Sherdog.com: Back home, whom do you train with?
Sherdog.com: Do you feel like youre representing the Chicago area at all?
Bonnar: Oh yeah, definitely. I live right Downtown Chicago. Ive been living there and working there the last five years. So Im representing there and also Munster, Indiana where I was born and raised. And thats right outside Chicago, about a half-hour outside right over the border.
Sherdog.com: What led you to fighting?
Bonnar: Ive always just loved fighting, ever since I was a little kid. If I could see Samurai Sunday Id watch it. Or anything with fighting in it I was just drawn to. And I was getting in fights at a young age. And I had two older brothers and we fought a lot. So even getting my ass whooped, it didnt bother me to too much. I know some people, they have really good records and then they lose and they cant come back from that. Thats something thats never bothered me and Im not scared of. If I lose and get whooped I get back in the gym and get ready to do it again. Thats not something thats going to affect me, so I think that helps a lot mentally. I did a little baseball, basketball and football, but I was really drawn to the wrestling and Tae Kwon Do. After college I really got into the jiu-jitsu and boxing.
Sherdog.com: I imagine your life or at least peoples reaction to you has changed. How much attention have you gotten since the show started airing?
Bonnar: Yeah, Ive gotten a good amount of attention where I work and going out. And when I go back to Munster, of course my hometown, I get a lot of attention. Over the past month or so Ive grounded myself and just been training hard. So when you dont go out much you dont get much attention. And that really hasnt changed me at all. I appreciate every compliment I get. It means a lot to me and Im glad to hear everyone that comes up to me and say they watch it. It helps to remind me and crack down and train hard.