Q and A: Chovancek on chasing UFC dream and representing Canada

For Canadian MMA prospect Cody Chovancek, the street to the UFC Octagon was paved by endurance, perseverance, and an unwavering work ethic.

From spending numerous hours fishing as a child within the small city of Petrolia, Ont., to overcoming setbacks on his path by way of the Canadian regional scene, Chovancek by no means overlooked his final purpose.

Now, greater than a decade after starting his journey in fight sports activities, he is set to make his long-awaited UFC debut. Ahead of the largest alternative of his profession, Chovancek displays on the teachings he is realized from fishing, preventing and refusing to surrender on his dream.

Sportsnet: Your nickname is “The Best Fisherman in MMA.” That’s not simply an try at a witty nickname. You genuinely consider you are one of the best fisherman within the sport, proper?

Chovancek: It’s 100 per cent legit. I’m obsessive about fishing. I do it on a regular basis, and I’ve been doing it my entire life. I grew up in Petrolia, Ont., which is a small blue-collar group simply exterior Sarnia. There wasn’t an entire lot to do aside from preventing and fishing. (Laughs.) As a child, I’d spend hours at a time down by the water fishing whereas my mother was at work. As I received older, I had some cool alternatives to fish with skilled anglers and individuals who have been method higher fishermen than me. I realized so much from them, and I’ve simply saved at it ever since. Fighting is primal, and fishing and searching are primal too. I’ve all the time been drawn to these issues.

Sportsnet: Fishing requires quite a lot of endurance. At instances, MMA does as effectively. Do you assume this attribute has helped form you as a fighter?

Chovancek: Definitely. When I first began fishing, endurance was vital as a result of I used to be nonetheless figuring issues out. Now, if I’m not catching fish straight away, I do know one thing’s mistaken. Fishing helps steadiness out the chaos of preventing. It’s the yin and yang of my life. Training and preventing are intense, and fishing provides me an opportunity to decelerate, take into consideration strategies, take into consideration fights, and simply discover some peace on the water.

Sportsnet: When did fight sports activities enter the image for you?

Chovancek: When I wasn’t fishing, I used to be already preventing so much as a child. We’d throw gloves on within the yard, scrap with one another and watch the UFC. I began wrestling in highschool. I picked issues up fairly rapidly and entered some membership tournaments. Wrestling was the closest factor to preventing that I may do competitively. About three months after I began wrestling, I began kickboxing. I did not even know that a lot about MMA at first, however as soon as I received into kickboxing and located a fitness center, I noticed that is what I wished to do. Not lengthy after that, I had my first newbie MMA struggle.

Sportsnet: You ultimately went to Thailand to coach and develop your expertise. That’s a giant change in your day-to-day. What was that have like?

Chovancek: It was unimaginable. A buddy of mine was related to Craig Jones (famend grappler) who was working grappling camps over there. He requested if I wished to come back alongside and principally helped sponsor the journey. I went after I was 17, and being half-Thai made it actually particular. When I landed there, it felt acquainted, like I’d already been there earlier than. It was a cool solution to join with my heritage. I realized some powerful classes too. I took an expert Muay Thai struggle and received my (expletive) kicked. Looking again, that was most likely one of the best factor for me. When you are simply beginning out and you are feeling what a a lot higher-level fighter is able to, it reveals you the way a lot you continue to must be taught and what degree it’s essential attain.

Sportsnet: That needed to be a humbling expertise. Instead of stepping away or reconsidering issues, you doubled down. Why?

Chovancek: I by no means felt prefer it was time to give up. MMA is all about evolution. You’re continuously studying and rising. There have been undoubtedly challenges. Sometimes you be taught a lesson throughout a struggle, generally it is in a coaching session. Every expertise provides up. All these classes have introduced me to this second and to creating my UFC debut 11 years after I began chasing it. It feels destined, truthfully. I really feel higher than I’ve ever felt, and I’m assured I’ll placed on a fantastic efficiency.

Sportsnet: After Thailand, you returned to Canada to proceed pursuing MMA. Another main leap of religion. What led you to Niagara Top Team, and the way vital was that transfer to your improvement?

Chovancek: There have been undoubtedly challenges. I began newbie MMA and went 4-0 fairly rapidly. Then newbie MMA grew to become unlawful in Ontario, so these alternatives disappeared. I began focusing extra on kickboxing and Muay Thai whereas ready for MMA alternatives. One of the largest turning factors was shifting to Niagara. Back residence, there weren’t many MMA gyms on the time. I’d be sparring heavyweights in the future and lightweights the subsequent as a result of there simply weren’t sufficient our bodies. When I got here to Niagara and skilled at Niagara Top Team, I noticed what an actual MMA fitness center seemed like. There have been coaching companions, coaches and construction. I talked to my mother and father and instructed them if I wished to make this work, I needed to transfer and chase it correctly. They supported me utterly.

Sportsnet: You turned professional and the successful habits continued in spectacular vogue. You gained titles and ultimately received the decision to be on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2025. You labored your entire life for that decision. What was that second like?

Chovancek: It was a dream come true. I used to be really on a fishing journey in Nova Scotia with my boat when my coach known as me and instructed me the information. It was a type of moments the place all the things felt price it. I’d been placing on thrilling fights and ending opponents my entire profession, so I knew I did not must reinvent myself. I believed I already had the type and talent to earn a UFC contract.

Sportsnet: How a lot strain comes with a chance like that?

Chovancek: Rather a lot. You’re not simply preventing one other opponent. You’re preventing for a life-changing alternative. Dana White is sitting cageside. It’s the largest struggle of your profession. You know all the things can change with a win. I really feel that very same pleasure heading into this struggle too. Go on the market, do all the things doable to win, and your life will get an entire lot higher.

Sportsnet: Your Contender Series struggle appeared to reflect your journey. You needed to overcome adversity earlier than incomes the end. Did that efficiency really feel consultant of who you might be as a fighter?

Chovancek: That’s who I’m. I’m going to maintain preventing for quarter-hour, 25 minutes, nevertheless lengthy it takes. I’m by no means going to surrender on myself. I’ve been by way of more durable conditions than that. I do know I all the time have the flexibility to vary a struggle with one punch. That’s one thing I’ll all the time carry with me.

Sportsnet: Now that you just’re lastly within the UFC, have you ever taken a while to soak all of it in? Does it really feel such as you’ve reached the highest of the mountain?

Chovancek: We’re nonetheless climbing. Getting to the UFC is a big second for me. I bear in mind telling my buddies in highschool that I used to be going to struggle within the UFC in the future, and so they’d chortle and inform me to get actual. Now it is really occurred. Sometimes it nonetheless feels surreal, however I do know I belong right here. Training with a few of the finest fighters on the earth has given me that confidence. Most of all, I’m excited to characterize Canada. I’ve been saying for some time that Canadian MMA is making a comeback. There are so many proficient fighters developing proper now, and this UFC Edmonton card reveals that.

Sportsnet: What’s your message to the subsequent era of aspiring Canadian fighters?

Chovancek: Stay on the grind. The good factor is the game has grown so much in Canada. There are extra promotions and extra alternatives than ever earlier than, particularly for amateurs now that newbie MMA is authorized once more. My recommendation is to take the onerous fights. Don’t spend your time making an attempt to choose and select opponents. Go problem your self and enhance. There are going to be onerous instances. You’re going to be broke generally. You’re going to wish to give up. But when you maintain working, maintain hustling, and maintain believing, you can also make it occur. If a child from a small city like Petrolia could make it to the UFC, then anyone can. You simply must be prepared to sacrifice and belief the method.