I must admit, when UFC commentator Joe Rogan recently made his now infamous tease about some massive women’s MMA news coming down the pike, Gina Carano, 31, hardly came to mind. The women’s MMA pioneer has been absent from the sport going on five years and the likelihood of a return to competition was sandwiched somewhere between Brock Lesnar and Jerry Rice. With chatter of a possible UFC debut against women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey reaching a fever pitch, it seems Carano even felt the need to weigh-in.
Speaking with FOX Sports, Carano explains that despite her layoff, she’s maintained her open-ended status should just this sort of occasion arise.
“I don’t mind it at all. I’ve never retired. I’ve never officially said that,” says Carano. “For some reason a part of me has always kept it open. I don’t know, there’s a certain part of me that thinks if circumstances were right, and I could keep doing what I’m trying to make my future into, that’s an ideal world. If circumstances were right, you never know. I’m very open to it.”
Carano is keeping details fairly tightlipped, but it certainly sounds as if talks have progressed beyond idle flirting.
“I feel like I can’t say too much. I’ve got all this information that if I could just speak freely, this is actually what’s going on,” Carano teased. “I wish I could open up my mind and tell you exactly the things that I’ve seen and the conversations that I’ve had, but I think to sum it up in a nice, safe way for me is if circumstances were right, and if it’s a good enough circumstance (I would come back) because my first love is MMA.
“Of course I haven’t trained for a fight in a long time so it gets kind of interesting when these rumors start coming up. But if I ever did do something like that, I would want the circumstances to be correct and right.”
Unlike Rousey, who enjoys juggling her Octagon duties with appearing in Hollywood films, Carano says a return to fighting would require her complete focus, making it that much harder for the emerging action star to step away from acting.
“I’m more of a fan of MMA now than I’ve ever been. I’m saying if the circumstance was right, I’d definitely consider it. If the circumstances were right.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Weidman injured. UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman has suffered a slight knee injury, forcing his title bout with Lyoto Machida to be moved from UFC 173 to UFC 175 in July.
The ol’ fighter-cookie analogy. Phil Davis‘ trash talk is making me hungry. “I think of Jon Jones as a shortbread cookie. He’s soft, he’s sweet, but when I get my hands on him he’s going to crumble in the palm of my hand, that’s what I think about Jon Jones.”
“I was happy.” Melvin Guillard doesn’t sound too broken up about being cut by the UFC. “For me to be in the UFC for nine years and not even break the 50/50 mark in pay, that’s like working at a Fortune 500 and not getting a promotion at all.”
‘Our Mayweather vs. Pacquiáo.’ Invicta FC president Shannon Knapp says a fight between Ronda Rousey and Cris Cyborg risks being the next Fedor vs. Randy.
Lunch with DFW. Dana White clues in the Financial Times on the UFC’s true valuation and claims three fighters have earned at least $30 million during their careers with the promotion.
It’s Tuesday, so make sure to check out The MMA Hour featuring Dave Meltzer, Phil Davis, Arianny Celeste, Kenny Florian, Steve Carl and Melvin Guillard.
MEDIA STEW
Free fight: Randy Couture vs. Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 102.
Highlights from Bellator 113.
Heavyweight boxer and training partner Dillian Whyte explains what went wrong for Jimi Manuwa against Alexander Gustafsson.
UFC matchmakers Joe Silva and Sean Shelby talk fighter development.
Highlights from Cage Warriors FC 66.
Great update on Matt Grice.
Long watches.
5 Rounds on Henderson vs. Shogun, Cutting-Edge Training & Anniversary Reflection
TWEETS
Victory lap.
I hope that fight lived up to everyone’s expectations! Thanks for supporting me. Much respect to @shogunrua, I’ll always be a fan.
— Dan Henderson (@danhendo) March 24, 2014
Glad I could get the job done for my biggest little fan !! http://t.co/GWDI6dwvYl
— CB Dollaway (@cbdollaway) March 24, 2014
Toda galera reunida, obrigado meu deus!! Osss #ufcnatal http://t.co/ZhhernAz0H
— Rony Mariano Bezerra (@RonyJasonMMA) March 24, 2014
@JussierFormiga:”Muito feliz por vencer em casa, com o apoio da torcida, ainda mais um rival duro como o Jorgensen”. pic.twitter.com/Thx3gl1ZNP
— UFC Brasil (@ufc_brasil) March 23, 2014
Thank you all for all the support. Especially my wife, @MamaJRob , who is always there to keep me in line.
— Kenny Robertson (@170Kenny) March 23, 2014
Obrigado a todos pelas mensagens. Muito feliz pela vitoria, premiação e pelo bebe que esta por vir. Obrigado deus.
— Godofredo Pepey (@Pepey10) March 24, 2014
Better luck next time.
I guess that’s what makes MMA exciting, but losing hurts a lot. Now I want to enjoy my wife and daughters for a while. Tks for all the msgs!
