Strikeforce Looks To Sign Carano
by Robert Sargent
On the heels of the signing of vicious striker Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos, it has been announced that Santos's intended opponent in the former EliteXC promotion, female MMA postergirl Gina "Conviction" Carano, is also in talks with Strikeforce.
Should Carano sign with Strikeforce, it could set the stage for the superfight with Santos, as the two look to determine who is the top female in the 145-pound division.
Santos was originally scheduled to face Dutch standout Marloes Coenen at XMMA 7 in Montreal on February 27th, but her former EliteXC contract was one of 42 picked up by Strikeforce, and she has since withdrawn from the bout with Coenen.
Santos (6-1-0), one of the most aggressive and talented strikers in women's MMA, is set to compete on one of the next two Strikeforce events in 2009. Should Strikeforce sign Carano (7-0-0), the "face of women's MMA," it is all but assured that the two would face each other in the very near future. The fight is arguably the biggest women's bout in mixed martial arts history.
Carano, whose contract was also acquired by Strikeforce but is in the stages of renegotiation, is quite possibly the biggest star to come out of the former EliteXC promotion. Though ex-EliteXC champions such as "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler have solid followings in the sport, the dramatic fall from grace of Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson - the only other fighter with a fanbase comparable to that of Carano - left "Conviction" as the former promotion's crown jewel.
Once steadfast that women would never compete inside a Zuffa-owned ring, even UFC President Dana White has recently shown an interest in Carano, in saying that he would consider having her fight on a WEC card. This alone displays the leaps and bounds that women's mixed martial arts have made in the past year.
When not filming television ads for Pepsi or competing as "Crush" on American Gladiators, Carano has also signed with Round 5 to have a figurine made in her likeness. She continues to train and remains focused on her career. Perhaps her only downfall, at least in recent fights, is her inability to make contracted 140-pound weight limits.
Santos's husband, feared striker Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos, also signed with Strikeforce in 2008, but injuries prevented him from debuting in the promotion. Both Cristiane and Evangelista have expressed interest in fighting on the same card, which would be a historic event in itself.
The recent deal with Showtime and the signings of EliteXC's premier fighters have all but cemented Strikeforce's position as the #2 promotion in North America, if not #2 in the world.
