Kendall Grove Vs. Jorge Rivera has now been added to the event.

The Ultimate Fighter 3 middleweight winner Kendall Grove (8-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) will look to rebound from a recent loss when he takes on veteran fighter Jorge Rivera (14-6 MMA, 3-4 UFC) at UFC 80.

The report comes from the Xtreme Couture MMA blog.

UFC 80 takes place at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle, England. As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) announced yesterday, the event is set for Jan. 19.

Grove, who made remarkable strides while training under Tito Ortiz on the third season of the UFC Spike TVs reality series, won a close unanimous-decision over Ed Herman in the shows finale. In subsequent fights, the 24-year-old Hawaiian posted submission wins over Chris Price and Alan Belcher before suffering a first-round TKO to Patrick Cote at YFC 74 in August.

Rivera, a six-year MMA veteran, appeared on the fourth season of The Ultimate Fighter. The 35-year-old lost a unanimous decision to Cote in the seasons eighth episode. However, the Team Elite fighter has wins over notables Travis Lutter, David Loiseau, Dennis Hallman and Edwin Dewees throughout his career.

Yesterday, Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports broke the news that B.J. Penn and Joe Stevenson will headline UFC 80 as they fight for the interim lightweight title. He also reported that current champ, Sean Sherk, will not have his title stripped if his suspension from a failed drug test is upheld. For more information about the series of events, check out our UFC 80: Penn vs. Stevenson story from yesterday, or head over to Mr. Sunshines blog for his interview with Iole.

For the latest news about UFC 80, check out the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.

latest news from the Sun...

More Fights Set For UFC 80 "Rapid Fire" In January
Date Added: November 07, 2007
Story By: Will Hengelbrok

The following is an excerpt from an article from UK news website The Sun:

WE CAN exclusively reveal the names of the British fighters who will be fighting in the Octagon at UFC 80: Rapid Fire in Newcastle on January 19th.

Jess Liaudin takes on American Marcus Davis in what is set to be an explosive welterweight encounter.

And here's another excerpt from the article:

The heavyweight division also features a British representative on the night, with Colin Robinson squaring up against Antoni Hardonk in a mouthwatering battle.

With that now known, here's what the fight card looks like thus far for UFC 80 "Rapid Share" scheduled for January 19th in Newcastle, England:

-B.J. Penn vs. Joe Stevenson (UFC LW Interim Title)
-Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Fabricio Werdum
-Kendall Grove vs. Jorge Rivera
-Sam Stout vs. Per Eklund
-Marcus Davis vs. Jeff Liaudin
-Antoni Hardonk vs. Colin Robinson

I was going to go to this, unfortunately I couldn't get my shit together :( It should be a good card to a hospitable audience though.

The Live event updates here:

PER EKLUND VS. SAM STOUT

ROUND 1 After some early exchanges, Stout begins to stuff Eklunds many takedown attempts. Things slow as the fighters stalemate against the fence. Stout lands some short punches before Eklund lands a knee to the inside thigh and one to the body. Stout forces Eklund to the canvas and delivering some ground and pound to finish out the round. Its 10-9 for Stout.

ROUND 2 Little action to start the second round, so Eklund again shoots for some takedowns. The attempts are sloppy and results in some boos from an unimpressed crowd. Stout works the jab and then reverses Eklunds takedown attempt and lands in his opponents guard. Eklund tries to take his back, but Stout powers out of it. Stout again delivers some ground and pound, but he doesnt do much damage. Eklund grabs an arm and considers a submission attempt, but Stout breaks free. Stout stands and uses some kicks to keep Eklund at bay. The round ends with little action. Its another 10-9 for Stout.

ROUND 3 A restless crowd isnt happy as the third round begins. Eklund is laboring for breath. Stout lets his hands fly a bit and connects on some technical punches and low leg kicks. A head kick nearly connects. Eklund again shoots for takedowns but is too tired and telegraphs the attempts. Stout appears annoyed by it all. Stout closes out the round with a few more strikes after quickly rebounding from Eklunds takedown attempt. It should be 10-9 round for Stout in a clean sweep. Sam Stout def. Per Eklund via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-27, 30-27).

JAMES LEE VS. ALESSIO SAKARA

ROUND 1 Nice ovation for the Italian Sakara, who fought in two UFC U.K. events last year. The fight is underway, and Lee scores an early trip/takedown. He does little damage before Sakara pops back up to his feet. Sakara snaps a body kick that does some damage and tries to follow with another. Lee scores another takedown, though. Lee loses the position and Sakara transitions into top position and begins a barrage of punches. Lees eating a lot of punches and may have tapped out, and the bout is stopped. Alessio Sakara def. James Lee via TKO (punches) at 1:30 of Round 1.

