Beth Revell is trying to do her part to other people make better lives for themselves by working towards a master's degree in scoial work. But at night, she works to help herself be at the top of her game. The submission wrestler turned mma fighter has been rounding out her strike game, with the help of tough mma fighter Valerie Coolbaugh.  Revell is no stranger to being hit hard, as one of her part time hobbies in school was spelunking. She admitted to getting hit by a rock or two a few times. Unlike exploring caves, there is no helmets to protect your head when getting pummeled by punches. As Revell gears up for her first boxing match, she took some time to talk about her preparation and her amateur career.

Fightergirls:  How did you get started in the sport?

Written by George Syroney

Photograph Courtesy of Elizabeth Winters

Barb Honchak won the GFight Rising Star Championship at the Hook’n’Shoot 14^th Year Anniversary Super Show on May 30^th.  She didn’t have the easiest of paths.  First she fought Lissa Braverman and earned a unanimous decision to get to the finals.  Then she submitted Christina Domke in the finals. Both were exciting fights from 3 top amateurs.

Fightergirls:  Barb those were awesome fights.  Congratulations.  Thanks for taking time to talk to fightergirls.com

Barb:  Thank you for covering the Hook’n’Shoot event and the opportunity for this interview!

Fightergirls:  Would you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Barb:  I have been training MMA for 2 years at Steve Berger’s MMA in St. Louis MO.  In addition to training, I stay busy balancing my career as a laboratory manager and my home life with my husband Timm.  We are both avid outdoor enthusiasts and in addition to fighting I take part in a slew of activities including kayaking, mountain and road biking, snow boarding and backpacking.  I have a simple philosophy on life; I believe we are meant to really experience our lives by testing the limits of our bodies, minds and hearts with reckless disregard to our egos.  My life has taken many unexpected turns, none as unexpected as my addiction to fighting.  Non-violent and fairly passive by nature, I fell into mixed martial arts by way of Brazilian jiu jitsu and Steve Berger.  For my love of the rush and the constant challenge, this sport has taken my life over like nothing I have experienced.  I measure my success, both in fighting and in my personal life, by knowing that I live simply for life’s experiences.  In that regard, I am already very wealthy and still have much to look forward to. 

Fightergirls:  What is your favorite part of being a mixed martial artist?

Barb:  My favorite part of this sport is testing my limits.  I like to find my physical, mental and emotional thresholds and then see how far I can push myself beyond them.   

Fightergirls:  Women’s MMA seems to be growing in acceptance.  There were two women’s fights right before the main event.  How do you feel about the current state of FeMMA?

Barb:  We are not there yet.  There are so many incredible female fighters who are virtually unknown.  Like most sports, professional women still do not get the recognition that the men do.  Women’s fighting is both intriguing and taboo, so even the people who say we don’t belong in this sport will watch.  Because for them, it will be like driving by an accident, they will want to look away but won’t be able to.

Fightergirls:  The Lissa Braverman fight went the distance.  What was your game plan going into that fight?

Barb:  At the last G-fight, where Lissa also attended, I got to show my BJJ skills in my fight and in the grappling tournaments.  I expected that I was coming into this tournament marked as a ground fighter.  I knew Lissa had a lot of stand up experience and probably anticipated me going for the take down.  Because of her experience, I looked at Lissa as the perfect person to test my stand up game with.  So, my game plan was to stand with her. 

Fightergirls:  Christina really fought that triangle for a while.  Did you plan on taking her to the ground?

Barb:  I was prepared to take my fight against Christina wherever it ended up.  I knew she had a great ground game, but I am comfortable there as well.  She had very good defense against my triangle, but I got it pretty early in the round and knew I had time to adjust and let her tire out, so I held it.   

Fightergirls:  Jeff Osborne told the crowd he felt the women in the competition were among the top amateurs in their weight classes.  What will best indicate that it is time to step up to the pro ranks?

Barb:  We have been talking about going pro a lot lately.  I am at a place where we are keeping our eyes open for the right opportunity.  My coach would like for me to have 10 amateur fights before moving up, but if a good offer came up, we would certainly consider it.  

Fightergirls: Who do you think is the best pro in your weight class today?

Barb:  The best pro in my class is Megumi Fuji.  She is amazing!

Fightergirls: Do you have another fight lined up yet?

Barb:  The next one is on June 27^th.   I am not sure who it will be against yet or where it will be because there are two different show trying to get me on their card.    

Fightergirls:  I know that in the fightergirls.com forums someone said they would like to have seen Lauren Feldman get to the finals.  How would you feel about fighting her somewhere down the road?

