Can you tell me a bit about your martial arts background?
Martial arts background: very limited, but I've had lots of fights over the years and when I became aware of the UFC, Cage Rage on TV, I thought 'Yeah, I'll have some of that.' So I went straight in there to do it.
When did you first get involved?
Less than a year ago I went down to Elite, in Elephant and Castle - the home of the promotion - and just started training there. I was chatting with Malcolm Martin who commentates (for Cage Rage), I was drunk and I said 'I can do that!' So he said, 'Well here's the number, do it.' So I went straight down there and did it.
Your debut fight with Alan "Mad Raddy" Murdoch was one of the most exciting on the card, what did you learn from that experience?
To calm down a bit (smiles). I could have fought like that at school! I learnt that I like to punch, I know that my first and last thought is to punch someone in the head. I've got to develop and use my other skills. I've learnt ground work, I've learnt to use my knees and legs…[I've learnt] just to calm down a bit - which I used in my second fight, I was calm, almost too calm! I didn't even break a sweat! It was just an honour to fight Minowa, who is a world, world class opponent.
I look like I belong in the cage, it doesn't look as if 'What's this guy doing in there?'… but I'm doing my learning in front of 3,000 people and getting paid for it. So I'm not training and doing the amateur stuff because I'm 42. I haven't got time to go through the ranks and build up. They offered me lesser opponents, I'm like, 'No, I can't…' - that's why I picked Mark Epstein to fight for this one. So, you know, I want to fight the best in England… and the sort of fight I want, which is a stand up scrap.
That's it - do you think Mark Epstein will stand up with you?
He's indicated that he might. I think, standing up, the game's mine. I really believe that. So he'll probably try and take me down, but I think he'll be in for a slight shock when he tries to take me down, because I'm not the fighter I was 6 months ago - or even 3 months ago.
Body Image 1: Legeno's 'Crusador' Entrance at Cage Rage 15
Body Image 2: Legeno faces off against Pride super-star Ikuhisa Minowa in only his second ever MMA bout. Body Image 3:Dave Legeno at the Cage Rage 17 Promotional Parade. Body Image 4:Dave Legeno with the Cage Rage Crew
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