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Zalac set for MMA fight at Mountaineer
By Greg gulas
Youngstown
You might say Kevin Zalac has a dual personality — one for his vocation and another for his avocation.
That’s often what it takes to win in mixed martial arts.
Zalac (3-2) will make his sixth professional appearance tonight when he meets Chris “Shenanigans” Goldbaugh (3-1) in the Bellator Fighting Championship’s 12-bout card at the Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort in Chester, W.Va.
The fights will begin at 7 p.m. and will be televised live on Spike.com.
Zalac, a firefighter since 2008, got into MMA during his time as a paramedic with the Youngstown Fire Department.
The Canfield High graduate, who earned two letters as a wrestler, credits former pro boxer Joe Lantz with kick-starting his MMA career.
“Joe was good friends with James Terlecki, a jiu jitsu teacher, and he asked if I had an interest in fighting,” Zalac said. “My answer was a resounding yes, however, I never had any martial arts experience.
“While growing up, combat appealed to me, especially in a controlled environment. To me it’s the closest that you can get to human chess.”
He trained for six months and then made his amateur debut against Eric Kreps of Franklin, Pa., in May 2007 at the Eastwood Expo Center. Zalac won by TKO just 1:29 into the fight.
“Looking back, I knew that it would be hard but I was craving the challenge,” Zalac said. “I was pleased with my effort, but as I have grown in the ring, you continue to enjoy that challenge, yet have to channel your fear. Any fighter that says they aren’t afraid or fearful is lying.”
Zalac was 8-0-1 as an amateur. He left the sport twice, first because of school and again upon the birth of his daughter.
Zalac turned pro in August 2010. The middleweight won his first pro fight by first-round TKO (4:05) over Niko Boscarino at the Jacobs Pavilion in Cleveland.
Zalac’s three wins have come by TKO, KO and submission. His two losses have ended in chokeholds.
He’ll have his hands full against Goldbaugh, a local favorite and West Virginia native.
“MMA is an exhausting sport so you have to set the tone early, yet cannot let your guard down if you expect to win,” Zalac said. “I have no game plan for my fights, opting instead to just go with the flow of the fight. My strength is striking, so with three five-minute rounds things can happen really fast. You just have to be ready for anything that comes your way.”
Zalac trains three to four times a week at the Next Level Martial Arts on Mahoning Avenue. Lantz, Terlecki and muay-thai instructor Joe Scahill are his trainers.
“None of this would be possible without the support of my training staff or on the home front,” Zalac said. “My wife, Michelene, not only is very understanding of my training schedule, but encourages it as I get ready for my next fight.”