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Sunday, September 6, 2009
Gina Carano To Star In Soderbergh's Knockout
 MMA fighters all seem to be clamoring for a shot at the silver screen as just on the heels of the news that former UFC light heavyweight champion, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, would likely star in the upcoming film remake of the 80's TV series, "The A-Team", women's MMA superstar, Gina Carano, has signed on to be the lead in director Steven Soderbergh's latest opus.
The film will be called "Knockout" and Carano will play "a girl from the wrong side of the tracks who is given a second chance to use her skills for constructive purposes" according to Variety.
Carano is no stranger to stepping out of the cage for various roles including her stint as "Crush" on the NBC series "American Gladiators."
Now it looks like the face of women's MMA will get the chance to measure acting chops against some of Hollywood's best, and one of the industry's top directors.
Soderbergh has been known to look outside of traditional Hollywood ties for his actors and actresses. His last effort called "The Girlfriend Experience" cast adult film star, Sasha Grey, in the lead role in her first mainstream acting effort.
The film is slated to start filming in late January which brings up the question of Carano's fighting career, who lost her first professional fight in August, dropping by TKO to new 145lb women's champion, Cris "Cyborg" Santos.
With the movie filming all over the world including Ireland and Turkey, the expectations for Carano to be out of action for the first part of 2010 is very likely, and no reports have surfaced leading to her return in 2009 either.Labels: Cristiane Cyborg Santos, Gina Carano, Strikeforce
posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 5:05 PM
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Forrest Griffin Already Back In The Gym
 "If the worst thing that happens to Gina (Carano) or Forrest (Griffin) is they lose a fight, they're doing pretty damn good."
Such are the words of the namesake of Carano and Griffin's training gym, Xtreme Couture, former UFC champion Randy Couture.
"It's all part of the process. I don't think there's anything negative there," said Couture during a media call on Tuesday to promotion his upcoming fight at UFC 102 with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
"Obviously, Forrest was very emotional in the cage when he lost to Anderson (Silva), but I think that's because he works so damn hard, and like everybody, we all hate to lose. He's been back in the gym already. I saw him (Monday) here and he's back to training."
With a professional record of 16-9, Couture has been through the ups and downs of mixed martial arts many times. It all comes with the territory if you want to be a professional athlete, he says.
"I don't necessarily see that as a negative. It's all part of the learning and growing process," Couture pontificated.
"The same thing for Gina. Obviously she was a little embarrassed by the outcome (in losing to Cris Cyborg), but overall she did a great job in that fight. She had some opportunities to win and she did some good things. She did some things we trained to do.
"I think the adversity of losing that fight is going to be very, very important for her development as a fighter.
"I know from my own experience, the fights that I've lost were very important to me, and if I could go back and change them, I don't think I would. I think I learned more and became a better person and a better athlete for having experienced those things.
"And I know Gina and Forrest are both in that same boat."Labels: Forrest Griffin, Gina Carano, Randy Couture
posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 8:13 PM
Monday, August 17, 2009
Cris Cyborg "Carano vs Cyborg" Post-Fight Interview on Showtime
posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 4:48 PM
Randy Couture "Carano vs Cyborg" Post-Fight Interview on Showtime
posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 4:46 PM
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Strikeforce "Carano vs. Cyborg" Exceeds Attendance Target
 Besides the fights maybe going a little too fast, there really wasn't much for Strikeforce officials to complain about at Saturday night's "Carano vs. Cyborg" event in San Jose, Calif.
Cris "Cyborg" Santos proved herself one of the most dominant women fighters in the world by taking out the "face of women's MMA," Gina Carano, as the bell sounded to end the opening round. In the process, she captured the first ever Strikeforce women's 145-pound championship.
With exciting finishes from beginning to end on the Showtime telecast, Strikeforce officials also had to be pleased with the attendance. "Carano vs. Cyborg" drew 13,524 spectators, according to the promotion. That was slightly better than they had anticipated.
"We're scheduled to do 10-12,000. That's what we were anticipating," said Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker earlier in the week.
