Gina Carano’s potential rise in the UFC was a topic of discussion long before Ronda Rousey entered the organization. Early negotiations aimed at securing a fight between Carano and Rousey were ultimately unsuccessful, leading to a shift in the matchup to Netflix.
Gina Carano’s Journey in MMA
Carano expressed her desire to make a UFC debut, recounting her past aspirations. Despite opportunities missed during her absence from fighting, she has no regrets about her decisions. In an interview with MMA Fighting, Carano reflected on how her career choices shaped her journey.
Discussions with Dana White
Over a decade ago, conversations between Gina Carano and UFC President Dana White focused on her possible comeback. Originally, they discussed her fighting Ronda Rousey, but the discussions fell through. Carano recalled that before her 2009 match against Cris Cyborg, White advised her against taking that fight.
- White and Lorenzo Fertitta encouraged Carano to join the UFC.
- Carano felt obligated to honor her commitment to fight Cyborg.
Carano stated, “I had a meeting with Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta, and they were like, ‘Do not fight Cyborg and come to the UFC.’” However, her commitment to fighting Cyborg steered her down a different path in her career.
Consequences of Her Decisions
After her defeat to Cyborg, Carano’s trajectory shifted dramatically. She was approached by filmmaker Steven Soderbergh for a leading role in a film just a week later. Carano believes had she won the fight against Cyborg, her focus would have stayed on MMA.
- She would have defended a title, limiting her time for acting.
- Carano expresses contentment with the direction her life took instead.
Despite her exit from MMA, Carano’s absence was felt until the UFC introduced women’s divisions in 2013. She remains a notable figure in the sport’s history, reflecting on what might have been during her earlier days.
