Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a sport that has gained incredible popularity over the past decade. While the sport has seen countless successes, many will agree that the popularity of women’s MMA can largely be attributed to Gina Carano (7-1), the first superstar of the sport.
Born on April 16, 1982, Gina Carano nicknamed, “Conviction,” is referred to as the original face of women’s MMA.
Carano is a pioneer in the sport and is respected for her role in bringing women’s MMA to where it is today.
Carano is the first women in MMA history to headline a major MMA event, during her 2009 Strikeforce bout against Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino.
Early Life and Career
Gina’s father, Glenn Carano, was a backup quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 1977 to 1983.
Although Gina was raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, she didn’t grow up with an interest in mixed martial arts. Instead, she excelled in sports such as basketball and volleyball in high school.
After finishing high school, Carano went to the University of Nevada, Reno, where she majored in psychology.
While studying, Carano started her combat sport career in the sport of Muay Thai. Her then-boyfriend Kevin Ross, a pro Muay Thai fighter, got her involved.
After achieving a Muay Thai record of 12–1–1, Carano began her career in MMA on September 15, 2006, when she faced off against Leiticia Pestova.
The fight was part of the World Pro Fighting event and held in Las Vegas.
Carano quickly became known for her striking ability and she capitalized on that strength by knocking out Pestova early in the first round.
Carano’s natural talent and fighting style made her a hit with MMA fans.
With her long dark hair, muscular body, and striking looks, she was the perfect representative for women in the sport.
Her talent in the ring combined with her good looks and charm helped make her one of the most recognizable faces of the sport.
Success in MMA
In 2007, Carano fought her second fight against Rosi Sexton and won the fight by way of unanimous decision.
The victory was a big relief for Gina, as she had been dealing with injuries leading up to the fight.
At 26, she had already become one of the top female fighters in the world.
In 2008, Carano faced Kelly Kobold in a highly anticipated showdown.
The fight was to be the main event of EliteXC: Heat, the first nationally televised women’s MMA event.
Carano won the fight by unanimous decision, although she received quite a bit of criticism for what some felt was a lack of aggression.
Following the win over Kobold, Carano faced one of the toughest opponents of her career – Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino.
The two fighters were featured in the first ever televised women’s MMA event on CBS.
While Carano gave Justino a tough battle, she was eventually defeated by TKO in the first round.
Despite the loss, Carano’s fame had skyrocketed.
Her star power was huge and she was regularly featured in various magazines and on talk shows.
Her appeal to mainstream media and casual fans helped her become a true superstar of the sport.
Gina Carano Top 3 Fights
Gina Carano has been one of the most legendary and successful mixed martial artists in history.
She has fought against some of the toughest opponents in her career spanning from 2006 to 2009.
Here are the top three fights that really showcase her skills, strength, and fighting spirit.
Gina Carano vs. Julie Kedzie (EliteXC: August 15th, 2009)
This is arguably the most memorable fight of Gina Carano’s career.
Carano was facing off against Julie Kedzie, an experienced fighter who was known for her submission abilities.
The fight started off with both women landing powerful punches and kicks, but it wasn’t until round two that things really started to heat up.
Kedzie managed to take Carano down and applied a submission hold that nearly made Carano tap out.
However, Carano managed to escape the hold and got back to her feet.
From there, it was all Carano as she landed a series of hard punches and knees that left Kedzie reeling on the ropes.
Leading to a dominant decision victory.
Gina Carano vs. Tonya Evinger (EliteXC: February 10th, 2007)
This fight was an early showcase of Gina Carano’s skills as a striker.
Carano faced off against Tonya Evinger, a tough opponent who was known for her grappling abilities.
However, Carano was able to keep Evinger at a distance with her powerful kicks and punches.
Carano immediately pounced on her opponent and landed several more punches before transitioning to a rear naked choke victory in the very first round.
Gina Carano vs. Kaitlin Young (EliteXC: May 31st, 2008)
This fight was a true back-and-forth battle between two tough opponents.
Carano was facing off against Kaitlin Young, another skilled striker who was known for her toughness in the cage.
The two women traded strikes back and forth throughout the fight, with neither one able to gain a significant advantage.
However, in the second round, Carano managed to land a hard combination that sent Young to the mat.
Carano immediately pounced on her opponent and landed several more strikes before the referee stopped the fight.
It was another impressive display of Carano’s striking abilities and showed that she was a true warrior in the cage.
Gina Carano’s top three fights are all testament to her unyielding spirit, incredible talent, and drive to win.
Her fights showcased her impressive striking ability, toughness, and sense of sportsmanship.
It is truly sad that she is no longer able to continue her fighting career, but her legacy as one of the best female fighters of all time will forever live on.
Retirement and Acting Career
After some time away from the cage, Carano’s final fight was scheduled against Sarah D’Alelio.
However, the fight did not take place. Initially, Strikeforce announced Carano failed her pre-fight medical examination and the fight was pulled from the card.
Later, it became public that Carano was medically cleared by the Athletic Commission but was removed from the card for other reasons.
Making her loss to Cyborg her final appearance.
She had suffered multiple injuries throughout her career, and she decided that it was time to pursue other interests.
After retiring from MMA, Carano quickly transitioned into acting.
Landing a few small roles in movies, but it wasn’t until 2013 that she really hit it big.
She starred in the movie “Fast & Furious 6,” which was a huge commercial success.
She has also appeared in movies such as “Haywire,” “Deadpool,” and “The Mandalorian.”
Despite a successful acting career, Gina Carano will forever be remembered as one of the pioneers of women’s MMA.
She was the first major star in the sport, and she helped bring it into the mainstream.
Her natural ability and charisma made her a fan favorite, and her place in history is secure.
Final Thoughts
Gina Carano was a true pioneer of MMA. She was a fierce competitor with a natural talent for fighting.
She also had the looks and charm to attract mainstream media attention, and she helped bring women’s MMA into the public eye.
Today, the UFC has a women’s division with some of the most talented fighters in the world.
And without Gina Carano, it’s hard to imagine what women’s MMA would look like today.
Image Credit Tags: StrikeforceWomen's MMA
