrad. “Neil is a big guy, and when he starts to wear down, I’m going to make my move and the end the fight by submission.”

Konrad also has no qualms about trading with Grove.

“It’s going to be a great fight,” said Konrad. “Everyone knows I’ll be looking for the takedown, but my stand-up game has been steadily improving, and I feel like I can control the fight no matter the situation.”Similar Posts:

• Konrad, Grove advance to heavyweight final with Bellator 29 performances
• Bellator 29 weigh-in results
• Bellator finalizes heavyweight tournament with submission specialist Alexey Oleinik

Bellator Fighting Championships came one step closer to determining the first heavyweight champion in promotional history Thursday night in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at Bellator 29, as both Cole Konrad and Neil Grove emerged victorious in their respective bouts to earn spots in the division’s tournament final.

Konrad defeated Damian Grabowski, who entered the match-up with a 13-0 record, by way of unanimous decision. The two-time NCAA wrestling champion used his grappling skills to take “The Polish Pitbull” down throughout the fight and control him from the top. It was Konrad’s fourth consecutive win by way of the judges’ scorecards and improved his overall record to 6-0.

Comparably, 39-year old Grove’s journey to the Bellator heavyweight title-fight took a lot less time than Konrad’s. The 6’6” Brit knocked Alexey Oleinik forty-five seconds into the opening frame of their Bellator 29 bout. It was Grove’s second straight first-round TKO for the organization (a 90-second win over Eddie Sanchez at Bellator 24 being the other).

The full list of Bellator 29 results is as follows:

Justin Lemke def. Jason Guida via Split Decision
Kyle Weickhardt def. Luis Ramirez via KO Round 1 (Head Kick)
Sasa Perkic def. Nick Dupees via Unanimous Decision
Jameel Massouh def. Nick Mamalis via Submission Round 1 (Guillotine Choke)
Brett Cooper def. Matt Major via TKO Round 2 (Strikes)
Neil Grove def. Alexey Oleinik via TKO Round 1 (Strikes)
Cole Konrad def. Damian Grabowski via Unanimous Decision

Bellator Fighting Championship's first-ever heavyweight tournament final
will feature an old-school feel as striker meets grappler.

Division I wrestling champion Cole Konrad and British slugger Neil Grove each punched their tickets to the bracket's final bouts with main card wins at Thursday's Bellator 29 event.

The Bellator 29 fight card took place at the Rave-Eagles Ballroom in Milwaukee, Wisc. The event aired on FOX Sports Net.

Bellator Fighting Championships' first-ever heavyweight tournament final
will feature an old-school feel as striker meets grappler.

Division I wrestling champion Cole Konrad and British slugger Neil Grove each punched their tickets to the bracket's final bouts with main card wins at Thursday's Bellator 29 event.

The Bellator 29 fight card took place at the Rave-Eagles Ballroom in Milwaukee, Wisc. The event aired on FOX Sports Net.

The latest Bellator Fighting Championships event is already underway at The Rave in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Bellator 29, the first sanctioned mma event in the state in Wisconsin, features two heavyweight semifinal bouts for the promotions third season. Damian Grabowski takes on Cole Konrad, while Neil Grove faces Alexey Oleinik.

Bellator 29 will be shown live on Fox Sports net and it’s regional sports network affiliates. Bellator features un-aired bouts before and after the live broadcast.

Watch the post-fight press conference at Bellator.com after the event.

Here are the full results for Bellator 29.

Tournament bouts

Heavyweight Semifinal: Cole Konrad def. Damian Grabowski via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Heavyweight Semifinal: Neil Grove def. Alexey Oleinik via TKO (strikes) – R1 @ 0:45

Non-Tournament bouts

Middleweight bout: Brett Cooper def. Matt Major via TKO (strikes) – R2 @ 1:27
Lightweight bout: Sasa Perkic def. Nick Dupees via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Middleweight bout: Kyle Weickhardt def. Luis Ramirez via KO – R1 @ 0:30
Catchweight (140 lbs) bout: Jameel Massouh def. Nick Mamalis via submission (guillotine choke) – R1 @ 4:27
Catchweight (215 lbs) bout: Justin Lemke def. Jason Guida via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

On the eve of Bellator Fighting Championships’ much-anticipated debut in the state of Wisconsin, the fighters competing in tomorrow’s event participated in an official weigh-in earlier this evening with all results coming in as expected meaning the event will go on as originally scheduled.

Bellator 29 features a battle between undefeated heavyweights Cole Konrad and Damian “Polish Pitbull” Grabowski with the winner advancing to the final of this season’s divisional tournament. Also in action, and competing for the other heavyweight slot, Alexey Oleinik will face hard-hitting Brit Neil “Goliath” Grove.

The complete list of weigh-in results are as follows:

Jason Guida (215 lbs) vs. Justin Lemke (207.8 lbs)
Nick Dupees (153.2 lbs) vs. Sasa Perkic (154.6 lbs)
Luis Ramirez (184.2 lbs) vs. Kyle Weickhardt (183.4 lbs)
Alexey Oleinik (231.2 lbs) vs. Neil Grove (262.6 lbs)
Matt Major (185.6 lbs) vs. Brett Cooper (184.6 lbs)
Jameel Massouh (142 lbs) vs. Nick Mamalis (139.6 lbs)
Damian Grabowski (241 lbs) vs. Cole Konrad (265.8 lbs)

After some card shuffling, the lineup for Thursday's Bellator 29 event is now complete with seven fights, officials today confirmed with MMAjunkie.com.

Co-headlining the show is a pair of heavyweight-tournament semifinal fights of Damian Grabowski vs. Cole Konrad and Neil Grove vs. Alexey Oleinik.

Bellator 29, which is the first major MMA show since Wisconsin began regulating the sport, takes place at the Rave-Eagles Ballroom in Milwaukee.