Kyle “Crash” Bochniak (7-1-0) Ready to Represent Boston at UFC Fight Night: Weidman vs. Gastelum

“I’m never going easy; it’s always one-hundred percent. And once I start seeing you withering away, it fuels my fire and just makes me stronger.”

Kyle “Crash” Bochniak (7-1-0) returns to the cage on Saturday, July 22nd, 2017 for UFC Fight Night: Weidman vs. Gastelum at The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island, New York.

Bochniak secured the vacant Cage Titans Lightweight title during a 5-1 amateur career before his professional debut: a first-round submission over Peter Bertucci (0-1-0) at CES 21 in January 2014. Bochniak then secured five consecutive victories over a two-year span before accepting a last-minute call-up from the Ultimate Fighting Championship to face fellow Massachusetts native Charles “Boston Strong” Rosa (11-3-0).

Despite securing his sixth victory just nine days prior, Bochniak accepted the fight partly due to the card’s location: the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts as part of UFC Fight Night 81: Dillashaw vs. Cruz on Fox Sports 1. A hard-fought three-round contest ended in a Unanimous Decision – Bochniak’s first professional loss.

Seven months later, Bochniak rebounded with a Split Decision victory over The Ultimate Fighter: Latina America 2 winner Enrique “El Fuerte” Barzola (14-3-1) at UFC on Fox 21: Maia vs. Condit in August 2016.

Originally scheduled to face Godofredo “Pepey” Castro (13-4-0) as part of UFC Fight Night 106: Belfort vs. Gastelum in March 2017, both fighters withdrew from the card due to injuries. A month later, Bochniak and former Battlefield Fight League amateur and professional champion Jeremy “JBC” Kennedy (10-0-0) began a war of words on Twitter, which culminated in their upcoming match-up as part of the prelims of UFC Fight Night: Weidman vs. Gastelum.

While Kennedy will be looking for his third consecutive victory under the UFC promotion, Bochniak has impressed thus far with his combination of relentless drive, athleticism and killer instinct; fight fans are understandably awaiting this match-up.

“It’s a good fight for both of us at this point in our careers, with the winner taking a step to the next level and that’s exactly what I’m looking to do. I think my style presents a lot of problems for him and I have a lot to show that I haven’t got the chance to in my two previous fights in the UFC” – Jeremy Kennedy

While finishing training camp at Broadway Jiu Jitsu in South Boston, Bochniak is well-equipped to represent Boston and one of the city’s best instructors.

“Kyle’s greatest attribute is his ability to be coachable. He shows up on time, embraces instruction, drills and instantly attempts to implement new techniques in his game. We live in a time that allows people to act like they want to be fighters on social media but then always seem to find a reason not to train. Kyle is the opposite – always finds a to way to train. Whether he comes in to watch, works delicately around an injury or just crushes his cardio, he finds a way. This is a great example to set for other students. When other guys see this, only one of two things happen: they are inspired to work harder to achieve their goals or they cower at Kyle’s level of dedication. At the end of the day, all of Kyle’s coaches and teammates know he worked as hard as he could and that, to me, is the best quality to have in a fighter.” – John Clarke, Broadway Jiu Jitsu

One week ahead of his third fight in the UFC, Bochniak took the time to speak about Boston, hard work and his upcoming match with Kennedy.

UFC Fight Night: Weidman vs. Gastelum

Saturday, July 22nd 2017

ON UFC ON FOX 25

We both got the match-up that we wanted, so I’m sure for both of us everything’s going to the ‘T’. My weight is good – I’m working with a nutritionist. I’ve always kept my weight pretty light; I’m a natural 145’er, so the weight comes off very simply. I’ll walk in at 162 for fight week and shed the weight without even using saunas. It’s crazy.

Training’s going incredible. My coach John Clark is phenomenal, and I’ve got some of the best training partners who can mimic this kid incredibly. They have a very high grappling IQ, and I’ve got a couple strikers who move just the same as he does, so I’m getting a lot of good looks.

We trash-talked a little bit, but push-come-to-shove: whether you talk shit or not, you’re fighting in a cage, so it doesn’t really matter if we talk shit or not.

It’s just fun to build it up a little. He’s good; he’s good at what he does and he knows where he’s good. He’s going to try to put the fight where he’s good at. It’s just about recognizing things that he’s good at, not letting it happen and then force my will.

ON COACH JOHN CLARKE

It’s a good relationship of a mentor-student, big brother-little brother type of thing. He’s a family member to me.

He’s been there since Day One; I have extreme loyalty towards him. He’s extremely knowledgeable, been there through the fight game and hardships throughout my life for the past 5-6 years; he was at my wedding. It’s a very tight relationship.

We definitely got each other’s backs and I don’t trust anyone more with my future in their hands.

