Marine Corps News

Marine Corps News

Ultimate fighters visit Camp Pendleton

July 17, 2006; Submitted on: 17/07/2006 16:11:02 ; Story ID#: 200671716112

By Sgt. Luis R. Agostini, MCB Camp Pendleton

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -Kendall 'Da Spyder' Grove, an ultimate fighter with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, shouts grappling commands at Marines with the Military Police Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, during his visit to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Friday. Grove was joined by Randy 'The Natural' Couture, Brandon 'The Truth' Vera and Dean 'The Boogeyman' Lister. The ultimate fighters visited Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Friday to meet and greet the troops, exchange fighting tips and get some hands-on experience with some of the Corps' warfighting tools.

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (July 17, 2006) -- Marines actually looked forward to giving up their lunch hour Friday.

That's because Randy "The Natural" Couture, Kendall "Da Spyder" Grove, Brandon "The Truth" Vera and Dean "The Boogeyman" Lister, competitors in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, visited Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Friday to meet and greet the troops, exchange fighting tips and get some hands-on experience with some of the Corps' warfighting tools.

Arriving in a tricked-out, shiny black Hummer and accompanied with his entourage, San Diego resident and top light-heavyweight contender, Brandon Vera, made his rounds around the desert-camouflaged Marines with handshakes and autographs, alongside Lister and Grove.

Vera has been on the fast track to a shot at the UFC's heavyweight championship, currently held by Tim "The Maine-iac" Sylvia. With three straight wins since his UFC debut, Vera credits his newfound success to his time as an airman.

"You know that trumpet they play in the morning to wake you up for PT? That's still in my head," said Vera, referring to the sound of reveille. "It's that discipline to get up and run early in the morning that I got in the military, that keeps me training today."

Couture, a UFC hall of famer and former two-time heavyweight and light-heavyweight champion, also served his country in the U.S. Army.

Wanting to display their own grappling skill set, the Marines of Military Police Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, put on a Marine Corps Martial Arts clinic, with two Marines at a time squaring off against each other.

The Marines had the luxury of having Lister and Grove in each of their corners. Grove recently won The Ultimate Fighter 3 middleweight champion on the hit reality show, "The Ultimate Fighter."

Shouting out similar commands and tips they would normally receive in the octagon, Grove and Lister helped the Marines assume full and side-mount positions, choke attempts and body-softening blows.

After wrapping up their visit with the 1st MLG, the UFC fighters headed to the northern part of Camp Pendleton at Camp Horno, where the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment eagerly anticipated their arrival.

The UFC, which has recently experienced a surge in popularity thanks to increased cable television and pay-per-view exposure, along with a modest acceptance in mainstream sports, has recently developed a relationship with the military.

Tito Ortiz and Andrei Arlovski were the first UFC fighters to embrace Camp Pendleton when they visited Marines and sailors here before their respective fights at UFC 59 in Anaheim, Calif.

Dana White, president of the UFC, hinted at running a UFC event at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., during a media conference call in May, and Couture said he is heading to Iraq at the end of the month for 10 days.

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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -Kendall 'Da Spyder' Grove, an ultimate fighter with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, shouts grappling commands at Marines with the Military Police Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, during his visit to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Friday. Grove was joined by Randy 'The Natural' Couture, Brandon 'The Truth' Vera and Dean 'The Boogeyman' Lister. The ultimate fighters visited Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Friday to meet and greet the troops, exchange fighting tips and get some hands-on experience with some of the Corps' warfighting tools. Photo by: Sgt. Luis R. Agostini

Randy 'The Natural' Couture, an Ultimate Fighting Championship hall of famer and former two-time heavyweight and light-heavyweight champion, recieves a period of instruction on the shoulder-launched, multi-purpose assault weapon from Marines with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment Friday. Couture was joined by Kendall 'Da Spyder' Grove, Brandon 'The Truth' Vera and Dean 'The Boogeyman' Lister. The ultimate fighters visited Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Friday to meet and greet the troops, exchange fighting tips and get some hands-on experience with some of the Corps' warfighting tools. Photo by: Cpl. Samuel W. Palmer

Kendall 'Da Spyder' Grove, left, and Brandon 'The Truth' Vera, exchange fine-tipped markers, preparing to sign hundreds of autographs during their visit to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Friday. Grove and Vera were joined by Randy 'The Natural' Couture and Dean 'The Boogeyman' Lister. The ultimate fighters visited Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Friday to meet and greet the troops, exchange fighting tips and get some hands-on experience with some of the Corps' warfighting tools. Photo by: Sgt. Luis R. Agostini

Dean 'The Boogeyman' Lister, an Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight contender, sights in on a shoulder-launched, multi-purpose assault weapon during his visit to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Friday. Lister was joined by Randy 'The Natural' Couture, Brandon 'The Truth' Vera and Kendall 'Da Spyder' Grove. The ultimate fighters visited the West Cost Marine base to meet and greet the troops, sign autographs, pose for photos and get hands-on experience on some of the Marine Corps' warfighting tools. Photo by: Cpl. Samuel W. Palmer