Barb:  Lauren looked great at Hook’n’Shoot.  One of the promoters mentioned her as a potential fighter for their June 27^th card.  I would love to take that fight.

Fightergirls:  You fought almost a total of 15 minutes that night.  How do you feel about the women pros fighting 5 minute rounds like their male counterparts?

Barb:  I think woman pros should have 5 minute rounds.  The more experienced fighters are more technical and the fight requires more strategy.  Fights with 3 minute rounds don’t give the fighters time to feel each other out the way the men do.  The fights get rushed and they end up looking less skilled then they really are.    

Fightergirls: Thanks again Barb. Is there anything you’d like to say in closing?

Barb:  Yes, I have so many people to thank.  Thank you to my husband Timm, who helps keep me balanced.  My MMA and BJJ coach Steve Berger, thank you for believing in me even when I have doubted myself.  I also want to thank Kevin Bozada, Valerie Coolbaugh and Mark Botindry for their contributions to my training.   Finally, I want to give my gratitude to my amazing team, especially the guys who look beyond my gender and train with me like any another fighter.

 Name: Lynn "Lights Out" Alvarez

Record: Pro 4-1

Weight Class: 115-120 lb

Fights Out of: Raydord Martial Arts/Legion Jiujitsu in Las Vegas, NV

How did you get into fighting: I started off training Kajukenbo, which is a traditional mixed martial art comprised of Karate, Judo, Jiujitsu, Kenpo, and Chinese boxing. I earned my black belt, and it was just a matter of time until I started actively competing. My instructor, Sifu Joe Solie, mentioned the idea of full contact fighting, and I was all for it. We started off with some kickboxing matches, then transitioned to MMA.

Toughest opponent to date: I would have to say Michelle Ould. She was a very tough opponent, very well rounded, had A LOT of heart and was very strong. It was a real battle in all aspects of our fight. She's a great fighter/person and I hope to see her competing again soon.

Who would you most like to fight: Hmm...I am pretty set on avenging my one loss, which is against Angela Magana.

Next fight: Feb. 28, 2009, Freestyle Cage Fighting, opponent is Angela Magana, the Bantamweight Champion.

Training Regimen: I train 6 days a week in Muay Thai, jiujitsu, and judo. I do cardio 5 days/week and weight training 4 days a week.

Other Hobbies: Racquetball

Goal for 2009: My goal is to constantly become a better fighter and improve in all aspects of my game.

Anything you want to add: Thank you to my manager, Sam Wilson. My coaches Kenny Rayford and Cameron Diffley. My dad, the best father in the world. The greatest boyfriend ever, Shandon Eguchi, and my best friend, Paul Hirayama. :) Without these people, I wouldn't be where I am today.

Name: Jessica Bednark Record: 5-1 Pro MMA, 0-1 World Combat League, 0-1  Pro Boxing 

Weight Class: 135, had my 1st two MMA fights at 145, fought spring 2008 in the WCL at 128

Fights Out of: St. Cloud, MN . There is a boxing gym in town that my boyfriend Jay and I use as a facility to train in. My boyfriend Jay has solid wrestling skills (placed in State twice in high school in Minnesota) and has been kickboxing for about 5 years. He is 5'4, 140 lbs, so he is the same weight as me. I thought I had a harder work ethic than anyone I trained with until I met Jay. He pushes me hard every day, wearing me out and expecting me to not slow my pace or get sloppy. He is the best training partner I've ever had because he has such high expectations and is very impatient if I don't meet them very quickly. Unlike a lot of guys, he seems oblivious to me being a girl and will hit me hard when we spar and be very rough when we wrestle and practice jiu-jitsu. There is nowhere to learn MMA in St. Cloud. When we have money (we're catching up from being on disability) we drive a little over an hour to the cities (area) to train at Northway Gym (former UFC champ Dave Menne's gym).

