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.

After the fight, it was confirmed that Grove’s next title defense will come in December against unbeaten Cage Fighters Championship titleholder Karlos Vemola.

In the co-main event, UCUK middleweight champion Tom Watson took on much vaunted challenger Denniston Sutherland. The bout played out as a war of attrition between two well-matched competitors. Fighting mostly from the clinch position, the pair traded takedowns, which included an eye-catching hip toss from the challenger; Sutherland, however, failed to land any strikes of note from top position. Watson finished the round as the stronger of the two, as he locked in a triangle choke with a minute remaining. Sutherland did well to escape.

Rounds two and three followed the pattern of the first. Both men engaged in a series of takedown attempts and clinch boxing along the perimeter of the cage, with Watson landing the crisper shots. Sutherland secured multiple takedowns that were either quickly reversed or immediately nullified. In the end, Watson’s ability to negate Sutherlands attack led to victory, as he was awarded a split decision.

In another championship bout, undefeated Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner Alberto Mina captured the vacant UCUK welterweight crown, as he submitted Edgelson Lua 3:26 into round one.

Mina’s persistence proved telling, as the London Shootfighters product managed to secure a single-leg takedown on Lua on the third attempt. Once the fight hit the ground, it became clear that Lua would not last the round. Mina seamlessly transitioned from a rear-naked choke to a kimura before settling on an armbar.

Elsewhere, “The Ultimate Fighter 9” alum Dean Amasinger embarrassed Scott Jansen in just 44 seconds in their welterweight contest. Amasinger -- who benefited from a camp that included UFC standouts Paul Daley and Dan Hardy, both in attendance -- took down Jansen with ease before locking in an arm-triangle choke for the finish.

Finally, Jason Young outlasted the experienced Abdul Mohamed en route to a unanimous decision, and Lee Doski submitted Jamaine Facey with a rear-naked choke 2:04 into the second round of their controversial rematch.

Other Bouts
Wayne Weaver def. Dave Nobel -- TKO (Cut) 5:00 R1
Tam Khan def. Ben Craggy -- Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) 1:20 R1
Michael Brown def. Scott Rogan -- Split Decision
Joe Holder def. Ryan Campbell -- Submission (Triangle Choke) 3:38 R1
Abdullah Hamden def. Shah Hussain -- Unanimous Decision
Pablo Ben def. Tommy Kelly -- Submission (Punches) 3:36 R2