By April MacIntyre Aug 5, 2009, 16:05 GMT
To quote Elton John: Saturday night's alright for fighting; Get a little action in," as Showtime takes the Crème de la Crème of Female MMA stars, pitting them in a televised showdown.
07/15/2009 - Gina Carano and Chris Santos - 17th Annual ESPY Awards - Arrivals - Nokia Theatre LA Live - Los Angeles, CA, USA © Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos
Gina Carano and Cris Cyborg will face of on Showtime, Saturday night, August 15.
Stats:
Gina 'Conviction' Carano - MMA Fighter
Age: 27 · Height: 5' 8" · Weight: 147 lbs
Origin: Dallas County, United States
Record (W-L-D): 7-0-0 * Last Match: Win on Oct 4, 2008 · Vs: Kelly Kobold Gavin At Event: EliteXC 10: Kimbo vs. Shamrock
Cris "Cyborg' Santos - MMA Fighter
Age: 24Height: 5' 8"Weight - 140Hometown - Curitiba, Brazil
Record- 7-1
Gina Carano is featured in the latest issue of ESPN the Magazine. The article is entitled 'Six Things You Should Know About Being A Female MMA Fighter.'
MMA guru Randy Couture will be in Carano's corner on August 15, according to Showtime.
Ariel Helwani from AOL Fanhouse recorded Carano after Strikeforce's New York press conference, video embedded above.
Carano trains at Xtreme Couture and is prepping to take on Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos on August 15 in San Jose. Randy and his estranged wife Kim Couture reportedly have been part of Gina Carano's fighting career the last few years.
Carano, 27, is one of the most prominent faces of women’s mixed martial arts, a male-dominated sport that is taking over traditional boxing as a key moneymaking pay-per-view event, as well as selling out venues worldwide.
Carano appeared on NBC's "American Gladiator" as "Crush." Carano is set to make history by becoming the first female to ever headline a fight card for Strikeforce in the United States.
Mixed martial arts competitors combine elements of Muay Thai, kickboxing, wrestling and jujitsu that sees grappling, striking, punching, kicking and choker holds as part of the mix.
At the HP Pavilion at San Jose, Carano (7-0) will face Cristiane Santos of Brazil (7-1), who is known as Cyborg, known for her aggressive grappling skills. According to Showtime, for five rounds of cage fighting, Carano and Santos will split a $200,000 purse.
According to the New York Times, the "premier mixed martial arts league, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, has taken no interest in the fight."
President Dana White, according to the Times, "broke off talks with Carano after concluding that insufficient talent had been developed to support a thriving women’s division."
“I’ve only answered to God, sometimes my family, sometimes not, and fighting,” Carano told the NYT about her career in the blood sport. “No relationship, no boyfriend, girlfriend; it’s the only thing that has kept me focused.”
“I live in Las Vegas, where it’s difficult to meet a gentleman who doesn’t think of you as a stripper or a piece of meat. I like the training and the lifestyle. I get to wake up and focus on myself and being better. It eliminates all the drama when you have to think about somebody punching you and taking your head off.”
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