"There is nobody in MMA that doesn't box, so we all appreciate what they do and we can learn a lot from them. They specialize in learning, it's just that MMA guys have so much more to learn and take in. Jay Hieron had a blast with Chris Byrd. Chris is very humble, down to earth and willing to help and once he gets through with his next fight, he's going to be coming over to Xtreme Couture and working with some of our guys and giving me some pointers," stated Xtreme Couture MMA Vice President Kim Couture as she discussed their involvement with former heavyweight champion Chris Byrd and the work they've done to help revive the UNLV boxing program. Check out what else she had to say as she talks more about professional boxers and mixed martial artists working together as well as her own future plans and more.
PC: How are you doing?
KC: I'm doing good.
PC: I hear you have done a lot for the boxing program at UNLV. Can you tell us about how that came about?
KC: Yeah, I think the boxing program was about to die. The 3 guys they had over there supposedly on staff (laughing), they've been working for free for the last 2 years. They used to get nice salaries and they used to get funded and now they don't get any funds from the University so there are no paychecks and they're donating their time to help these kid's get their training.
PC: How did you get involved? Who told you about the situation to for you to want to make it better over there?
KC: I go over there to spar. The coaches are our coaches over at Xtreme Couture so I go over there to get my sparring in. Elana Reid helped me get ready for my last fight so I go over there with her and the place just needed some help. It needed a little facelift and a little life breathed into it so we repainted the building. I went in and put in new flooring, new equipment, got them an Everlast sponsorship and new stereo equipment, surround sound and a plasma. It's hoppin' now (laughing). It changed the energy and the scene and everybody is excited to be there now that they're getting noticed and somebody cares and somebody is paying attention to them. I think it's going to be great.
PC: With the constant barrier that people try to put between boxing and MMA, I see you guys have Chris Byrd sparring over there and you're working with Reid. How important is it that you guys have the two sports interact?
KC: It's good. There is nobody in MMA that doesn't box, so we all appreciate what they do and we can learn a lot from them. They specialize in learning, it's just that MMA guys have so much more to learn and take in. Jay Hieron had a blast with Chris Byrd. Chris is very humble, down to earth and willing to help and once he gets through with his next fight, he's going to be coming over to Xtreme Couture and working with some of our guys and giving me some pointers (laughing). All of that stuff between boxing and MMA was never really coming from the fighters. It was from the promoters, managers and the commentators. You know, all of the people that aren't in there doing it themselves (laughing).
PC: Can the college kids work out of the gym at UNLV or is it just for the people at Xtreme Couture?
KC: It's just for the college kids. Chris Byrd is real loyal in coming back down there to train. He likes the more intimate environment and our guys go over there every once in awhile just to kind of interact. It's good for our guys and it's good for those guys. It's a win-win. It's pretty much private property on the campus. We're going to help them next year set up a booth, when all of the new students get in there, and do a nice introductory into the program. We want to get more students involved and excited about being part of the program.
PC: Do you think we'll see more kids get involved in boxing and mixed martial arts when they're in college?
KC: With the hype that MMA has, I think there are so many guys and girls that want to get into MMA and that's a great place to start. You're getting your education and you could start with one of those things with boxing; become good and I think it would help you get through college. All of that stress and studying, to be able to go in there and hit the bags and relieve some stress and if that's something you want to move into in the future, then there's that relationship there already. You could come over to our gym. We invite UNLV to come over every Saturday for open sparring.
PC: When can we expect to see you fight again?
KC: I'm looking at the end of July or August. I'm entertaining a couple of ideas that are thrown out there. I'm ready to fight now. If it didn't come with all the circus act with it, I'd be ready to go. I only took a week off after my last fight and I've been back in there training twice a day and I feel great. If something along the line comes up sooner than that, then I'm ready to go.
PC: Do you keep your weight pretty low so you won't have a huge cut?
KC: I don't gain weight at all. I walk around at 130-133 and I fight at 125 and it doesn't change so I'm always ready to go. I've had girls that say they want to fight me out there that walk around at 160-165. I'm like, "if you could make 125, it's on!" There are weight classes.
PC: How do you see the fight between Gina Carano and Kaitlin Young playing out?
KC: I think it's going to be Fight of the Night. I think it's going to be a banger. Both girls are stand-up and strong, heavy punchers. Kaitlin's quick and strong and I don't think Gina has ever been pushed to the point like she's going to be in this fight. There is no doubt in my mind that Gina can win this fight. She's got very heavy hands and she kicks harder than most people out there. I just hope that she's prepared for a war.
PC: I always appreciate your time. Congratulations on the job you did over at UNLV Is there anything you want to say in closing?
KC: No, I just want to thank you for always doing such a good job.