How did you get into fighting: I started karate at 13 years old. Despite it being American sport karate (point fighting) when we were not competing, we sparred with heavy contact at my karate school. I did well when I competed in point sparring, but I always thought that I would do better in full contact fighting (where there isn't a break every time a kick or punch is landed) because I can take and deliver hard strikes. I didn't even know what MMA was until I was 18. When I was 19, I took my 1st MMA fight and won by rear naked choke in the 3rd round. A week later, I got ejected from a car, breaking my back (in addition to 4 bulging discs in my back) and tearing my rotator cuff in my left shoulder. I was on bed rest for a few months. I could not go back to work or training for almost a year. During my recovery, I decided that when I got better I was going to train for MMA and fight. In the spring of 2007, I started going back to the gym. My back was too messed up at first to kick, but I boxed for a few months and slowly rehabilitated myself into being able to do everything again. About 2 months after I had been back in the gym, my 1 training partner - my boyfriend Jay - tore his ACL wrestling. What he was told was going to be a 3 week recovery turned into a 6 month recovery after he had surgery. Money was tight trying to catch up on bills from being on disability for so long, and now my boyfriend was making less than half of his usual paychecks. We were strapped for money, and I didn't think I was ready to fight (cause my ground game was non-existent), but I took a fight anyway. The girl I fought was 3-0 amateur and 3-0 pro. I knocked her out cold in the 3rd round. It didn't pay much, but it made the car payment that month and lifted our spirits. I kept fighting and kept winning, despite feeling that I wasn't getting the training I needed. So here I am now, busting my ass every day, trying to absorb what I can with anyone who will teach me, sparring with whoever walks in the gym every day, just trying to be faster and stronger and in better cardio shape than the next girl I fight.

You mentioned fighting for Chuck Norris' World Combat League, what was that experience like: I fought on the Miami Force team. Al Wichers, one of the refs for the WCL, refereed my second MMA fight in Wisconsin. I knocked the chick I fought out cold in the 3rd round and after the fight he told me I should fight for the WCL. This was September 2007 and the season for WCL started in about a month. I had just cut weight for the 1st time (only 7lbs) to make 145. When he told me that I had to weigh in at 128 to fight, I didn't think I could make it - I hadn't been below 140 in years. My next fight (5 months later) was at 135. I cut from 150 again and weighed in at 133 and felt great during the fight. I figured, what's another 5 pounds, I can do that, so I called up Al and told him I wanted to fight for WCL the next season. He told me there was a girl that was injured on one team and they needed someone to fill her spot for the playoffs. A month later, I started for the Miami team in the playoffs. We fought the New York team. I fought Jennifer Santiago, who is ranked higher than any other chick in the WCL. Her back round is karate and boxing. She fights like a point fighter, a very good one. She likes to keep the distance and then come in and tag her opponents with a few quick strikes. She hates fighting in close. Every time I closed the distance, she fell on her butt (3 times in our 3 minute fight) and they'd just call it a slip and separate us. It kind of irritated me. We had an alright fight, it was close. We each landed a few good shots, but we blocked most of each other's strikes. She got the win and I think she deserved it. I felt like I moved really slowly during that fight. The weight cut was rougher than I expected. I cut from 142 to 126 (weighed in 2lbs under) in 4 days. I had trouble regaining my strength and keeping food down after that fight. This experience caused me to start dieting and eating better, and since that fight, I haven't cut (meaning starving and dehydrating/sweating) more than 5 pounds for any fight. I would like to do WCL again, but I need to take some time and get used to maintaining a much lower weight. I like taking kickboxing and boxing matches because I think it makes my MMA fighting better, but I never care to have a big career as a kickboxer or boxer. It was great to be able to fight in the World Combat League, but MMA is my focus. I take a lot of pride in my MMA fighting, because I feel like it is more physically and mentally demanding than other kinds of fighting. Oh, back to the WCL- our team lost, so we were done for the season.

Toughest opponent to date: Nana Berto, because she's the only person I've lost too. She is a very strong girl and she is aggressive on the feet and has very technical jiu-jitsu. I got choked in the 1st round. I don't feel like I fought very well that fight - I wasn't mentally focused - but regardless, she whooped my ass.

Who would you most like to fight: I really don't care. I'm not looking to go after any big names yet, I don't feel like I'm at that level yet. Right now I am really focused on getting consistent training from Dave Menne's gym and getting more experience. It was looking like I was going to fight Tonya Evinger a month ago, but that fell through. I expect we'll probably fight sometime in 2009. Kaitlin Young is right in Minnesota and I think we would put on a really entertaining fight if we fought. The problem is, I've yet to meet a promoter in Minnesota that pays decent - for MMA that is. Katlin Young and I were lined up to fight what would have been my second fight, but she withdrew to do the show that landed her a fight on Elite XC. I don't expect to get a fight with her any time soon. She goes to a gym that has a lot of recognition and I don't, so unless it's a big show I doubt we'll be fighting each other. My boyfriend wants me to get a fight with Sara Schnieder.

