EliteXC Folds: What Happens to Gina Carano? Women's MMA Takes a Hit

The news that EliteXC is out of business doesn't really make that big of a difference, in the grand scheme of things, to men's mixed martial arts. The sport will go on just fine, with UFC or Affliction likely to offer contracts to a few top fighters like Jake Shields and Eddie Alvarez.

But EliteXC was by far the No. 1 promotion of women's mixed martial arts, and it had done a fairly good job of promoting its female fighters, especially Gina Carano, who is a bona fide star. There was quite a bit of buzz surrounding Carano's proposed fight with Cris Cyborg, and now there's no promotion for that fight.

If Affliction is smart, it will act quickly to sign Carano vs. Cyborg for its scheduled show in early 2009. Carano and Cyborg are recognizable names who come on the cheap (Carano made $25,000 for her last fight and Cyborg significantly less), which means they're perfect for a Fedor Emelianenko undercard.

I also think it's time for UFC President Dana White to reconsider his opposition to women's MMA. White has said categorically that women will not fight in the UFC, but I would propose that Zuffa, UFC's parent company, should add women's MMA to WEC, its smaller organization. If WEC signed Carano, it would do a great deal to draw attention to its other top fighters, including Urijah Faber and Miguel Torres.

The bottom line is that Carano is a real star of the sport, and now she's a star without a home. Let's hope that isn't the case for long.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

10-21-2008 @ 9:22AM

Eric said...

Michael - With the WEC already getting rid of some of their upper weight divisions, do you think that Zuffa will keep the WEC going? Even with great fighters like Torres and Urijah, I don't think they can keep the WEC in good shape while only promoting lower weight divisions.

Personally, I would rather see the UFC add the 135 & 145 divisions ... or maybe just 145 (Torres could fight at 145 ... they could unify the titles at 145). I think this would give more credit to the weight division champs in the UFC ... the average viewer might believe that GSP & Carlos Condit are of a similar caliber.

The only problem I see is contractual ... the UFC has a contract with Spike, and the WEC is with VS.

10-21-2008 @ 6:40PM

LT said...

I think WEC has come to be known as the light-weight league (no slight intended there), so the females, who are usually in the 140-lb class, would fit in perfectly.

I've already said amongst friends that Carano would be a great fit for WEC.

10-21-2008 @ 10:47AM

Brayan said...

Gina is fun but for how long i dont know.
Cyborg is her last opponent who has a decent fame and fan base. After that its killer fighters who are not well known, like Gina, who could very well give her an upset.
Yuka Tsuji (19/1/0).
Megumi Fujii (13/0/0)
Tara Larosa (15/1/0)
Rosi Sexton (8/1/0)
Vanessa Porto (7/2/0)
Roxanne Modafferi (11/4/0)

.

10-21-2008 @ 11:18AM

I agree that there are many difficult matchups out there for Carano, but Cyborg is much more dangerous than the fighters you mentioned (with the possible except of Larosa).

BTW, Carano already has a KO victory over Sexton.

10-21-2008 @ 11:54AM

Joe T said...

I also enjoy the UFC add the 135 & 145 divisions, as for Gina, with her looks she'll have no trouble getting hooked up with fights and promotions.

http://www.fromthecage.com

10-21-2008 @ 12:56PM

b said...

Gina is great. She's a good athlete and has a great personality. Either Affliction or WEC (or UFC) has to jump on this.
Cyborg is a hell of a fighter as well.

10-21-2008 @ 1:21PM

Tim said...

I hope that the women find a home for MMA fighting. It seems to be much more entertaining watching women of MMA; than those who throw those round-house, looping, awkward punches in boxing.
To the person comparing Georges St. Pierre with Carlos Condit: I know of no one who would think those two are remotely close. In fact, I don't think that Calos Condit would make the top five in that division of the UFC. Now, Urijah, he would give even Penn a good fight--that would be great to have that kid fight in the UFC; but, I doubt it will happen.
One more thing; This thing that Trump is putting on is so foolish. Who, not signed to an MMA contract, is going to last more than the time it takes Fedor to walk to the middle of the ring a throw one leg-kick? That is not smart. Trump had one Reality TV show and now he thinks he is Don King in a different hair-do

10-21-2008 @ 1:44PM

I totally agree that Condit wouldn't be in the top 5 in the UFC ... my point was - when you have 2 belts under the same ownership, it takes the prestige away from both. And trust me the average new fan doesn't know the difference ... the average fan didn't know that Kimbo was a joke either!

I really hope that "Fighting Fedor" show doesn't happen. Like you said, they are going to sift through the newbies and dropouts to find someone to put in the ring with the best fighter on the planet ... ? At least they couldn't do worse than Sylvia!

10-21-2008 @ 1:30PM

Pod135 said...

Aren't Tsuji and Fujii 115lbs?
Sexton - what Eric said
Porto - beaten by Cyborg and Modafferi

Really, Carano could retire unquestionably accomplished after 3 fights considering their top rank and styles - Cyborg, LaRosa and Modafferi.

10-24-2008 @ 11:50AM

wolf-1 said...

Corruption is already infilltrating some of our US based Organizations, Illigal betting is just the tip of the Iceberg, I'll now watch Fights comming from Japan based Orginazations ,for they, at least up to now seemed to be on the up and up.

10-30-2008 @ 1:23PM

Keyona Washburn said...

I find it extremely sad that as hard as women fighters work to be accepted in fighting like boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA) I think it is horrible that women can’t seem to catch a break in fighting sports. I know for myself I am a female boxer, and I am training in MMA, so that when I retire from boxing I can continue fighting in MMA, or vice versa. But I wish these male chauvinist PIGS would accept the fact that women can fight, and we probably work harder then anyone in order to get the recognition and pay we REALLY DESERVE. And we work hard for the simple fact we want to perfect our skills and show people that we mean business, and we are REAL FIGHTER’S. It is a shame that EliteXC folded since they did support women fighters, but as far as Mr. Dana White goes, you should support women’s Mixed Martial Arts and not through a women’s fight in a show hear and there, but you should really support women’s MMA because we are excellent fighter’s just like the men. And we deserve the pay, recognition, and respect just like the men in the UFC receive, and more.
So this part is to the whole entire universe SUPPORT women’s Mixed Martial Arts, Boxing, Kickboxing, Maui Thai, and everything because we work just as hard as any man does.

10-31-2008 @ 1:49AM

peter p. said...

keyona, you are so right. women are, in my opinion more exciting to watch than men. ( skilled women ) women have much more heart that men do. women fighters never take a round off. they are 100 percent 100 percent of the time. i fight judo and the women competitors in judo are ferrocious. i think it has to do with their ability to commit. unlike men, who offten are affraid to pull the trigger. when women make a decision, they go all out. i think its just part of their make up.
to touch on why mma has not fully embraced womens fighting. i believe it comes down to simple marketing. if dana white believes most of his fan base is not interested in womens mma, then he wont have it. now he is probably right, however, the more oportunity women have to display their talent, the more interested the fans will become. for the simple fact, women throw down and it is exciting. the more women throw down, the more likely men would put their ego aside and admit to themselves, that women have tremendous skills.