Official numbers will come later from the California State Athletic Commission, but if they're anywhere near the 13,524 number, Strikeforce officials will surely be pleased.Labels: Carano vs. Cyborg, Cristiane Cyborg Santos, Gina Carano, Strikeforce
posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 2:17 AM
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Strikeforce "Carano vs. Cyborg" Official Weigh-in Videos
posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 2:35 AM
Friday, August 14, 2009
MMA Live Reviews UFC 101 and WEC 42, Previews "Carano vs. Cyborg"
posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 1:40 AM
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Gegard Mousasi Talks About Figth With Babalu
posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 11:11 PM
Babalu Talks About Upcoming Fight with Mousasi
Renato "Babalu" Sobral talks about his expectations for his fight against Gegard Mousasi, who claims it will be a standup fight ending with a knockout. Sobral also talks about his excitement to have Gina Carano and Cris Cyborg as the events headliners on Saturday night at Strikeforce "Carano vs. Cyborg."Labels: Cristiane Cyborg Santos, Gegard Mousasi, Gina Carano, Renato Babalu Sobral, Strikeforce
posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 11:07 PM
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Behind the Hype: Carano vs. Cyborg
posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 1:03 PM
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
A Hurricane of Aggression - Cris Cyborg
posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 2:09 PM
Monday, August 10, 2009
Gina Carano and Randy Couture: Pre-Fight Training for Cyborg
posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 1:27 PM
Friday, August 7, 2009
Five Things You Didn't Know About Gina Carano
Fans know all about mixed martial arts superstar Gina Carano's moves in the ring, so Frank Shamrock sits down with Carano to discover a few things about her personal life.Labels: Gina Carano
posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 1:32 AM
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
VIDEO: Gina Carano vs. Satan
Meet Satan a.k.a. Norm Turner, the strength and conditioning coach behind Gina Carano! Watch as Satan puts Gina through a series of grueling exercises to test her endurance.Labels: Gina Carano, Strikeforce
posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 2:12 PM
Monday, July 20, 2009
Strikeforce "Carano vs. Cyborg" Latest Video Trailer
posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 1:18 PM
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Gina Carano and Cris Cyborg Workout Videos from N.Y.
posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 3:05 PM
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Carano vs Cyborg Press Conference Streams Live Today
 The eagerly anticipated Gina Carano-Cris Cyborg press conference and fan meet and greet session will be streamed live in its entirety, exclusively on STRIKEFORCE's official website, www.strikeforce.com, from New York City's Madison Square Garden this Tuesday, July 14, beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT.
The wildly popular and undefeated Carano (7-0) and her number one rival, Brazilian powerhouse Cyborg (7-1), will take center stage at the WaMu Theater at The World's Most Famous Arena one month before they face off in what is 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 Carano-Cyborg showdown at San Jose, California's HP Pavilion on Saturday, August 15 will be the newly created STRIKEFORCE Women's 145-Pound World Title.
The STRIKEFORCE: "Carano vs. Cyborg" mega-event 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 will open August 15 at 5 p.m. PT. The first preliminary bout will begin at 5:30 p.m.
The live SHOWTIME telecast of the August 15 event will begin at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT (tape delayed on the west coast).Labels: Cristiane Cyborg Santos, Gina Carano, Strikeforce
posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 1:59 AM
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Cyborg vs. Carano: First Knockout on Horizon?
 Strikeforce mega-fight Gina Carano vs. Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos has slugfest written all over it. Both women are Muay Thai specialists, attack from eight points, and are fearless in the pocket.
They have capable ground games, to be sure, and will be ready if the fight goes down, which it will if one gets tagged.
Carano is training with wrestling sage Randy Couture. In September 2007, she surprised many by submitting Tonya Evinger, proving she's worked on becoming well-rounded.
"Cyborg" brings a stronger jiu-jitsu base to her game, cultivated from long days at the Chute Boxe Academy in Brazil.
But when it comes to the ultimate rite of passage in a fighter's career--a knockout--neither have experience backing them. And they're going into what could be the most violent encounter in their lives.
"No, never," Santos said last week during a conference call promoting the upcoming fight.
"They do realize that she is a lady, in fact not a man, so they never take it to that same level," followed Santos' translator.
Of course, if you asked Wanderlei Silva about Santos' battle-readiness, which MMAInsider did in April, you might think differently.
