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Six things to know about Gina Carano

Posted by: Angelique on July 31, 2009

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This story appears in the August 10 issue of ESPN The Magazine.
(1) This is just the beginning
“I run into tough females all the time, MMA women who have the talent to be headliners. Lots of really good women are coming. The stage is there with Showtime and the fan base is growing quickly. My long-awaited fight against Cris Cyborg (Aug. 15) will be the biggest moment for females so far.”
(2) Women have unique issues
“I try not to schedule fights the week I’ll be on my period. Making weight is hard enough and during our period, we may retain around seven pounds of water weight. Plus bruises hurt more, you’re bloated and cramping and emotionally, it’s tougher to battle through the training. Also, some states require us to wear breast padding, since we’re allowed to punch there. One time I didn’t have any; a guy told me to put a rolled-up towel in my bra. I said no. I usually just wear three sports bras during a fight.”
(3) The distance just got longer
“Our rounds went from three minutes to five. A lot of women have jiujitsu backgrounds and they felt short rounds were an advantage for strikers; they felt they didn’t have time to counter and work their submissions. I liked the old length. It’s hard to get in shape for a 25-minute fight!”
(4) You can be both tough and tender
“Whenever a guy approaches me, I can see he’s wondering, ‘Can I take her?’ Men underestimate women. If I had to fight a guy who thinks he’s tough but doesn’t train, I could leg-kick him until he collapses. So yes, I can beat up a guy. But I like being a female, too. I like to put on makeup and be held and feel girlie. It’s not all about being tough.”
(5) My heart’s in fighting
“It’s great not having a boyfriend before a fight. You have to go off and train and he always takes it personally. It’s hard to date someone who doesn’t know the lifestyle of a fighter. And a lot of male fighters aren’t great dating material.”
(6) Fights aren’t limited to the cage
“It’s not uncommon for women to start with me. I went to a bar with my sister recently and saw some women glaring at us. I remember thinking, I’m about to get into a fight. Luckily, when things got tense, some big guy bear-hugged me and said, […]

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Exerpts from the Carano-Cyborg Press Conference

Posted by: Jen on July 15, 2009

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Gina Carano and Cris Cyborg, who will headline a STRIKEFORCE world championship quadruple-header on Saturday, Aug. 15, at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., live on SHOWTIME, participated in a press conference, fan meet and greet session and open workout Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.
The wildly popular and unbeaten Carano (7-0) and her No. 1 rival, Brazilian powerhouse Cyborg (7-1), will make history in the most anticipated fight in the history of women’s mixed martial arts (MMA) and the first women’s fight to headline a major fight card also featuring men. At stake in the showdown will be the newly created STRIKEFORCE Women’s 145-Pound World Title.
The Aug. 15 STRIKEFORCE: “Carano vs. Cyborg” mega-event, which will air live on SHOWTIME (10:30 p.m. ET/PT, tape delayed on the west coast), will feature three additional world championship bouts.
Joe “Diesel” Riggs (30-10) and Nick Diaz (20-7) will revisit their bitter rivalry that began three years ago in the UFC when they face off in the first welterweight (170 pounds) STRIKEFORCE championship fight in history.
World Heavyweight Champion Alistair “The Demolition Man” Overeem (29-11) will put his coveted title on the line and, at the same time, attempt to avenge a previous defeat when he squares off with old nemesis and two-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion Fabricio “Vai Cavalo” Werdum (11-4-1).
World Lightweight (155 pounds) Champion Josh “The Punk” Thomson (16-2) will defend his STRIKEFORCE crown against Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez (15-2), the man whom Thomson dethroned by way of unanimous decision at HP Pavilion on June 27, 2008.
Tickets for STRIKEFORCE: “Carano vs. Cyborg,” priced from $30, are available at the HP Pavilion box office (408-287-7070), Ticketmaster locations (800-745-3000), Ticketmaster online (www.ticketmaster.com) and at www.Strikeforce.com.
HP Pavilion doors open Aug. 15 at 5 p.m. PT. The first preliminary bout will begin at 5:30 p.m.
After co-promoting two events on SHOWTIME in 2007 and 2008, STRIKEFORCE in March ‘09 signed a multi-year agreement to stage MMA events on the premium cable television network.
What the fighters said Tuesday: GINO CARANO “I am not into public speaking, but I am so humbled and blessed by this unbelievable turnout of media and fans. It feels so great the support that you have given Cyborg and I. (But) It is not just us. There are four title fights on this great card.
“I have the ultimate, utmost respect for […]

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