MMARising.com: Your spirited battles with highly-touted stars Tara LaRosa and Gina Carano saw you take both of them the distance, which is an accomplishment in itself. Though you came up just short in both, do fights like those provide you with added motivation as you prove to yourself that you can compete with the best?

Julie: I definitely think that I can compete with the best, and I hope that those matches showed that. The next question is: Can I BEAT the best? (The answer is yes…just wait and see!)

MMARising.com: The fight with Gina, at EliteXC: “Destiny” in February of 2007, proved to be one of the most important and impressive women’s bouts to date, as it was awarded Fight of the Night honours. On a card featuring the likes of Frank Shamrock, Renzo Gracie, Antonio Silva, Joey Villasenor, David Loiseau, KJ Noons and Mike Pyle (among numerous other top fighters), it was your fight that stole the show. What were your thoughts in the days following the battle with Gina?

Julie: I thought, “Damn, it sucks to have to go back to work with two black eyes and no victory to show for it!” Haha. Actually, beyond my disappointment, I had very strong feelings of gratitude.

Gina is an incredible fighter (and woman!) and there is a tremendous satisfaction to be found when you go toe-to-toe with someone that intensely for three rounds, whether or not you get the “W” in the end. I also thought, “Wow, those Greg Jackson and Joey Villasenor guys were really, really nice! I hope I get to talk to them again sometime!”

MMARising.com: Did you find that the fight against Gina led to more fans becoming familiar with you and your career?

Julie: Yes, absolutely. Obviously, the Showtime fight didn’t reach the level of notoriety that the CBS fights did, but I found that I made a few fans and I really appreciate their continued support.

MMARising.com: What lessons did you learn from that fight and how have they helped you as you have progressed in your career?

Julie: I think that the most important lesson that I learned is that if I truly want to succeed as a professional fighter, then I need to dedicate myself to it whole-heartedly, without distraction. Although I have had quite a few fights, I am still VERY young in my development as a fighter and probably jumped the gun on my public persona.

I am (unfortunately) not one of those amazing superwomen who can juggle multiple careers and children, etc. Whatever I do, I have to focus on it 100%. It was a great lesson to learn, and I hope that I have taken the necessary steps to improve myself.

MMARising.com: Last summer, it was reported that you had signed on to compete in the American Fight League alongside Tara LaRosa and others, but the AFL seemingly disappeared as quickly as it had arrived. What is the situation like with the AFL? Do you still have ties to them or are you currently working as a free agent?

Julie: The AFL was great conceptually, but fell apart under the decline of the economy. Neither I nor my management have heard a peep from them since I signed with them, and the contract has long since expired. As it stands, I am not affiliated with any organization at the moment.

MMARising.com: You train with one of the best camps in mixed martial arts, at Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts in Albuquerque, New Mexico. How long have you been a member of the academy and what is it like to work with Greg Jackson and his renowned team of trainers?

Julie: I have trained with my team for over two years now, and nearly every day I wake up excited to train. The only way that I can describe training under Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn (and the rest of the team) is that it is like being an art student and having Leonardo da Vinci and Picasso look over your shoulder. In an environment of masters, there is always something new to learn; there is always a new perspective, and yet somehow there is still the freedom to create your own way.

MMARising.com: In addition to training with rising star Michelle Waterson, you have also recently worked with the #1 female fighter in Canada, Sarah Kaufman. As both of them are talented strikers, has this helped you to develop improved striking and footwork?

Julie: Yes, both women have helped me to improve my game, but it is not just limited to my striking. Sarah is also incredibly talented on the ground, and Michelle is a very talented and naturally explosive athlete who is quick to capitalize on any of my mistakes and make me pay!

MMARising.com: What are the main lessons that you have learned from working with Michelle and Sarah?

Julie: More than the striking lessons that they have schooled me on, I have learned two very different psychological lessons from two very different fighters. In my opinion, Sarah exudes a patience and precision that I need to incorporate into my maybe-sometimes-a-little-too-emotional game. Meanwhile, Michelle is like a sister to me and can always tell in a practice when I need to focus in or take a step back. I feel that each woman brings an enthusiasm for the sport that fuels mine.