Mark Muñoz (UFC.com)

MANILA, Philippines – Mark “ The Filipino Wrecking Machine”” Muñoz was thrilled by the reception he got from fellow Filipinos in Abu Dhabi where he fought and won over Kendall “The Spyder” Grove during UFC 112: Invincible.

“That was awesome, I felt the love right away,” said a beaming Muñoz during a post-fight interview with FanHouse.com. “There was a lot of Filipinos out here and they gave it up to me right away.”

The 6-feet Muñoz, a full-blooded Filipino mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, battered the 6-foot-6 Grove by ground-and-pound after being knocked down twice in the fight.

It was a gigantic come-from-behind victory for the Fil-Am, who received a huge ovation from Middle East-based Filipinos who went to Abu Dhabi last Saturday (Sunday in Manila) to see him fight.

“It was pretty awesome to be able to get that reception. It's awesome right now, I have no words to describe how good it feels,” he said.

The 32-year-old Muñoz said Grove gave him a very good fight.

Grove decked the Fil-Am with a hard uppercut, controlling most of the first round. Muñoz immediately tried to turn things around in the second round but was again having a hard time taking down the taller opponent.

After being knocked down following a knee to the chin, Muñoz managed to get into a mount position and pounded on Grove until the referee stopped the fight.

“I was able to feel him out and figure it out. When I got in the position, I just do what I do best. That's where I'm relentless,” he said, referring to his ground-and-pound move.

So sensational was the match that it was chosen by UFC as “The Fight of the Night”.

Mark Muñoz throws a big right hand to Kendall Grove in UFC 112 (UFC.com/April 12, 2010)

Muñoz said he will be working more to improve his stand-up offense as he waits for his next opponent.

“I'm just gonna take what the UFC gives me right now. I'm gonna train hard,” he said.

Silva’s ‘embarrassing’ performance

UFC chief Dana White, meanwhile, was displeased with the performance of pound-for-pound MMA fighter Anderson Silva.

Silva retained his UFC middleweight title with an “ugly” win over fellow Brazilian Demian Maia.

“What a disgrace the main event was. What an embarrassment it is. I don't think I've ever been more embarrassed in 10 years of being in this business,” said a visibly irked White during the post-fight press conference.

A defensive Silva refused to engage Maia into a toe-to-toe, as he fought safely from a distance, even taunting the jiu-jitsu expert several times.

“If you're that talented, be Mike Tyson. Go ahead and finish it in 2 minutes. I'd rather have somebody say let's not buy the Anderson Silva because he knock guys in 2 minutes other than he runs around like a jackass in 5 rounds,” said White.

“I apologize but I will, I don't know how yet, but I will make this up for the fans who bought this sh*t tonight,” he added.

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