— Shogun Rua (@ShogunRua) March 24, 2014
Muito obrigado a todos que me apoiaram para essa luta e acreditem eu vou voltar mais forte , vamos rever os erros e trabalhar duro . .
— Cezar Ferreira (@cezarmutante) March 24, 2014
RT if you would like to see @LeoSantosbjj and me rematch in DUBLIN to see who truly won the fight!!!@ufc @UFC_UK @ufc_brasil @IrelandUFC
— STORMIN NORMAN PARKE (@norman_parke) March 24, 2014
I want to thank coaches, training partners, family and friends for their amazing support. I’m upset that I fell short tonight. I’ll be back.
— Gian Villante (@GPVillante) March 24, 2014
P.S it was fucking hot in there!!!
— Gian Villante (@GPVillante) March 24, 2014
Wish it went on longer but great job @RonyJasonMMA Def a hell of a fighter and a great guy guarantee we could of put on a great show
— Steven Siler (@Stevesiler) March 24, 2014
Obrigado. Voltarei melhor! pic.twitter.com/Do2eC0eGL1
— Ronny Markes (@RonnyMarkes) March 24, 2014
24hrs home to the wife n kid #ineedhug hahaha
— Scott jorgensen (@Scottjorgensen) March 24, 2014
Mesmo disse, não foi o cancer que derrubou ele então não vai ser essa derrota que vai, ele vai dar a volta por cima pode ter certeza!!
— Thiago Perpétuo M099 (@BodaoThiagoMMA) March 23, 2014
Loosing sucks but its part of the sport now I’m relaxing and working on my acai poisoned @arielhelwani what u got? pic.twitter.com/D0IiDkwR9q
— noad lahat (@Neo_MMA) March 24, 2014
Fair?
Hey @danawhite, let me have @lyotomachidafw, just like you let him have @jonnybones when I got hurt @ufc
— Dan Henderson (@danhendo) March 25, 2014
Get well soon.
Have to get minor surgery and push the fight back to July 4th weekend. Really excited about this fight. Thanks for all the well wishes!
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) March 25, 2014
Surgery this morning and headed home on some great pain meds poor @ChristinaDH11 @ pic.twitter.com/15b7oobl6m
— Johny Hendricks (@JohnyHendricks) March 24, 2014
Congrats.
Congrats to my team mates @PendredMMA and @chrisfieldsmma on making it into The Ultimate Fighter house, representing Ireland and SBG!! #Eire
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 24, 2014
UFC Insider came to film & it was an honor to give love to those who support me, thank you @Revgear & @CF_Athletic! pic.twitter.com/Qo7h6GuWHL
— Bobby King Green (@BobbyKGreen) March 24, 2014
Just left the doctor , I’m cleared to return to action , let the games begin ! #UFC
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) March 24, 2014
7 years ago today I made my WEC/Zuffa debut with a 1st round submission win over Tommy Lee! #wecneverforget pic.twitter.com/KRtCHw6ggN
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) March 24, 2014
The people have spoken.
Diaz vs Hendrix http://t.co/3ia1365ExZ #Retweet
— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) March 25, 2014
Good stuff.
For all who missed my fight Friday Night Bellator MMA Here is link http://t.co/lyrrDPLxiV Like I said… http://t.co/0bmJ8Gqaau
— LC Davis (@lc_davis) March 24, 2014
My research of Noches Con Platinito ended very quickly.
Filming #NochesconPlatinito w @titoortiz pic.twitter.com/uoS3GRNspg
— Julianna Peña (@VenezuelanVixen) March 25, 2014
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Mar. 24 2014)
Chris Weidman vs. Lyoto Machida moved from UFC 173 to UFC 175
Pawel Pawlak vs. Peter Sobotta at UFC Fight Night: Berlin
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via DirtyBird2.
The Event we’ve all been waiting for! Bellator MMA 114 Rundown
Hello folks, If you’ve been around here the past 2 months patrolling the comments you’ve probably seen me pumping up this event in particular. Although it may not seem it to the untrained eye This event is stacked.
Alexander Shlemanko is finally back defending his title, riding an astounding 12 fight win streak, since losing to UFC title contender Hector Lombard. Including a first round stoppage of Doug Marshall, two decisions over Brett cooper, among others. He will face 9-1 prospect Brennan Ward who is a serious threat to the title. This dude is a grinder, he will wear you down the whole fight and can finish as well. And at the ripe young age of 25 this dude can only get better. We’ve got another cold war for the Bellator title.
Speaking of Brett Cooper, he will face 13 fight UFC veteran, Show fight MW champion, and The Ultimate Fighter season 3 winner Kendall “Da Spyer” Grove in the opening round of the Bellator MW tournament. Cooper is coming off back to back losses, in which he was KO’d by Marshall, and then lost a very close fight with the Champion, but before all that he was riding a very nice 6 fight win streak. He will look to right the ship against Grove in the first fight on the Main card on SpikeTv.
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Check out the rest of the post here.
Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.