By DJ Mackie:
Dustin Neace is a 25 year old fighter who was a participant in this past season of The Ultimate Fighter reality TV show. He has had over 40 fights in his professional career, picking up 23 victories along the way. He fought on the TUF 14 finale and will be looking to make his way back to the Octagon in 2012. I was able to catch up with him recently and get his thoughts on his TUF experience and the UFC.
FH: You were on this past season of TUF. What was the experience like being on the show and how difficult was it spending all of those weeks in the house?
Neace: I was on this season of TUF 14 as a featherweight. The experience was great! I got to meet some really cool people. With so many featherweights it really helped me get my name to the top of the mix. I was also able to work with some great coaches that coach Jason Miller had on his team. I did a lot of stand up with Danny Preze who’s a former world champion boxer.
FH: You have a lot of fights under your belt for a fighter your age, do you feel that having all of that experience helped you with being more prepared going onto TUF and into the UFC?
Neace: I really think all my fights helped me a little. This season of TUF had so many talented experienced fighters though it didn’t help much. Everyone had the same or as much experience as myself. I feel like I have tons to improve on and being with Team Alpha Male and training with so many guys in the same weight class as me is going to help me get myself to the next level.
FH: You fought Bryan Caraway on the TUF finale, how satisfying was it to finally get to fight in the UFC after all of those weeks in the house?
Neace: Fighting in the UFC has been a dream of mine for years and years. I know a lot of kids grow up watching the NFL and NBA but I started out watching Pride FC and the UFC and fell in love. When I was 14 I would have friends come over and we would put on boxing gloves and would fight… I loved it! I always told myself I would be in the UFC and now I am here and it’s amazing.
FH: What was your gameplan going into that bout, and what do you feel went wrong, and also what improvements do you feel you need to make to make sure you get the W the next time out?
Neace: Going into the fight with Caraway I knew he was going to take me down. My goal was after the take down to get back up and get him worn out. I think everything was going as planed till I got caught with one of his hooks in the 1st round. It stunned me for a second but I was able to recover and fight thru it. Going into the second round I could feel him starting to slow down a little and I started to move more. He was able to get a take down and then was able to sink in the RNC which was the end of the fight. I just need to go back and work on everything. I work so much stand up going into this fight and should have worked a lot more on my scrambling for better position. I will work everything going into the next bout whoever it might be.
FH: When can we possibly see you inside the cage again?
Neace: I am looking to fight early march. I am not sure who it’s going to be or what organization it’s going to be with. I have a few options on the table right now and just want to make sure I take the right fights.
FH: What is the game plan and what is your goals moving forward in the year 2012?
Neace: My game plan is to stay in Sacramento, CA and keep training and improve my skills both standing & ground as much as I can. I would love to fight no less than 6 fights in 2012 and bring home 6 wins.
FH: Thanks for the time and good luck with everything moving forward. Is there anything you would like to say to your fans and supporters out there?
Neace: Ya! I would like to thank everyone for the support and my sponsors Infuse Fight Gear and SubcultureUSA and Fleyes Gear! I will be back in 2012 and ready to fight!
