Fight Weight:  115

 Height:  5'2"

 

 

 

Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I am
half Eskimo and half Norwegian. I was raised in Red Bluff, CA and still live
here. It’s a small, hick town, but I love it. I’m pretty long in the tooth for a
fighter, 41. But it seems to me that mma fighters can last longer in the sport
than in boxing or other combat sports (look at Randy Couture).

​
 

I’ve competed in the World Eskimo Indian Olympics twice. I’m working on a
documentary about it. I got a gold medal in the ear weight contest (it’s where
you lift 16 pounds hanging on a twine by your ear and walk as far as you can-
thank God for my slight cauliflower ears).

​
 

What is your profession?
I work for our county
mental health agency as a case worker. I help people with severe and persistent
mental illness get back into living their lives again- exercising, eating
better, doing relaxation exercises, going back to college or getting a job. I
love my clients, and I love my job.

​
 

I also have my own gym, and I love to train people and help them to realize
their full potential. I have a lady who brings her 2 young sons in to work out
with her. They lost over 40 pounds together within their first month. They are
still coming in- making tons of progress.

​
 

What got you into fighting?
I started fighting
over 20 years ago- I was 19 and noticed a boxing gym in town. I tried it and
fell in love. Nothing beats hitting someone- it’s a rush- and the best therapy
around. Unfortunately, at the time, amateur boxing was not yet legal for women.
So, as I was going to Cal State University, Chico, I figured I’d try my hand at
wrestling. I was the only female to join the team and had over 11 matches- all
against men except one. All losses. It was the hardest workout I’d ever had, and
I learned the horrible meaning behind “making weight”. I used to drop 12 pounds
in 2 days to wrestle at 118- all very unhealthy- dangerous. After that season,
the school cut the team. I moved on to kickboxing. Had a few amateur fights- got
the IKF bantomweight title and retired from that. Then I moved on to my first
love, boxing, which by now was legal for women to compete at the amateur level.
I had 2 fights (both wins) and was pretty much burned out on the whole fighting
scene.

​
 

Tell us a little about your training routine.
About my training routine- I love to train so hard
that it hurts to get out of bed the next day. One of my favorite workouts is
called “Gables”, named after a famous college wrestling coach, Dan Gable. It
consists of heinous numbers of jumping jacks, push-ups, sit-ups, mountain
climbers and vertical leaps. My students cringe when I tell them we’re doing
Gables.

​
 

What about training partners? Do you have the opportunity to train with other women? Or do you just have to get in there and mix it up with the guys? How is that?
I have a good number of training
partners- men and women- all shapes and sizes. I am very lucky. Two that are
working with me for this fight- Jessica Richards- an awesome grappler- who is
around 160, and Alex Faslev- very fast, well rounded fighter who is around
130.

​
 

What is your biggest obstacle as a fighter? Do you think that women have more challenges in the sport than men?
My biggest
obstacle is that I am so damn busy. I work full time and run a gym. Sometimes
it’s hard to stay after my classes and get in my own workout. Sometimes I have
to force myself to.

​
 

I don’t think women have bigger challenges- on the contrary, I find it’s
easier for us to get onto cards and break into the top levels because there
aren’t as many of us.

​
 

What fight has been the most meaningful to you?
My favorite fight was against one of my heroes, 5 time
world kick boxing champ, Kathy Long. It was an honor to be her first (and I
think last- so far) mma fight. She hit me like she had a roll of quarters in her
fist. We fought hard and hugged hard after. I lost to a decision, but it was
still my favorite fight, and she is still my hero.

​
 

What do you enjoy most about the fighting lifestyle? Least?
I enjoy the outlet of fighting. I love that I can
legally go off on someone and smash them in the face and not go to prison for
it.

​
 

I hate cutting weight. I tried to just fight at my walk around weight, but
the girls were just too big for me. I’d love to be one of those people who
wasn’t a big eater, but I LOVE to eat.

​
 

What do your friends/family say about you fighting? Are they supportive?
My parents hate that I fight- they always have.
They’ve always celebrated each “retirement” from fighting and always been very
sad when I came back to it. It hurts me to put them through it, but it hurts
worse to not be chasing my dream. I get around it now by hiding it from them. I
only tell them after I fight, so they won’t be worrying for weeks on end.

