Gina Carano Pockets $125,000 In Defeat

by Robert Sargent

Though she was handily defeated by Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos on Saturday, things were not all bad for Gina Carano. Picking up a total of $125,000 in disclosed pay - five times what she made in EliteXC - Carano set a precedence for future fights.

Despite besting Carano, Santos made just $25,000 for her title-winning efforts, which included a $5,000 bonus for winning the rather lopsided fight.

A visibly distraught Carano made a hasty exit following her loss to Santos, but she was a part of history on the night. The card marked the first time that a women's bout had headlined a major mixed martial arts event in North America.

Despite being the biggest star of the former EliteXC promotion, Carano made just $25,000 per fight, which was a mere fraction of the totals paid to male competitors on the same cards. Her negotiations with Strikeforce led to a much more suitable contract, which saw her take home five times the amount that she made in EliteXC.

However, Carano seems to be more focused on the loss, and her future is uncertain at the moment. There are a number of great fights left for Carano to pursue, but she will need to overcome any doubts that the fight with Santos has created in her mind.

For Santos, as the new champion, her purses for future fights will likely be much higher. Provided that she continues to make weight without issue, Santos could potentially hold the title for quite some time.


The event, which MMARising.com was in attendance for, drew 13,976 fans for a total gate of $735,710.