ProElite 3 scheduled for Jan. 21 at Blaisdell Arena; Grove vs. Minowa targeted
by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Nov 22, 2011 at 4:10 pm ET

ProElite is moving on.

The promotion has targeted Jan. 21 for an event to take place at Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii, sources today told MMAjunkie.com. HDNet is expected to broadcast the event's main card.

Additionally, ProElite 3 is expected to feature a middleweight contest between promotional veteran Kendall Grove (13-9) and Ikuhisa Minowa (51-32). Bout agreements have been signed.

The event follows a widely panned outing earlier this month at ProElite 2, which featured former UFC heavyweight champions and opponents Andrei Arlovski and Tim Sylvia. The victories earned by both – Arlovski knocked out Travis Fulton and Sylvia outpointed Andreas Kraniotakes – were overshadowed by their listless and lackluster showings.

An eight-man heavyweight tournament featuring a bevy of prospects hit with a similar thud.

Grove is one part of ProElite's plan to spice things up. The winner of "The Ultimate Fighter 3" submitted Joe Riggs at ProElite 1, which reversed a two-fight skid that forced his exit from the UFC.

Meanwhile, the signing of Minowa quashes recent rumors of signing with the UFC. The banzai Japanese fighter currently enjoys a four-fight win streak in overseas competition and in 2009 stopped UFC veteran Rameau Thierry Sokodjou to somewhat inexplicably win the heavyweight DREAM Super Hulk Grand Prix.

ProElite has held two events since being purchased in July by Stratus Media Group, almost three years after the company went to the brink of bankruptcy promoting the now-defunct EliteXC and other international promotions.