Carano has soared to super stardom over the last two years while dominating opponents live on CBS and SHOWTIME. She raised her profile further during a stint as “Crush” on NBC’s athletic competition series American Gladiators. Carano is represented by Wasserman Media Group.


The matchup with Cyborg will be the second start of Carano’s career under the STRIKEFORCE banner. On December 8, 2006, she turned the tides on a determined Elaina Maxwell, a protégé of Cung Le, and pulled out a unanimous judges’ decision at STRIKEFORCE: “Triple Threat.”


The media has emphatically shown its appreciation for Carano’s individuality. She has been prominently featured in a number of national magazines including Muscle And Fitness and Maxim. Big Biz Magazine voted her “The Hottest Woman In America” in its Spring 2008 issue and Maxim ranked her number 16 in its Hot 100 list published in May 2009. Carano has also been profiled in the popular ESPN documentary series E:60.


The 23-year-old Cyborg, who hails from Brazil, has established herself as Carano’s top rival by leveraging her superior strength and striking skills to pummel opponents. In her last start, also her Strikeforce debut, Cyborg manhandled Hitomi Akano on April 11, stalking and battering the Japanese fighter before finishing Akano at the 35 second mark of the third round.


Cyborg is a member of Brazil’s famed Chute Boxe fight squad and trains alongside her husband and fellow Strikeforce competitor, Evangelista “Cyborg.”


After co-promoting two events live on SHOWTIME in 2007 and 2008, STRIKEFORCE in March 2009 signed a multi-year agreement to stage live MMA events on the premium cable television network.

NEW YORK (June 9, 2009)–After an eight month hiatus, mixed martial arts’ (MMA) leading lady, the undefeated and extremely popular Gina “Conviction” Carano (7-0) will compete in the first fight of her multi-fight agreement with STRIKEFORCE and is set to square off with rival powerhouse Cris “Cyborg” (7-1) in what is one of the most eagerly anticipated battles of all time, Saturday, August 15, live on SHOWTIME® at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.


Carano and Cyborg, the consensus two best female fighters in the world, will be the first women in MMA history to headline a major MMA fight card. In addition, they will fight for the first STRIKEFORCE 145-pound Female Championship.


“I’m really excited to be coming back and to have a new home with Strikeforce,” said the 27-year-old Carano, whose combination of stunning looks and athleticism have cemented her role as the face of women’s MMA. In a Yahoo! online poll that named the “Top 10 Influential Women of 2008,” Carano ranked fifth, placing ahead of First Lady Michelle Obama and famed journalists Katie Couric and Barbara Walters.


“I’ve wanted this fight with Cyborg for a long time and so have the fans so it was important to me that it happen in my first fight back. I’ve been training hard the last few months and come August 15, I will be in the best shape of my life. This fight will absolutely deliver on all the hype.”


The live SHOWTIME telecast of STRIKEFORCE: “Carano vs. Cyborg” will begin at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT (tape delayed on the west coast) and will include up to five bouts.

Gina Carano is a bonafide mma superstar. She has numerous endorsements, lucrative contracts, a bra being auctioned off, and now she will be the newest mma action figure from Round 5 and also the first female figurine. The action figures display massive disproportions usually regarding the hands, heads, and feet of the fight depending on what emphasizes the fighters personality best. So what body parts will be emphasized most on the Gina Carano figurine in order to display her massive appeal and personality? Most observers ask, “Will she repped as the fighter or the figure? And by figure we mean model/cover girl. Guess we’ll all have to wait and see.


“Gina Carano has emerged as a star, not just in MMA but in the mainstream,” said Damon Lau, Round 5 President. “As the first female in the Round 5 line, we expect her figurine to be popular among the sports enthusiasts as well as those who have seen her on TV or in magazines.”


Yes, it will be popular, very popular. Move over Lara Croft action figure there’s a new girl in town.

Gina Carano, World class mma fighter, rising female combat star, fearless competitor and now gorgeous Maxim magazine model. Ms. Carano has posed and been interviewed for the newest issue of Maxim and is off to a very hot start. With a pleasing amount of photos and exotic poses Carano shows off why she not only intimidates women inside the cage but also how she intimidates puny men outside of it. The former EliteXC fighter stays in shape through training and working out diligently as she awaits the pending statues of Pro Elite and her own fight contract. She also apparently, and to the gratitude of many fans and fighters, finds time to pose for Maxim, which is what we’re all lined up for anyways, right? she may not have a fight any time soon but Gina Carano is staying busy and still finding ways to pay the bills. “Does this mean if she doesn’t fight in the next 8 to 10 months we might be seeing a Playboy pictorial?” asks Billy in advertising. And we say, Billy, you’ll just have to wait and see.

Yeah you read it right. Dana White has given women’s mma a slight glimmer of hope. During the GSP/BJ Penn Press Conference, Dana talked openly about giving Gina Carano a chance to fight for the WEC which is very close to the UFC stable at this point in promotion. With the WEC still trying to put on a major pay per view show this shows great forward thinking as Gina is a big draw and would certainly add a large percentage to any PPV broadcast. Gina is riding a wave right now, having beaten challengers throughout her EliteXC matches, showcasing her skills with pride and dignity and now she’s very close to making good money fighting for a legit organization. Thanks to the very excellent cagepotato reporting we get these Dana White droppings:
“Gina Carano is a star. I think she’s talented, I think she’s got all the tools, so what I’m willing to do is bring Gina into the WEC. And we could do fights whenever there’s a challenger for Gina. ["Cyborg!" shouts an audience member.] Obviously. So I think that’s how I’ll test the waters and see how it goes.”
Do you think he means it? Is he just bullshitting us?

This Saturday is not just a precursor for this Sunday’s WEC Faber vs Pulver event rather it’s a large chunk of mma moments wrapped into one night. EliteXC will be showcasing their mma flagship Kimbo Slice as he battles a very game James Thompson. EliteXC will also be highlighting Robbie Lawler and Gina Carano. Lawler will be facing Scott Smith in a title match-up that will undoubtedly feature much striking. Gina Carano, a well seasoned kick boxer, will be facing Kaitlin Young in women’s match. Women’s bouts are not often broadcast and it will be interesting to see if the hyped Carano can take down the very fit Young. Last but not least Kimbo. Yes, Kimbo is expected to win and win big. He is expected to smash his way into our collective consciousness like so many scary movie villains. EliteXC wants the new face of mma to be their fighter. The fans just want to see good striking, a clear ground game and strong fights. Tune in Saturday night to CBS to see if that’s what we get.

As the fire builds to roaring rage for EliteXC’s big MMA Kick-Off Event on Saturday May 31, 2008 so do the words and match-ups. Will Kimbo walk right through James Thompson? Will Gina Carano destroy who’s ever put in front of her? Why isn’t Nick Diaz fighting? But the words catching everybody’s ear’s are that if Kimbo had it his way he’d be fighting legendary boxing star Mike Tyson. Kimbo has harbored strong desires to box “Iron Mike” for more then a long time. Problem is it’s not gonna happen. “I have had no discussions with Mike or anybody surrounding Mike. I know Mike and yes, I would make that fight in a heartbeat,” said EliteXC Live Events President Gary Shaw… reported Sherdog.com, killing all rumors immediately.