​
 

My husband started out dead set against it. It almost came down to a divorce,
but he relented when he realized that if I didn’t fight- I would feel like a
part of me was dead inside. He is my biggest supporter now. He’s been in my
corner for all my fights, and I can always hear his loud voice over all others.
Nothing beats a congratulatory kiss from my man- (but he’s also great at
consoling me as well.)

​
 

Hobbies? What do you do when you’re not training?
I like to write. I’m working on a book. I love to
watch tv (funny, stupid stuff, reality tv, fights, old sitcoms, old movies-
anything, and some things several times. It drives my husband crazy that I can
watch the same movie several times- like “Enter The Dragon”) – I could be the
biggest couch potato if I didn’t work out.

​
 

What is something people would be surprised to find out about you?
Something people would be surprised to find out about me
is that I am very peace loving. I hate confrontation. I do not argue. If you
piss me off, I will walk away (and envision myself punching a hole in your
head). Oh yes, and I am a belly dancer. I learned it to improve my footwork for
boxing and liked it so much, I started my own troop. I don’t dance right now,
but I might get back into it when I retire from fighting again.

​
 

Where do you see the future of women’s mma?
The
future of women’s mma should be huge. We are the fights that everyone come to
watch. We are the most active and brutal. It’s too bad Dana White can’t see
that.

​
 

What are your goals in fighting? Outside of fighting?
My goal is to make it to the top of my game. I would
love to fight Tara LaRosa some day. She’s another hero of mine- an excellent
fighter in all areas. I loved watching her on BoDog. I miss BoDOg. Now THEY
supported women’s mma. Also, I’d like to fight in Japan.

​
 

Outside of fighting, I want to have a successful gym and clothing company. I
want to get my documentary out there so people can learn about the World Eskimo
Indian Olympics. I want to finish my book and get it picked up by a major
publisher and get on the New York Best Seller’s list.

​
 

What advice do you have for a woman wanting to get into fighting?
For anyone who comes to my gym and says they want to
be a fighter, I say this: be prepared to fully commit yourself, be prepared to
work out hard 6 days a week, run every day, eat a good, clean diet and get lots
of sleep. Be ready for bruises, injuries, visits to the hospital. Don’t expect
to earn a lot of money- if you can’t do it because you love it, don’t do it.
There are easier ways to make money.

​
 

FUN MISC FACTS:
Favorite fighter: Mike Tyson. He was short and brutal- took away the notion
that you had to be tall to be successful. His overhand right was legendary. His
hand speed was crazy fast for such a muscular guy. I even enjoy watching him
jump rope.

​
 

Always in my MP3 player: Latin music- I love to
workout to Latin music- all kinds of it- Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican- the beat
moves me. I wish I could speak Spanish so I understood what the songs were
saying- but it’s more about the beat for me.

​
 

Favorite tv show: I’m embarrassed to say that I
live for nights when I get home early enough to watch
“Glee”.
Favorite cheat foods: pizza and hot fudge
sundae cake
Least favorite exercise: wind
sprints
Heroes: Kathy Long, Tara LaRosa, Bruce
Lee

​
 

Any special shout outs? Anyone you’d like to thank or promote?
Thanks to- Aldo Savage of Sacred Savage Fight Gear for
the sweet walk out shirts specially designed for me! And to Visalus Sciences for
the Body by Vi Challenge Shape Kit that helped me to cut the weight for this
fight. And to my wonderful husband for building me a cage to train in and seeing
after all my irritable little pre-fight diet requests (like decaf coffee late at
night and grilled veggies every week).

​
 

To sponsor me: contact me at vilcheavery@yahoo.com
To friend me on facebook: Avery Vilche
To like my gym on facebook: Psycho Fitness & MMA
To come by for an awesome workout at my actual gym:Psycho Fitness & MMA is
located at 1450 Suite B Schwab St. in Red Bluff, CA 96080

​
 

​
 

Interview by Fightgirlz.com

​










 

 

​
 

 

​

RELATED MMA NEWS ARTICLES BELOW

​

 

Avery Vilche to replace injured Bagherdai at XFC 18

 

XFC 18 Music City Mayhem Weigh In Results

 

XFC18 : Music City Mayhem Nashville TN June 22nd

 

XFC 18: Heather Jo Clark, Avery Vilche prepare for Battle

 

XFC 21 Feature Bout Stephanie Eggink vs Heather Clark

 

 

 

​