"It's amazing," he then said. "I trained with her in Brazil. She's incredible, like a man. She's dangerous. Sometimes when you train with a woman, you just play. But with her, every time you need to train, because she's tough."
Carano, who last October told MMAWeekly that she doesn't train with women, said she'd seen the edge.
"I’ve been close to knocked out before, and I have been tapped out in the gym," Carano added.
Will one of them be going to sleep on August 15 in San Jose? Is a knockout an essential key to a female fighter's experience? We may soon find out.Labels: Cristiane Cyborg Santos, Gina Carano, Strikeforce
posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 1:40 AM
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Cyborg vs. Carano Headlines Strikeforce on Aug. 15
 For the first time in the short history of women's MMA, two females will be front and center at a mixed martial arts card in the US.
On Aug. 15, "Carano vs. Cyborg" will headline HP Pavilion in San Jose as the third major Showtime-televised event held by Strikeforce.
Strikeforce officials, including CEO Scott Coker, confirmed the news on a Thursday media teleconference.
Check back with MMAWeekly.com for further details on the call.Labels: Cristiane Cyborg Santos, Gina Carano, Scott Coker, Strikeforce
posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 5:39 PM
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wanderlei Silva Hypes Cyborg vs. Gina Carano
According to Wanderlei Silva, Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos was pretty much born tough.
"It's amazing," he told MMAInsider. "I trained with her in Brazil. She's incredible, like a man. The last training camp I see, she trained with a man. She's dangerous. Sometimes when you train with a woman, you just play. But with her, every time you need to train, because she's tough."
In interviews, Santos has credited the "classic" Chute Boxe line-up of Silva, the Rua brothers, and of course, her husband Evangelista, with turning her into a professional fighter.
Silva says he immediately noticed Santos' work ethic.
"Before she go into the gym when she was younger, she played professional handball, then one hour, she goes for the bicycle, trains for two hours, then does one hour on the bicycle," he continued. "She's crazy."
Santos won her Strikeforce debut emphatically at "Shamrock vs. Diaz," stopping Hitomi Akano with strikes in the second round. But the victory was tainted when she missed the bout's 145lb. weight limit by seven pounds, and could not get to within the six pound overage allowed by the California State Athletic Commission.
The bout was eventually cleared by CSAC, with Santos' final weigh-in registering 150.5 lbs.
Her victory set up an expected showdown between Santos and Gina Carano for an August Strikeforce currently in the works. The fight is anticipated to be the biggest in the short history of women's MMA.
Silva thinks the two should fight heavier.
"It's too much for Cyborg," he said of the 145lb. class. "Because Gina's her next opponent, Gina's more big too. It's possible to make the fight for 155. 155 is better for both. Because you cut a lot of weight, the performance is not the same. It's hard for Gina and hard for her."
Whatever class they fight at, though, he's excited to see it.
"The girls make history, because it's the first big match for women," he said. "The first main event for women. I'm thinking Gina and Cyborg open the market for the girls."Labels: Cristiane Cyborg Santos, Gina Carano, Strikeforce, Wanderlei Silva
posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 6:03 PM
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Cox Says Carano's Future May Determine Lawler's
In the gold rush of fights being put together for Strikeforce's Showtime cards in April and May, manager extraordinaire Monte Cox is working towards a number of deals with CEO Scott Coker.
One Cox's most high profile clients--and subject of great speculation--is Robbie Lawler, Elite XC's former middleweight champion.
Initially, Cox told MMAWeekly his fighter was not a done deal with the San Jose-based organization, but has since met minds with Coker on Lawler's move.
On Sunday, Coker suggested to MMAInsider a rematch between Lawler and Joey Villasenor, but after Monday teleconference with Cox, that idea was struck down.
"He's not going to fight Villasenor," Cox told MMAInsider. "That I know for sure. We don't have any interest in that."
While Cox says there have been "discussions" for Lawler to face Dutch striker Melvin Manhoef, nothing has been confirmed.
It also remains to be seen which card Lawler will grace--the Apr. 11 card in San Jose, or a possible May card in Tacoma, Wash. According to Cox and other sources close to negotiations, Gina Carano's plans with the organization are not set.
"We don't know when he's going to fight, because they've been waiting on Carano to see when she can get ready," said Cox. "So they'll talk to her and then Robbie will fight either in April or May depending on what she's doing."
