"It's really not that tough at all; it's just that nobody gives the lower weight classes recognition seems like. It's all about 135 and up. There are quite a few girls in the lower weight classes, but all of those girls are unheard of or they are really good…It's either top caliber or somebody that the commission won't even approve for me to fight, so it's kind of hit and miss. They have a lot of girls out there, it's just that nobody knows who they are. Hopefully Strikeforce will open up a 125-pound division so that the lighter weight classes will get more recognition," stated female mixed martial artist Michelle Ould as she talked about her future plans after her recent win over Jessica Rakoczy. Check it out!

PC: Congratulations on your win over Jessica Rakoczy. Could you tell us a little bit about the fight?

MO: Thanks! I have a lot of anxiety, so I don't ever think straight before I get in there. I was really nervous because she had this huge record, they were up here butt and she was the hometown girl kind of. My gameplan was to just take her down and it worked, thank God. She had like 28 wins and 3 losses and 5 championship belts in boxing. It was actually a little easier than I thought it would be.

PC: You have strung along a 3-fight winning streak after coming off of 2 losses. What has been the key to the turnaround?

MO: I'd have to say my training camp. My training camp is completely different. I have surrounded myself with more positive people; guys that have made it pretty far in the sport. They see potential in me and that boosts my confidence. The skill has always been there, but I never had someone to tell me that I had what it takes. Tanya has helped me out as far as that and coming up with gameplans. Even if I'm grinding it out, I just stick to everything that we have gone over.

PC: How much of an influence has Tonya Evinger been on your career so far?

MO: The reason that I am winning is because of her. She keeps me consistent and mentally, she's taught me how to utilize everything that I've already had. She hasn't really taught me anything new, but she reminds me of the skills I do have. I used to doubt myself and she stays in my ear the entire time and that has done everything for me.

PC: Does the nickname "Fireball" stem from your fighting style?

MO: I don't know who gave me that name. I don't even like it (laughing). Hopefully they can think of something better down the line. That's a couple of girl's names, so I want something different. I need to prove myself somehow and get that changed. Maybe like "Crazy Girl" or something. Someone will come up with an interesting one, I'm sure. A lot of people give themselves nicknames, but I'm not going to do that. I don't know who gave me the nickname "Fireball", but I don't like it.

PC: Is it tough getting fights, not only being a female, but being that you fight in the lower weight classes?

MO: It's really not that tough at all; it's just that nobody gives the lower weight classes recognition seems like. It's all about 135 and up. There are quite a few girls in the lower weight classes, but all of those girls are unheard of or they are really good and we all kind of know each other. The 2 girls that I lost to are really good girls. One of them has retired and the other one is out there, but I don't think she wants to fight me again. It's either top caliber or somebody that the commission won't even approve for me to fight, so it's kind of hit and miss. They have a lot of girls out there, it's just that nobody knows who they are. Hopefully Strikeforce will open up a 125-pound division so that the lighter weight classes will get more recognition.

PC: You are a single mother of two. Do your kids understand the concept of you being a fighter?

MO: They were actually at my last fight, sitting front row, and that was a first for me. They have always known I fought and they know I train at the gym all of the time, so I think for them, it was no big deal. They probably thought it was like another training session. I was freaking out like, "No way am I gonna lose in front of my kids." I smiled at them and then I wouldn't look at them after that. I didn't know if they were worried. I didn't know how they were feeling, but I guess they had a good time; they were just smiling the entire time. I don't think the refs will let you get hurt too bad, so after I started throwing blows, I wasn't worried about it at all. They said they enjoyed it.

PC: Has it been an issue for you to travel for fights or cases where you've had to turn down fights because of your responsibilities as a mother?

MO: Not really. I used to live in the same state with my parents, so they were there for me and now we're all out here in California and we have an awesome support system. We have a group of girls that I train with and they live with us too, so we've always had it worked out. If we have to go out of the state, we're going to have it covered and have a little bit of a notice. We have a really good support system here and everything works around the kids, even if I have to go out of town.

PC: You don't get the kind of thighs you have from training MMA. Were you into other sports before you started fighting?

MO: (Laughing) I used to lift a lot of weights and shit and I was always really good in track. I was always a tomboy. I didn't do anything too serious though because I got knocked up like right after I got out of school. After being pregnant, I didn't want to ever be fat again, so I started lifting weights. I never competed in bodybuilding or nothing like that, but I hung out with a lot of people that was into that. That's what led me to fighting because I was looking at so many people working their ass off for these bodybuilding competitions and they weren't making any money. One of our friends started fighting and I was dating him at the same time and he was doing the same kind of workouts as I was doing, so I felt if he could do it, I could do it. I started doing that and making money off of it and I liked that better than lifting weights just endlessly all day.

PC: When would you like to fight again? I'm sure before the year is out.

MO: Of course I want to fight again before the year is out. I was supposed to fight this weekend, but it fell through. I will either get calls and have like 5 fights lined up and then not a single one of them will happen. Then at the last minute, a really good opportunity will come up and all I get to do is cut weight. That's the only training I've got to do for my last 4 fights because it's been last minute and I can only cut weight. It wasn't planned, so I'm just going to try to be ready from now on. That's a bad habit to get in. I get so bummed when my fights fall through and I don't train and then all of a sudden, I get a good offer for good money and I'm all scared because I haven't been training at all. In the end, I've been winning so it hasn't mattered yet, but yeah, I would like to fight a couple of more times before the year is out.

PC: What do you feel you bring to the table that maybe is lacking in the female fight game?

MO: I don't know. I think I have a pretty good personality. I take it serious, but I have a good time. I take it serious, but not to the point where I'm sitting here stroking my own ego. I think a lot of girls in the industry, by the time they get recognition, they are so freaking cocky. They are either really weird or they're really bitchy. I'm real, I have a good time and I am a single mom. I'm just a little bit of everything. I'm not one of these girls that has been doing sports forever and think I know everything about it. I'm just an everyday person. I'm just in a different kind of sport. I have people say, "Well, I could never do that. I have kids." And I'm like, "Yeah, so do I." I think I can relate to anybody.

PC: Well, I appreciate your time Michelle. Don't let Tanya get you into any trouble (laughing). Is there anything you want to say in closing?

MO: Thanks and I really appreciate it. I'm really thankful for all of my sponsors and everybody that really pulls through for me. I just get in there and do what I'm told. I don't think I'm really anything special, but I am trainable and I do listen, so that's why I'm going to be successful; and the fact that I'm surrounding myself with the right kind of people.