Looking for a fight: Outdoorsman Cody Chovancek is swinging for the top

Petrolia native Cody Chovancek is a fast-rising professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. At press time, he was ranked #4 of 28 active Ontario pro bantamweights, and #11 of 68 in Canada. Earlier last year, he won a Unified MMA match in Niagara Falls that aired on UFC Fight Pass. He has also joined the pro staff for Rapala and 13 Fishing. We learn more about his passion for the outdoors in responses to questions from Ontario OUT of DOORS.

OOD: You’re billed as the best fisherman in MMA. Can you tell us more about that?
CC: Fighting is my profession, but fishing is my passion. I’ve been fishing my whole life and really try to get dialled in with whatever I’m chasing — from salmon to muskie and everything in between. I truly believe I’m the best fisherman in MMA.

OOD: How did you get into fishing?
CC: My mom worked two minutes away from the St. Clair River. She’d work 10-hour shifts, so I would go with her and fish the river every day. I’d be stuck there whether I wanted to leave or not, so I just kept fishing. I learned a lot of what I know the hard way.

OOD: There’s no shortage of angling opportunities in and around Niagara Falls, where you train with Niagara Top Team gym. Where do you like to fish most?
CC: Niagara is a fishing hot spot for sure. My favourite spot has to be the lower Niagara. It holds some giant fish and you really never know what you’re going to catch.

Cody Chovancek and muskie

OOD: We’ve seen some photos on Instagram of you holding up some monster fish. Are there any similarities between wrangling a big one and taking on an opponent?
CC: Maybe not in the actual fight, but in the pursuit leading up to it. I love fishing for muskie, but if you have targeted them before, you know it can be a grind, to say the least. Same thing goes for a training camp, with so many gruelling training sessions. Whether you’re raising that trophy fish or getting your hand raised, it’s all worth it in the end.

OOD: Plenty of those photos show you practising catch and release. How important is conservation to you?
CC: Conservation is huge. I want to see future generations get outside and share the same passion for the outdoors and fishing many of us have. Without conservation, and efforts like stocking programs, that won’t be possible.

OOD: You took your first turkey earlier this year, and said you were hooked for life. Have you done much hunting, or is this something you’ll be looking forward to doing more of?
CC: I am definitely hooked for life! I grew up in the country and spent a ton of time in the bush. So it just feels right to get into it now. There’s something so instinctual about harvesting your own food, whether it be to eat walleye fillets or wild turkey breast.

OOD: We heard you’re a long-time fan of OOD. What do you like reading about?
CC: We’ve always had OOD laying around the house. I love reading about any fishing adventure and different techniques people use around the province.

OOD: You only just made your pro debut in late 2021. What are your ambitions in the sport?
CC: I’m taking this all the way to the top. You’ll see me in the UFC without a doubt. There’s no secret…it’s going to take consistency and hard work.

OOD: What’s next on your outdoors bucket list?
CC: I’d like to join the 50-inch club. I’ve been after that giant muskie for years. My personal best right now is 48¾ inches.

Questions from OFAH web developer and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu coach Tim Gane:

TG: MMA and fishing can be both such singular sports, but it takes a team to do both at a high level, as it does in so much in life. Who has inspired you the most, mentored you or brought out a competitive edge in you when it comes to fishing?
CC: When fishing, I definitely use skills my coaches have helped me develop during martial arts training, including discipline and patience. I still watch a ton of fishing shows on YouTube and one of my favourites is Aaron Wiebe of Uncut Angling.

TG: As a life-long martial artist (nearly 25 years of Judo and BJJ), I feel like I can always make analogous connections to life scenarios to my training experiences — for example, how important creating an angle can be for dealing with difficult situations. Do you think you could do the same for the readers who likely have more experience with angling and hunting then they would be with MMA?

CC: Ya, I do the same Tim. One of my favourites would be the adage “Trust the process.” Things might not be working out in the moment, but you need to keep going and have faith in what you’re doing. I used that a lot this past turkey season and always while muskie fishing. In MMA, some training sessions are much harder than others. On those hard days, you just need to reflect and see that you are putting in the right work and trust the process.