If Manhoef is not acquired for the April or May cards, Cox has another suggestion for Coker.
"I like (Kazuo) Misaki," said Cox. "He's ranked in the top 5, he's beat Dan Henderson, he's a legitimate guy, and I think it's a really good match-up for us."Labels: Gina Carano, Monte Cox, Robbie Lawler, Strikeforce
posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 9:55 PM
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Gina Carano Headed to WEC? Not so fast....
 Although UFC president Dana White has recently made public comments that he would be willing to entertain the prospect of former EliteXC star Gina Carano competing in the Octagon, it's not the Ultimate Fighting Championship he's talking about.
White said that he's not ready to put women's fights in the UFC, but he would give Carano a run in the UFC's sister promotion, the WEC.
"I heard that," confirmed WEC vice president Peter Dropick on Monday.
There's still a hang-up in having Carano fight even in the WEC.
"First off, I don't know if anyone knows really what the contractual situation is with any fighter from those other organizations," he said, referring to ProElite-owned promotions like EliteXC. "I think until that is flushed out, we would... we really don't have anything at this point."
That's not to say that Dropick isn't interested. On the contrary, he's very interested in adding more talent - including Carano - to the WEC's roster of athletes. "We'd be open to having some of the better fighters and the most exciting fights. (Carano) is certainly a star and she certainly has drawing power. So, we'll see how that plays out."
For now, like many EliteXC fighters, Carano is in limbo, trying to figure out just what her contractual status is while ProElite keeps toying with the idea of whether it will continue on or not.Labels: Dana White, EliteXC, Gina Carano, Peter Dropick, ProElite, UFC President, WEC
posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 1:09 AM
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Do EliteXC Fighters Fit the WEC Mold? Maybe...
 World Extreme Cagefighting vice president Peter Dropick was recently asked if the WEC had any interest in signing fighters from the now defunct EliteXC promotion... specifically K.J. Noons, Nick Diaz, and Wilson Reis.
"I know our matchmakers are look at any fighters that are available. I don't know their contractual situations. There are a handful of guys that make sense, and there are some that just wouldn't make sense," Dropick replied.
Although he couldn't really commit to any specific fighters due to EliteXC and its fighters still being mired in a web of legal entanglements, the VP did sound like he was interested in bringing some of the top EliteXC talent to the WEC.
"I don't know specifically if we've talked to anyone or legally if we can talk to anyone at this point, but absolutely we're keeping an eye on that situation. We want the best guys in the world and those guys that are available we've got a lot to offer them."
One of the biggest questions surrounding EliteXC's collapse has been what will happen to the female fighters. Gina Carano has developed a certain amount of star power, and EliteXC had also attracted a number of other top female fighters like Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos, Sarah Kaufman, Tonya Evinger, Kelly Kobold, and others among them.
Unfortunately for the female EliteXC fighters and their fans, it doesn't appear that the UFC's sister promotion currently has any more interest in their services than does the UFC itself. Asked if there had been any discussion about bringing any of the female fighters into the WEC fold, Dropick simply replied, "No, there hasn't."Labels: Cristiane Cyborg Santos, EliteXC, Gina Carano, K.J. Noons, Kelly Kobold, Nick Diaz, Peter Dropick, Sarah Kaufman, Tonya Evinger, WEC, Wilson Reis
posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 1:00 AM
Friday, October 17, 2008
ESPN's MMA Live: UFC 89 & Gina Carano
The latest edition of ESPN's MMA Live has a preview of Saturday's UFC 89 taking place in Birmingham, England, and the crew sits down for a talk with EliteXC star Gina Carano.Labels: ESPN, Gina Carano, MMA Live, UFC 89, Video
posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 1:43 AM
Thursday, October 9, 2008
VIDEO: Gina Carano and Randy Couture Red Alert 3
EliteXC star Gina Carano and UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture are part of an impressive cast of actors that take part in the upcoming release of Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3. Above is a pre-release look at the women and men that portray various characters in the game slated for release on October 28. (Courtesy of GameTrailers.com)Labels: Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3, EliteXC, Gina Carano, Randy Couture, UFC, Video, Video Game
posted by MMAInsiderBLOG @ 5:40 PM
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