PAUL KELLY VS. PAUL TAYLOR

ROUND 1 The two British welterweights touch gloves, and were underway. Kelly breaks free from a couple early guillotine attempts and then spent the rest of the round working from inside Taylors guard. Kellys content to keep top position, and Taylor suffers some damage from the ground and pound. He then took a big blow from a stiff right that caught flush. The round ends, and its 10-9 for Kelly.

ROUND 2 After the fighters exchange strikes early on, Taylor clinches and forces the fight to the ground. Kelly gets tagged with a couple shots before a scramble on the floor. Taylor takes his opponents back and looks to sink in a body triangle. He follows with a rear-naked choke, but Kelly escapes and takes top position. Taylor looks for an armbar but eats some punches in the process. The crowd comes to life. Taylor then grabs an arm and pulls for the kimura, but Kelly escapes and again connects on some ground and pound. A big left sneaks through that bounces Taylors head off the canvas. It should be a 10-9 round for Kelly.

ROUND 3 Another brief exchange starts the round. Taylor sneaks in a couple jabs and considers a leg kick before shooting for the takedown. Kelly eventually wrestles his opponent to the ground, though. Kelly maintains the top position and looks to improve his position but is content dropping elbows and some punches from above. Taylor sneaks in an elbow from below, but Kelly shakes it off. Kelly closes out the final few minutes with consistent strikes from above. It should be another 10-9 round for Kelly in a clean sweep. Paul Kelly def. Paul Taylor via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

ANTONI HARDONK VS. COLIN ROBINSON

ROUND 1 Well, that was quick. Hardonk quickly goes on the offensive, landing a series of knees to the body. He follows with a couple kicks and a punch that drops Robinson to the mat. The ref steps in and stops it. Antoni Hardonk def. Colin Robinson via TKO (strikes) at 0:17 of Round 1.

-- Edited by Darth Mattitude at 22:32, 2008-01-19

WILSON GOUVEIA VS. JASON LAMBERT

ROUND 1 Lambert goes into stalking mode but Gouveia dances free. Lambert finally closes the distance but nearly gets caught in a guillotine. However, he breaks free and no works from inside Gouveias guard. Lambert starts to connect on a few punches, but Gouveia does a good job of deflecting most of the blows. Gouveia eventually kicks himself free but Lambert again closes the gap, connects on a knee to the body and an uppercut, and takes Gouveia back to the canvas. Lambert again works the ground and pound, but Gouveia sinks in a triangle choke. Lambert slams out of it, though. Working from inside the guard, Lambert works ground and pound again. Lambert closes out the round with a series of elbow strikes to take it 10-9.

ROUND 2 The round is delayed as Gouveias corner searches for his mouthpiece. Were finally underway, and Lambert stalks again and shoves Gouveia into the fence. The fighters exchange shots before Gouveia creates some distance and throws a left-hook haymaker that connects as flush as a punch can land. Lambert instantly hits the canvas, and the fight is halted immediately. Wilson Gouveia def. Jason Lambert via knockout (punch) at 0:37 of Round 1.

GABRIEL GONZAGA VS. FABRICIO WERDUM

ROUND 1 Intense staredown to start this one, and were underway. Werdum attempts a combination, but Gonzaga wraps him up and scores a trip-takedown. Gonzaga passes to half guard and then throws some short punches. The two BJJ black belts now jockey for position. Gonzaga finally tires of the ground battle and jumps to his feet. Gonzaga lands a leg kick once theyre standing, and he buckles him with a second. Werdum charges in and nearly eats a head kick. Werdum id dropped with a leg kick but gets back to his feet. Again, Gonzaga snaps him with a couple leg kicks and buckles him. Gonzaga then throws a body kick, but Werdum stuffs it and forces the fight to the ground. Working from half guard, Werdum has little offense from the top. However, he postures up and pops Gonzaga with an elbow. Gonzaga tries to roll over into a knee bar, but the lock simply keeps Werdum from throwing punches and the round ends. Its all Gonzaga, 10-9.

ROUND 2 Werdum throws combination that partially connects, but Gonzaga stuffs the takedown. Werdum again goes on the offensive but swings and misses. Gonzaga goes back to the leg kicks, Werdum counters with his own, but Gonzaga stuffs it and tags him with a body kick. Gonzaga again throws a leg kick that buckles Werdum. Gonzaga lets him stand back up. Werdum charges in, and Gonzaga simply throws him to the mat but lets him back up. Werdum lands a flush knee to the face and then another. Gonzaga then eats another two, but Gonzaga doesnt seem affected. Werdum continues more knees and uppercuts in the clinch and then locks in a guillotine, cant get it, and instead takes Gonzagas back. Instead, Werdum sticks Gonzaga against the fence and rains down punches that Gonzaga cant defend. After about a dozen punches with his head pinned against the fence, the ref is forced to stop it. Fabricio Werdum def. Gabriel Gonzaga via TKO (strikes) at 4:34 of Round 2.

Bit of shocker that if you ask me.