Next fight: I think I have a boxing match in January, but it hasn't been finalized yet. The next MMA fight I will have I believe will be January 31st for Combat USA. They put on really good shows and I really like the promoter. I think I will be fighting Karen Williams a second time. On Sept 29th, 2008, I TKOed her in 1 min 58 seconds into the 1st round. She didn't do a damn thing in those 2 minutes to deserve a rematch. I came out, threw a few kicks and punches, landed every single one, she rushed in, took me down and threw a few little punches to my face that did no damage, immediately I turned her, got on top of her and dropped punches and elbows to her face for the next 1 ½ minutes. I landed 4 elbows to her face in a row right before the ref stepped in and stopped it. She was tough, she was trying to fight out of it, but I don't think she has the skills to take me. I don't think she deserves a rematch. I don't think she has anything for me and I think I'm going to manhandle her a second time in our next fight. The reason they think she deserves a rematch is because the fight was for a belt, so it was 12 - 2 minute rounds (the promoter thinks it's more entertaining with the shorter rounds). So the ref stopped it 2 seconds before the end of the round, and a lot of people would have liked to see a second round. Plus, the fights are in Wisconsin, she's from Wisconsin and undefeated (until then) and some people from Wisconsin think she's tough just because they've seen her knock a couple chicks out. Doesn't matter, our re-match won't last long either.

Training Regimen: I spar 5 to 6 days a week, primarily with my boyfriend, but with whoever is willing to spar – kickboxers, boxers, mixed martial artists, tae kwon do dudes, ect. We spar 5 min rounds, 15 second rest for over an hour– no breaks. I also roll about 3 days a week. 3 to 4 days a week I hit bags with heavy gloves and sometimes weights on my ankles to work endurance, technique and speed. In the mornings before school I run at least 5 miles (slowly increasing the miles). I lifted weights through most of my teenage years, but quit when I broke my back. I just resumed weightlifting this week, but haven't come up with a real set plan for how I'm going to go about it, but I will keep it up because I feel like I'm getting old and losing my strength now that I just turned 22.

Other Hobbies/etc: I am going to school with the goal of becoming a physician's assistant. I started out going for art, but changed my major because I don't want to struggle so much to make money. I love to paint and draw, but rarely have time to do it. I live with my boyfriend who is a single father. I've been helping him raise his son since he was 17 months old and now he is 4. Not really a hobby, but very time consuming, but worth it. He is a great kid and comes to the gym with us while we train every day. They haven't nailed down what he has yet, but it's some form of asbergers - but he's very high functioning. He has speech, physical and occupational therapy twice a week and goes to a special preschool 3 times a week to get him ready for regular preschool, so taking turns running him around to his appointments is a very big part of my life as well. Other than that I just like hanging out with my boys and seeing my family whenever I can.

Goal for 2009: Arrange my finances so that I can train at Dave Menne's gym a few times every week. Also, I'd like to maintain a lower weight. I have been weighing about 142, fighting at 135 and I want to maintain 130, taking fights at 125 and 135. Anything you want to add: It's not on this website, but my pro record is 5-1 (my first fight was never reported and I'm sure it never will be – it was almost 3 years ago). But the fight I'm talking about is when I fought Karen Williams on Sept 29, 2008. I'm not sure if this is accurate (you guys would probably know better than anybody), but the promoter said that this fight was the 1st women's MMA main event on a card where all the other fights on the card were guy fights. It was for a belt that was vacant prior to that.

Name: Cat Albert

Fighting Style: MMA Record: Amateur 2-1 Pro 2-0

Weight Class: 135 lb

Fights Out of: Zingano BJJ/Muay Thai of Colorado in Broomfield, CO

How did you get into fighting: I was good at every sport I ever did, so I wanted to step it up and see where I could take it. I started training in March of 2007 and took my first fight in October the same year.

Toughest opponent to date: Nikki Garcia. She was technically very good and had a lot of heart.

Who would you most like to fight: No one in particular. I'm looking to challenge myself more each time and continue improving as I go.

Next fight: Against Angela Samaro for the Ring of Fire 135 lb Championship on January 10th. I think it will be a tough fight and in a round-about way, it will be a way to avenge my only loss.

Other Hobbies: Traveling, hunting and trying out new foods :)

Goal for 2009: First one is to have the Ring of Fire belt around my waist. I'd like to fight in other places as well. I am considering the 2012 Olympics as well, so I may start to get back into wrestling a little more. I want to give a shot at Abu Dahbi as well.

Anything you want to add: I'd like to thank all my training partners, coaches, friends and fans, the Ring of Fire, my trainers, Professor Mauricio Zingano and Professor Oscar Martinez, my sponsors; Colorado FightEvents, BachBros Builders, Precision Edge Hockey, Sinister Brand, Bestway Concrete and K & H Home Builders and thank you all for your support!!! *****

Article on Cat before her pro debut against Krystal Macatol: _http://coloradofightevents.com/interviews/cat-albert-interview-battlequest-8.php_

Article on Cat before her 2nd fight against Karina Taylor: _http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=6439&zoneid=4_ Article on Cat's upcoming ROF title fight: _http://mmabuzz.com/index.php/ring-of-fire-33-adrenaline-jan-10th-broomfield.html_

Cat's official website: _http://catalbert.com/_

Name: Lacey "the Ladie" Schuckman (yes, I spell it wrong, but I like the way it looks!)

