Talks between Gina Carano, UFC hit snag

Mike Chiappetta
FOX Sports
JUN 25, 2014 6:28 pm ET

The on-again, off-again talks between women's MMA pioneer Gina Carano and the UFC are apparently off-again.
That's the word from UFC Tonight insider Ariel Helwani, who reported on Wednesday night's show that negotiations between the two sides have skidded to a stall.

According to Helwani, the talks are not necessarily dead, but it remains unclear whether Carano will ever actually fight in the octagon.

Speculation that Carano would ink a new deal has raged for months, and at one point, UFC president Dana White declared himself "confident" that he'd be able to land one of the few fighters at large able to move the needle. Carano remains under Zuffa contract from her time in Strikeforce, but the two have been attempting to agree upon a new pact that would officially bring her into the UFC fold.

Now 32 years old, Carano's absence from MMA will reach the five-year mark on Aug. 15. That's the anniversary of her landmark Strikeforce championship match with Cris "Cyborg," which she lost via TKO.

Shortly afterward, she embarked upon a film career, and has since acted in and signed on to various projects that have played a role in keeping her away from active competition.

But upon the UFC's addition of women's fighting in 2013, Carano quickly became an intriguing shadow figure, with bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey saying she'd "bend over backwards" to make a fight happen with the pioneer.
Carano, who has never previously fought at 135 pounds, is 7-1 in her pro fight career.

Meanwhile, Helwani reported that talks between the UFC and Holly Holm are progressing well, and for now, it seems as though she is the more likely of the two to find her way into the octagon sometime soon.

Holm, who compiled a 33-2-3 record in pro boxing, has gone a perfect 7-0 since transitioning to mixed martial arts.

http://msn.foxsports.com/ufc/story/talks-between-gina-carano-ufc-hit-snag-062514

I'm kind of ambivalent about Carano's return.  There's a possibility she might be a threat to Rousey, which is something to be excited about - I want to see someone really test Ronda. But man, 5 years off - that's a long time. There'd have to be some intensive training, and I would hope at least 1 fight, first.

It's gonna be tough for Gina.

I don't believe she's ever fought at 135, and she's struggled to make weight at 140 / 145... and post MMA Gina is looking a tad bit bigger, then add the long layoff in there, the expiring of her Strikeforce contract and free-agency, the somewhat successful movie career, and there's more things than you need to lead you to believe that Gina won't be signing to fight Ronda at 135 anytime soon.

More than likely what's happening is that Gina intentionally allowed her Strikeforce contract to expire, making her a free-agent so she had more bargaining power, and she's probably looking for a 1 to 2 fight contract with much better financial terms than she's had in the past... and I'd guess the 1 to 2 fights will be at a catchweight of 140, but even though Rousey has previously said that she'd accommodate Carano to make the fight happen, Ronda is taking a short break after UFC 175 so who knows.

I don't like the catchweight idea because then it's not a title fight and the fight doesn't really make sense for the existing women's divisions in the UFC, but I wouldn't mind watching Ronda vs. Gina at 140 just to see Gina fighting again... and fighting in the UFC.

I think Gina and the UFC will come to some sort of terms, even if Gina doesn't sign to fight at 135.

I just read a tweet by UKWMMA hinting that The deal's done, and Carano's first fight in the UFC will be against Liz Carmouche. Hope this is true! (Big Carmouche fan here!)

WOW!!!!

This is great news !

I'm happy with that match up.

IRONHORSE wrote:

I just read a tweet by UKWMMA hinting that The deal's done, and Carano's first fight in the UFC will be against Liz Carmouche. Hope this is true! (Big Carmouche fan here!)

I'm having some problems with my browser right now, but when I get that straight I'll look for and post the tweet.

This is fantastic news though... and I'm happy that she'll be fighting Carmouche first, that's a tough welcome-back-fight for Gina.

I have great respect for Gina, and all she's done.... but Liz is my Girl-rilla! I'll be pulling for Liz, if this tilt comes to pass! War Liz!