MMARising.com: Speaking of the name, most people don’t know that it was actually given to you by a promoter of a bikini calendar who decided that each model needed a “gimmick.” When people look at your physical appearance or discover that you have worked in modelling, do you find that you have to work extra hard in order to prove to them that, hey, you are more than just a pretty face and can really fight?

Michelle: There are plenty of good-looking people – both male and female – in the fight world. I don’t understand why people think that you have to look a certain way in order to be a good fighter. People who know the fight game know that you’ve either got it or you don’t. I believe that I have already proven myself in the ring on more than one occasion.

MMARising.com: Focusing on your MMA career, you have compiled a 6-3-0 record since early 2007 and have trained for quite some time with current WEC lightweight contender Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. How much of an impact did working with Donald have on your early fights?

Michelle: Donald was the one who persuaded me to turn pro. He motivated me to train hard because he always pushed himself more than anyone I’ve ever known. His determination was truly inspiring. He broke me out of my shell and gave me that “F–k it!” attitude needed to be a fighter.

MMARising.com: A number of those early fights were in the Ring of Fire promotion in Colorado, which is responsible for giving the first opportunities to quite a few major stars of today. What was your experience like in working with Ring of Fire and would you like to compete for them again in the future?

Michelle: Ring of Fire was the perfect venue for kick starting my career in MMA. Fighting in front of a crowd of over 8,000 people for my pro debut was quite nerve-racking, but it prepared me for things to come. Sven Bean is a wonderful promoter and knows what he’s doing, from the matchmaking to the marketing.

MMARising.com: Besides training with Donald Cerrone, you also work with many of the best fighters in the world (including female standout Julie Kedzie) at Greg Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico. When did you first begin training at the academy and what is it like to work with such great talents on a daily basis?

Michelle: When I first started training at Jackson’s, I couldn’t believe it. I felt like I was dreaming. I was very star struck. All the big dogs and I was training right alongside them. They tested me and wanted to see if I would break. Now, I am part of the team and, more importantly, part of the family. Every day, I learn something new from someone. I absolutely love it.

MMARising.com: Despite your extensive background in striking disciplines, most of your MMA victories to date have come by way of submission. Would you attribute this to working with Donald, Julie and everyone else at Jackson’s MMA, or is it simply a matter of taking advantage of opportunities that are given to you in a fight?

Michelle: It’s a combination of all of those things. Coach Greg Jackson is a genius when it comes to game planning for an MMA bout. I’ve learned so much in going to his technique classes. He teaches them in combos, in the way that you would learn the stand-up game. The first technique only opens your opponent up for other submissions or positions.

MMARising.com: Your most recent MMA fight, on April 11th, was against former WIBA and IFBA Flyweight Boxing Champion Elena “Babydoll” Reid (3-0-0 MMA, 19-5-6 boxing). As that was your second fight in a four-week span, do you feel that you would have benefited from a longer training camp in preparing to face Elena?

Michelle: I do wish that I had had more time to prepare for Elena, but there’s nothing that I can do now. There are always going to be those, “shoulda, woulda, coulda” thoughts that run through my head. It just motivates me to train harder now.

MMARising.com: In that fight, which Elena won by TKO in the second round, you were dropped numerous times, but what must be noted is that you showed tremendous heart in battling back to your feet and continuing to try to land as many of your own strikes as possible. Was Elena perhaps a bit too much for you at this stage of your career, or do fights like that only make you stronger as you progress forward?

Michelle: I think that I took the fight at the right time, but I just think that I failed to be a complete fighter that day. There were some flaws that my coaches have been working on with me. Elena’s a great fighter and happened to be the one that came out on top that day.