"I think what I have gone through (laughing). I feel sorry for whoever has to get in there with me with all that I've been through (laughing). And not being able to fight on that May card, that was a letdown for me, so I still have something built up from that fight, you know? I have some pinned up aggression that needs to finally come out," stated female mixed martial artist Kim Couture as she talked about her upcoming clash with Kerry Vera on the November 20th Strikeforce Challengers card in Kansas City, Kansas. Check it out!
PC: How have you been Kimmie?
KC: I've been doing great!
PC: This has been the longest training camp in the history of mixed martial arts from what I understand (laughing).
KC: Oh, it's been forever (laughing). I'm never going to do this again. I have only taken off 3 weeks this year, so it's been this Ground Hogs Day for awhile.
PC: How is training going?
KC: It's going fantastic. It couldn't be going better.
PC: Kerry's background is in kickboxing and Muay Thai, so I'm sure you are expecting a standup war?
KC: I know she's got strong standup, but she's a hard worker and I know she has been working on her ground game, her Jiu Jitsu and her wrestling as well, so I'm prepared for wherever the fight goes.
PC: Some may look at everything that you have been through in the past year and feel this isn't the proper time for you to be fighting, but have you channeled all of the things that have happened into fighting energy?
KC: Yeah! It's all adversity, so I just take it and channel it the right way. It's all fuel for my fire. I just take it and gobble it up. I'm going into this fight with a full tank (laughing).
PC: It's an interesting matchup because your ex-husband Randy will be fighting her husband Brandon just one week before your match. What was your initial reaction when you heard about everything surrounding this fight?
KC: Well, when Strikeforce contacted me and asked me to fight Kerry, I had just heard about the matchup between Brandon and Randy. I didn't think anything of it at the time. I thought it was kind of funny, but I was just excited to be getting that opportunity. I think the world of her and I respect her. I would love to have to fight her now, 2 fights into her MMA career, than when she is 7-0.
PC: A lot of the female fighters are very close. I know you are very fond of Kerry. Is it tough to punch someone in the face that you respect and like?
KC: I guess I will tell you on the 21st (laughing). I don't know, but its all business and we are all professionals. I had to get over that a long time ago when I was sparring with Gina because she would smile at me and I couldn't hit her in the face. I told her she had to stop smiling at me while we are sparring. But you know when that cage door closes, it's an opponent. It's like going to run in a track meet against somebody. It's just all business. I'm sure at the end of the night, we will go back to being cool with each other, so she's going to bring it and so am I. I'm looking forward to having the Fight of the Night.
PC: The women fight 5-minute rounds now. Is that something you have been preparing for?
KC: Yes, I am always prepared for 5-minute rounds. I'm glad and thankful that they finally moved it to that.
PC: What is it like for you to finally have the opportunity to compete for Strikeforce again after pulling out of your last event?
KC: I'm just so happy. It's been the longest training camp ever. In spite of everything that has happened this year, I just thank God for the sport because it's the only thing that gets me through everything else that I've been going through. It's a positive way to channel all of that negativity and turn it into a plus.
PC: Like I said, your fight will be one week after Randy's fight. Do you ever think of all of the scenarios that can happen, like you winning and Randy losing or both of you guys winning and so on?
KC: I don't think about it at all. I wish him the best and I hope he does well. I love Brandon too and I think the world of Brandon and Kerry. Going into these things, unfortunately, there will always be a winner and a loser, but it makes for good matchups. It makes me train harder when I respect a person's skills. It makes me put even more into it.
PC: How have you avoided overtraining since you have been training for some time now?
KC: Well, as soon as I signed on for this fight, I took a couple of weeks off because I had been working hard all summer. I just kind of reset, got outside and did a lot of bleachers, running in the mountains and just kind of broke up the monotony of it. And then I gradually got back in the gym and hit my wrestling hard. You know, you just have to break things up so you won't peak too soon. I have some good people around me and everybody has been watching over how things are going and they are pleased with the results.
PC: TapouT gym recently got the addition of Shawn Tompkins and he's bringing some guys over. What's the atmosphere like at TapouT now?
KC: The gym has always been busy at night time. That place is packed and it's really a family atmosphere. They usually have 2 different kids classes going on at night. They have Judo and Jiu Jitsu for all of the families. They have moms in there doing Kickboxing classes and the dads are in there wrestling and boxing; it's just jam-packed in there at night. Now, with Tompkins bringing the guys over, the pro practices are jam-packed. There are about 30 pros in there, so they have a good energy. I haven't joined their pro practice yet because I've been kind of doing my own thing. I got Mike Dolce and he's been staying with me and doing my diet and kind of my head coach. He's been lining everything up. I haven't had to think too much during this camp. I wake up and he's got everything I'm going to eat prepared for me. He's like my chef, but at the same time, just telling me what's next in the gym aspect as well. It's nice to do my own thing and just listen to my coaches.
PC: What do you think will separate you and Kerry on the 20th and make you victorious?
KC: I think what I have gone through (laughing). I feel sorry for whoever has to get in there with me with all that I've been through (laughing). And not being able to fight on that May card, that was a letdown for me, so I still have something built up from that fight, you know? I have some pinned up aggression that needs to finally come out!
PC: I know you don't want to sit out this long again. Barring any injuries, how soon will you like to get back in the cage after this fight?
KC: I just want to take the whole month of December off to do nothing. It's the holiday time. I want to visit with family and I'm going to take a couple of trips. I'm going to Greece and just really relax and get away. Then I will start my training back up after the New Year and then any time 6 to 8 weeks after that, I will be ready to go, so I will see what Strikeforce wants to do.
PC: Great talking with you again. I wish you the best of luck in your fight. Is there anything you want to say in closing?
KC: I just want to thank all of the people that have helped me get through this summer and get through this camp and the people that have been supporting me no matter what; through thick and thin. Those people are greatly appreciated. I have to give a special thanks to my new TapouT family, Mike Dolce, Ramon Montano, Master Chan, Jason Trevino and Vinnie Magalhaes!
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]