Discover Gina Carano’s impact on women in MMA and her potential showdown with Ronda Rousey. Learn about her journey as a trailblazer in the sport and the challenges she faced. Find out why Carano believes she could have defeated Rousey and how her decisions shaped the trajectory of women’s mixed martial arts.
| Fighter | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Gina Carano vs. Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino | Loss via first-round TKO |
| Gina Carano vs. Ronda Rousey | Hypothetical showdown with Carano believing she could have won |
Gina Carano, a pioneer in women’s MMA, had the opportunity to become the first female fighter in the UFC. However, due to prior commitments to Strikeforce, Carano couldn’t accept the offer. UFC eventually acquired Strikeforce, leading to discussions of Carano’s return. Carano believes she could have defeated Ronda Rousey if they had fought, highlighting her powerful punches and scrambling ability. Despite the hypothetical matchup, Carano’s impact on women’s MMA is undeniable.
Gina Carano, a trailblazer in women’s mixed martial arts (MMA), played a significant role in the history of the sport. While the UFC CEO, Dana White, expressed his desire to have female fighters in his promotion earlier, Carano revealed that she was approached by White and Lorenzo Fertitta to become the company’s first female fighter before her bout with Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino in 2009. However, Carano had prior commitments to Strikeforce and couldn’t accept the offer. UFC eventually acquired Strikeforce, leading to discussions of Carano’s return in 2014. Despite the challenges she faced, Carano believes she could have defeated Ronda Rousey if they had fought, citing her powerful punches and scrambling ability. Carano’s impact on women’s MMA and her potential showdown with Rousey would have shaped the sport’s trajectory.
