Promoted To Frontpage From Fanposts By Kelvin Hunt 

In a small corner of the fighter's locker room, I found Dustin Chovanic calmly relaxing on a couch. I walked in the small room and immediately I felt strangely at ease. The energy in the room was so strangely calm, I felt I had to whisper my questions to him so I would not disturb the calm energy that seemed to be beaming from Chovanic and his trainers. Before you read this interview go back and read SlickRick00's interview with him. To me it is very ironic that Chovanic nickname is the "villain," there could not be a nicer guy. Based on the 30 minutes I spent with him, I think that nickname is just his houmor shining through. After over 20 years of competing at the highest level in sport karate and kickboxing, Chovanic has decided to leave all of that behind and has taken a major and successful leap into MMA. 

Erich: Talk about growing up in New York.

Chovanic: I grew up in Long Island, New York until I was 11 years old.  I did start at a Karate school a really famous fighter by the name of Tokey Hill when I was 4.  I was wild and all ADD like the other wild kids in New York. It was more like play time at that age, but when I moved to Orlando and met Walter Somerville I got serious about Martial Arts.  My Mom put me in Walter's school because they both said I had a chip on my shoulder. I didn't have a father, I didn't have a male influence in my life at all.  When I went to work with Walter he soon became a male role model in my life.

Erich: What keeps you motivated after 20 years of Martial Arts competition?

Chovanic: MMA does. I got into Kickboxing and sport Karate as a kid and had a great opportunity to work with some good trainers Walter Somerville, Steve Headden, and DJ Wegesin.  I have had positive experiences with them so I have just been having a good time with it.  I can't get arrested either which is cool.  Legal fightin'.

Erich: What do you think is your ideal weight, 185 or 170?

Chovanic: I am one of those people that wish there was a weight class in between those two divisions.  I have a hard time getting down to 170.  I would like to stay at 185 because of the rigors of my diet and training I have to go through to make 170.  I have only fought at 170 one time, most of my fights have been catchweights.

Erich: Are you aware of the tournament Bellator is putting together? Have you been talking to any of those guys?

Chovanic: Ken Pavia called me about 3 nights ago to get into the Bellator. They had a spot vacant and Pavia said it was very important I win tonight.  I know they have two spots vacant, so they have all my information my stuff is out there. So if I do what I have to do tonight then I'll look forward to going to the next level with that competition.

Erich: You own two gyms in North Carolina and train in Georgia. Is it stressful traveling that much?

Chovanic: Yes and no.  I come down before the fight and work with DJ and Steve.  I come down before the fights to prep and get ready for my opponent. I have to leave my kids, but I have to make that sacrifice.

Erich: Talk about Legacy Fight Club, what is the atmoshere of the gym like?

Chovanic: Legacy Fight Club is just starting with our MMA program. We have had about 4 or 5 amateurs this year.  It's building and it needs a lot of work.  It is a different type of breed to do this. They expect more out of me than my mom did growing up.  It all falls back on the level of respect you have around you. We are a team, they are taking the punches in there with me too. I don't think I would have won 1 fight without these guys.

Erich: Is it difficult managing two schools, training down in Georgia, and raising your kids?

Chovanic: It is, but I don't have it any worse than the next guy.  It's busy but what man isn't busy? Well all have something.  If I complain about it who will listen?  I give the credit to my trainers, the times when I am not focused they are there to keep me on the right track.  Trainers, trainers, trainers, trainers I wouldn't trade them in for anything.  If I am going any further it is because of them. It's a corrupted and dysfunctional camp, but it's kind of a camp I guess.

Erich: Talk about your horse ranch.

Chovanic: That is interesting, I got about 40 horses and about 17 baby horses being born next month.  It's a full time job out there. I got a lot on my plate. This (MMA) is a good outlet to get away from everything, but I do have a lot of commitment and horses are a big part.  I have an actual breeding facility.  I would say that we are more into that than MMA.

Erich: Wow! I'm shocked, you have 3 kids, 2 gyms, and a horse ranch! That's amazing, how are you able to manage all of that?

Chovanic: It's about sacrifice.  You are only here one time so you might as well have fun doing it.  You either work hard to get better or leave the sport before you get hurt.  The respect and sacrifice stems from Martial Arts, so without Martial Arts I would most likely do a few fights and leave. I'm focused, disciplined and I am looking for the good fight.  I know I have had some luck lately, but I feel as good about my wins as a do about my losses.  I'll take the good and the bad I'm probably the oldest 31 year old in the room right now, I have always said it's not the age it's the miles.

Erich: Talk about Steve Headden, many fighters here in Georgia have attributed their growth to him.

Chovanic: Me and Steve are best friends and there is something about the guy that works well with my style. He understands as well as I do don't go to the ground. He is a stud, he has beat the hell out of me on the floor. I am very convinced of his skills and teaching ability.

Chovanic: I have always been this way.  I can take a nap before my fights, I am pretty relaxed.  I have fun with it. That's the thing most guys that are here are wishing they were somewhere else. You can look around me, everyone here is relaxed right now, we try to keep the crazy stuff out of here and try to stay calm and not burn any nervous energy.

Erich: You didn't train for this opponent how difficult is it in the regional scene where your opponent is always changing?

Chovanic: It makes the opponent dangerous when my opponent changes. I never take a fight unless I talk to Steve Headden first. Walter Somerville is my striking coach he raised me as a kid, but Steve knows everyone in the MMA world. He keeps me safe, or he preps me for a fight. Since the changes come a few weeks before the fight, it is not a whole lot of time to know who or what your opponent is good at. So I just have to trust the people around me. They make more of the decisions then I do.

Erich: You said you are prepared to go 15 minutes yet you have never made it to the third round. Do you think you need a step up in competition?

Chovanic: That is a question my trainers could answer better than myself. I don't have more confidence in me than they do in myself. They know my strengths and my weakness a little bit better. Walter has continued to work on my stand up, me and my trainers continually drill everything I am not good at. Me and Mr. Headden work on what I lack on the ground, which is a lot. I'll tell you after the fight tonight what level I should be at. I am pretty humble myself, I don't put myself on a pedestal for having some easy fights because a punch is a punch. If it hits it hits so I'm rolling with luck. So that is what path I am on now. They keep hittin' so I keep throwing.

Erich: Do you believe there is a rivalry between NC fighters and GA fighters?

Chovanic: I think Georgia fighters are at a whole different level. It's brand new in North Carolina, it has been established in Georgia. Georgia has got the A squad. I drive 3 hours to work with Steve Headden and DJ.  North Carolina is behind by a bunch. That's why I don't fight there, it is too brand new and Georgia fighters and trainers have been around for so long.

Chovanic: US cellular, Tassengers Floor Covering, The Cheif and his Wife, C&J handyman, Ocean Trophy Engraving, Tim Bates Construction, Ricky Smith Grating, The Log Cabin,Satellite Systems of WNC, The Village Kids.

Erich: Where can fans contact you?

Chovanic: They can e-mail me, or they can contact the Dojo schools in Atlanta. We have a Facebook Legacy MMA

Check Dustin out on Youtube, dude has a wicked right hand. One of his trainers, Steve Headden compares Dustin to Anderson Silva and Forrest Griffin. Dustin is currently looking for sponsors and could be making an appearance on Free T.V. for Bellator. I would like everyone to tell Bellator and Bjorn Rebney to get Dustin into the tournament. Thanks to Steve Headden and Dustin Chovanic for the time.