Fighting Style: MMA Record: Amateur Muay Thai 4-2 Amateur MMA 4-2

Weight Class: 115-120 lb

Fights Out of: Team Rugburn out of The Pressroom from Lakewood, CO

How did you get into fighting: My husband started training TKD at 15. We have been together since I was 12, so naturally I got tired of him beating me up all the time and I thought I was tough. After learning that it takes more then being tough, we got into Muay Thai and BJJ. Then I started fighting in 2006 and like they say, "The rest is history!"

Toughest opponent to date: My toughest opponent to date was Louise Johnson. It was my second amateur MMA and I had so little ground that I just got beat to a pulp for 8 and 1/2 minutes! I had too much pride and ego going into that fight that I beat myself even before weigh-ins. She was way too heavy for me to be fighting with my lack of experience, but I wanted to fight so bad! It was also a case of evil promoters at work, so I needed to take a smarter fight, not what was just handed to me. I learned a lot from that fight. A shattered nose, concussion, and the most swollen purple face ever will make you learn real fast!

Who would you most like to fight: I really want to fight Michelle Waterson! I have the utmost respect for her, but I feel like a lot of girls do, that she got so much press from the "Fight Girls" show that she gets cake walk fights (Not that any fight is a cake walk, but girls that records don't match up). I have known Michelle personally for a few years now and trained with her once before she got into Muay Thai. I wanted to fight her back then, but I was too heavy. Now that I am 115, I feel like that fight should happen. We have similar backgrounds and we are both from Colorado. Like I said, I have the utmost respect for herm but I think I can beat her.

Next fight: January 17th 2009, I am fighting in the GFIGHT Grand Prix in Evansville, IN.

You will be making your pro debut in the GFIGHT GP against 7 other very skilled fighters. What do you know about any of the other fighters: Lisa Hugo, out of the UK is a world champion kickboxer of over 16 years or something and she holds a title from her first MMA fight, Jessica Aguilar out of Top Team with a 5-2 record is a strong grappler, Jessica Gonzales who is a boxer with a 2-0 record, Jessica Pene with a 5-0 record out of Team Sub is a strong striker with great take down and submission defense, Patti Lee with a 2-2 record has strong Muay Thai skills and made it to the finals of the 135 lb 2007 Grand Prix weighing in at only 125, Mariah Reed with a 1-0 record and an extensive amateur career is overall good but a stronger wrestler, and finally Angela Magana who I have heard is ranked 7th in the world, strong takedowns and grappling with a 4-2 record. Don't quote me on any of these records, but they are all very talented women with a lot to bring to the table. Also people change from time to time, so this is not an official list!

To be crowned as GP Champion, you will have to defeat 3 opponents in one night.....are you doing anything special to prepare for such a tough task: I have upped my cardio and stamina training, I am trying to push that extra bit when I want to be done in training and I have upped my rounds considerably! I also have been doing iron man like usual, but now I do it on every single drill and I have been doing a lot more muscle endurance.

Normal Training Regimen: I train 36-40 hours a week. Road work, BJJ, and Muay Thai. I also do strength and conditioning along with sports psychology.

Other Hobbies: My husband and I run a small gym and we train adults and kids in MMA. My little kids team is "The Little Pitbulls" and that is exactly what they are: tenacious, powerful, and determined. They give me my desire to train hard and win! I have four dogs: two Pitbulls, named Keeva and Kaos, a Lhaso Apso named Shaggy, and a Mini Dachshund name Fenway and I love spending time with them and training them. I also love to build drift cars especially Nissan Z cars!

Goal for 2009: I want to win the tournament and be the GFIGHT World Champion and I just want to take some good challenging fights and make a name for myself as a pro.

Anything you want to add: I really want to thank my sponsors Tussle Fight gear (who are some of the best people in the world) _www.tusslefightgear.com_ (http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LnR1c3NsZWZpZ2h0Z2Vhci5jb20v) , Julian Fury Clothing _www.julianfury.com_ (http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3Lmp1bGlhbmZ1cnkuY29tLw==) , and Submission Fight Gear. I also want to thank MMA RADICALS for the constant support on their webcast every Wed. at 7:30 PM EST. Most importantly, I want to thank my husband who is my life support, coach, and best friend! Also thanks to all my family and fans without you this wouldn't be possible!!!