ON UFC DEBUT IN BOSTON

It really was amazing. It was probably one the happiest days of my life. Fighting the week before and just working hard to get that dream, then getting the call that I was replacing an injured opponent on four days notice at the Boston Garden – the best place all-around; your backyard, your hometown. I knew I would have a ton of fans there and knew I made it to my dream.

I didn’t feel any jitters, wasn’t nervous – I was so excited to actually get in there. None of the UFC jitters could take place on such a short notice. So when I went in there, I just did what I had to do.

Cutting weight twice was brutal, so my muscle glycogen… I was really weak and think I still did enough to take at least a Split Decision my way. But again, it was a dream come true to go in there, perform in front of 15-20,000 fans at the Boston Garden where I used to go watch the Celtics and Bruins play – it was just incredible.

To hear my walk-out music, to see my name on the Jumbotron and everybody yelling, everybody booing – it was incredible. It’s just really hard to describe.

Like I said, the jitters didn’t take place. It was more just being part of a process and you’re just going through it – it almost felt like a dream, and I knew I had to go in there and perform. But it wasn’t until my second fight – and I had a full fight camp – that the jitters actually came.

ON REPRESENTING BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

Wherever it is, even if it’s in Boston’s backyard: I just feel like Boston has a chip on their shoulder. We’re strong – also coming from the Boston Marathon and stuff – we as a community group and people in the North Shore just have a grit about them compared to people in the South or the West where the sun’s always shining and everything. But from here: we work harder for what we want.

We have to get through the snow, the sleet, the rain – whatever it is we have to get through to get to training or a job that day. Just the mentality of grinding and accomplishing something you’re focused on. It’s just a different mindset and mentality with North Shore and Boston and New England.

When a fellow Boston guy fights, it’s just instantly – it doesn’t even matter – you’re drawn towards them, you’re rooting for them. It could even be an opponent I fought on a local show: if he gets the call up; he’s a Boston guy, he’s my homie. It’s just the way it is. So you have a lot of pride fighting from Boston; Boston Strong.

And Boston guys like to brawl – we like to throw. We have a nice, little East Coast striking style and I think it’s very entertaining – coming forward and pressuring and fans like it.

ON AGGRESSION

It’s crazy. As a person – no, I’m not like that. I’m extremely relaxed, humble – I like to wear the white hat.

But when I get in the cage, the black hat comes on; I’m a bad guy and the violent guy and always coming forward trying to hurt you as much as possible.

That’s just from I played every single sport my whole life, and I was always competing for positon. I was always a smaller guy competing for a Running Back or Corner (position)… I’m always competing.

So when I’m in there? I’m always competing, I’m never going easy; it’s always one-hundred percent. And once I start seeing you withering away, it fuels my fire and just makes me stronger. I’m going to fight hard and if I lose or whatever, I’m going to make sure for the other guy it was the worst thing he ever had to go through to win. I’m not a pushover.

ON BECOMING ROLE MODEL

I always wanted to help the community and give back. Because I was a troubled kid; single mother raising two kids on her own. We had to work for what we wanted, and I didn’t have a father or too many mentors in my life. Somehow by trial and error, I actually made it – which is a miracle. So while I’m working hard to accomplish my dreams, I’m never comfortable or satisfied; I’m always going forward.

Like yeah, I’m in the UFC – awesome. But it was like first I’m an Amateur, then turning Pro, then getting on TV and then making it to the UFC. Now it’s like I want to fight the 20^th ranked, 15^th ranked, 10^th ranked – whatever. It just continues to go. And as I have all these goals, I guess people get attracted to that. Ever since I started stepping up my social media game, I’ve been getting messaged left and right like, “Kyle, huge fan; admire you. Please give me tips on how I can make it to the UFC.” Or, “I see all this food you’re posting; is this good to eat?”

I started recognizing that just being myself, just putting my things out there on this platform is actually helping other people in their lives. It’s been very rewarding for me, as well. It feels almost more rewarding than money.

I was helping a younger kid at gym recently: it was the first time I ever met him – now he’s texting me all the time: “Can’t wait to see you Saturdays.” He hit me up saying, “This kid challenged me to a fight behind school. I didn’t go to school; I was scared. What should I do?” I’m like a mentor in all these people’s lives now; it just feels really cool and really rewarding that I can actually help people out by just doing something that I love.

That’s why I’m never satisfied: I’m always running away from my dark past. I’ll never be satisfied. There’s ten miles in the woods, ten miles out and I’m just running away as far as possible.

THANK YOU

Check out my Twitter and Instagram, and go on to koamill.com, get my shirt and ‘crash any party’ you go to when you’re watching the fight.

A sincere thank you to CrossFace Productions, Will Paul Photography and CES MMA for the terrific photography.