Dana White is ‘proud’ of Ontario’s Mark Bocek who fights at UFC 124

By MIKE JOHNSTON

Ontario native Mark Bocek is one of seven Canadians in action at UFC 124, as he takes on Dustin Hazelett in a lightweight bout. The event takes place Saturday December 11 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. It can be seen live on pay-per-view starting at 10 p.m. EST.

One of Bocek’s supporters on fight night will be none other than UFC President Dana White who has known Bocek for over 13 years. When White and his business partners first started taking jiu-jitsu classes, Bocek was one of the students that helped train them. While White was in Toronto announcing UFC 131 and promoting UFC 124, he said that he is really looking forward to this fight, and said it is a big test for the Canadian.

“It’s a tough fight. Dustin’s a tough guy, so is Mark,” said White. “Mark, I’ve said it many times, was kicking the crap out of me when he was 15, 16 years old. I’m proud to see him doing so well and sticking with it for so long. But he’s in for a tough fight this weekend. It’s a big win for him. If he beats Dustin, that’s a big win.“

Since there will be no Prelims Live broadcast on Spike TV for UFC 124, the UFC is making it up to fans by streaming two preliminary card bouts on ufc.com beginning at 9 p.m. EST. Both the scrap between Hazelett (12-6) and Bocek (8-3) as well as a middleweight battle between Dan Miller and Winnipeg, Manitoba’s Joe Doerksen will be available to watch live.

Heading into the bout, Bocek feels like it is a good matchup for him. “[Dustin’s] strong point is guard playing,” Bocek told ufc.com. “He’s not really a top player. He’s got some good straight punches when standing up, he’s flexible, he throws knees, but [in terms of] guard, jiu-jitsu, he’s a bottom player, rubber guard, things like that. So, [I need to have] good posture, no hands on mat, things like that.”

Bocek is coming off a controversial decision loss to fellow UFC 124 combatant Jim Miller at UFC 111 in March. In that bout, most fans and pundits felt Bocek deserved the decision, but the event took place in Miller’s home state of New Jersey and Miller got the decision. Hazelett is coming off two consecutive TKO losses to top welterweights Rick Story and Paul Daley. Hazelett has since dropped to lightweight, looking for a competitive edge, but Bocek feels he still has the advantage.

“I think I’m going to be strong. I thing I’m going to have better cardio, and we’re both jiu-jitsu guys, but his strength is my strength,” said Bocek. “I’m a little more decorated in jiu-jitsu than he is, so I think it’s a good style match.”

This will be Bocek’s third time fighting in Montreal for the UFC and the seventh time competing in the province in his 12-fight career. For more info on UFC 124 visit ufc.com and follow @MikeyJ_MMA on Twitter.