Kim Couture to Make Strikeforce Debut

With Michelle Waterson and now Kim Couture, Strikeforce is positioning itself as the home for high-level female MMA (not sure about divisions yet, though). From a press release in my inbox:

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Kim Couture, wife of mixed martial arts (MMA) legend Randy “The Natural” Couture, will make her Strikeforce MMA cage fighting debut against Lina Kvokov in a 130 lb. limit contest at San Jose’s HP Pavilion on Friday, November 21st.

The 32-year-old Couture recently reaffirmed her commitment to becoming a pioneer of women’s MMA competition by adding none other than K-1 superstar and three-time world kickboxing champion, Ray “Sugarfoot” Sefo, to her stable of elite trainers.

According to Couture, the experience with Sefo, a veteran of 74 professional fights and a winner over several other all-time K-1 greats during his stellar 13-year professional fighting career, has, thus far, opened her eyes to a new world that embodies technical excellence while fighting aggressively on foot.

“I like his style,” said Couture, a martial artist of five years.  “He’s very explosive and aggressive.  He doesn’t wait around and look for openings.  He creates them.”

Her upcoming appearance, the second MMA start of her career, will provide Couture with an opportunity to change the opinions of critics who watched her endure a beating at the hands of Kim Rose at Las Vegas, Nevada’s Thomas and Mack Center on June 20, 2008.

“Losing that fight was the best thing that ever happened to me,” said Couture who, despite sustaining considerable punishment, went the three round distance with Rose before losing a unanimous judges’ decision.  “It’s completely changed me as a fighter.   I’ve started doing things a lot different.  It made me realize that I have to be the aggressor or I’m going to get hurt.”

As Vice President of Xtreme Couture, her husband’s Las Vegas-based fight facility, Couture maintains a hectic work schedule that includes managing several of the camp’s fight team members.  However, she is also religious about training twice daily.  Randy serves as her wrestling coach while Gil Martinez provides her with boxing instruction and Robert Drysdale oversees her Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training.

“I plan to show how well-rounded I am in this fight,” said Couture.  “I’m going to be more aggressive and more explosive.  There’s not anywhere the fight can go that I won’t be prepared because I feel like I’ve got the toughest camp and the best coaches.”