Gina Carano Confident About the Future

The collapse of EliteXC has been a devastating blow for many of the fighters contracted to the promotion. The company’s number on female star has no such worries.

Gina Carano told Rgj.com:

“I’ll be fine. I won’t be hurt. I have lots of offers, but I can’t take any seriously until we figure out what’s happening with Elite XC. We’ll go with the best money offer. I don’t know if you know anybody like this, but I’m one of those people, I’ll always find some place to do something.”

Gina Carano has been the great success story of EliteXC. She was arguably the most recognizable face on their CBS broadcasts - thanks to her stint as Crush in the popular TV series American Gladiators. This popular acclaim is in contrast to the hostility Gina receives from some MMA fans. She is philosophical on the subject:

“I think people can relate to me. I think people like to have my back. Where I’m at in my career, there is no doubt in my mind it’s because people supported me. Sometimes people write horrible things about you, but I’ve got the masses behind me. I do read what people write, so I can have a response. I like to be a little bit prepared. People got me so wrong at the beginning.”

Wherever her future lies, Carano is keen to test herself. One fight that is on the horizon is a clash with the other female stand out from EliteXC, Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos:

“I want to see what I’m capable of. I want to reach my potential. I want to fight opponents that I’m really proud of beating. I’m on my way to reaching my potential. I have it in me. I want to look back after a fight and think I did everything I could.”

“It (a fight with Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos) would be a good fight. It would test my potential. We’re in contact with her. We don’t want to go signing anything yet. We want to make sure we don’t get taken advantage of. That’s the fight everybody wants to see. It’s a tough, risky little business. Everybody is always trying to get the best deals and jack people.”

Carano is well aware that her public image has contributed to her success, but she is keen to stress that she is a genuine fighter- not a pin up.

“People say, ‘She’s doing it to get famous. She’s using her looks’. I don’t mind being female. I don’t mind taking a picture and smiling. I love training. I love the life. It’s the only thing that really keeps me straight in life. Training straightened me up. You’re doing it because you have to. You have to rely on one person in the cage, you might as well be the best you can possibly be.”

Many people were unsure that putting female fights on network TV was a risk. Ironically, with EliteXC in ruins - it is the female fighters who are in most demand.