5thRound.com’s exclusive interview with UFC Lightweight Mark Bocek
Mark Bocek is set to face “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 6 winner Mac Danzig at UFC 83 tonight from the Bell Centre in Bocek’s home country. Bocek is also a coach at the Xtreme Couture in Canada and is looking to improve on a 5-1-0 record with his only loss coming to Frank Edgar. There’s no doubt that a win over Danzig would be a big stepping stone, but the humble fighter took some time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions for us.
Once again we’d like to thank Mark Bocek for answering some questions, and want to wish him good luck tonight at UFC 83.
Tim Ngo: Mark thank you for taking the time out to speak with us.
Mark Bocek: No problem…
TN: You’re coming off of an impressive victory over Doug Evans who gave Roger Huerta some trouble, what did you see in him that you knew you would be able to take advantage of heading into the fight?
MB: I knew he was a tough guy, like anyone who is in the UFC. I just saw a guy that I could take down and ground and pound.
TN: Was this fight different for you in terms of getting acclimated, as it was your second fight in the UFC?
MB: I was definitely more comfortable, but more importantly I was a lot more prepared for this fight.
TN: Many of the fighters who come from PRIDE have struggled when they entered the Octagon, what would you attribute that to?
MB: UFC is the original promotion, it gets to some people when they finally get there. They finally got there and there is so much pressure to win, so if they doubt themselves there they will run into problems.
TN: You’ve been training BJJ for 15 years now; do you continue to work that as much as you have always done? Or are you working on other aspects of your game more?
MB: I work more now on the other aspects of my game along with the bjj.
TN: Who do you currently train with?
MB: I train at Team Quest in Temecula California. Dan Henderson, Heath Sims and Ryan Parsons, training with them not only helps me physically but mentally as well.
TN: What was it like training at Team Quest?
MB: It was an excellent training experience, I get everything that I need there.
TN: Where do you see yourself in a stacked UFC Lightweight division?
MB: I see myself improving each time and at the top soon.
TN: Does Sean Sherk’s situation frustrate you, or do you not worry about it and focus on yourself?
MB: I don’t think about it, it doesn’t affect me.
TN: Some fighters don’t keep up with the sport itself and prefer to just train and go about themselves; do you like to keep up with the sport and its fighters to see what they are up to?
MB: I’m a huge fan of the sport, I watch every UFC, I love it.
Don’t forget to check out UFC 83 and see Bocek in action!