A Look at Gina Carano, Randy Couture in ESPN The Magazine's 'Body Issue'

ESPN The Magazine's "Body Issue" is making headlines all across the sports world, and two of the biggest stars in mixed martial arts are a part of it. Gina Carano's cover photo will certainly raise a lot of eyebrows for obvious reasons, and the close up of Randy Couture's cauliflower ear will definitely force some to look away. In many ways, the photos feature visual evidence of the pros and cons of training MMA, if you know what I mean.

The inaugural issue hits newsstands on Friday, but remember, Carano's cover is one of six, so don't be disappointed when you find Serena Williams in the buff gracing the cover of the magazine at your local book store. Anyhow, enjoy an early look at the Carano and Couture photos after the jump.

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ESPN The Magazine's 'Body Issue'

Serena Williams is one of nearly 80 athletes featured in ESPN The Magazine's inaugural "Body Issue" which hits newsstands this Friday. Click through to see other top athletes' bodies.

ESPN The Magazine

ESPN the Magazines Body Issue

Serena Williams is one of nearly 80 athletes featured in ESPN The Magazine's inaugural "Body Issue" which hits newsstands this Friday. Click through to see other top athletes' bodies.

ESPN The Magazine

Gina Carano is a talented women's mixed martial arts fighter who competes for Strikeforce.

ESPN The Magazine

From left to right, Natasha Watley, Cat Osterman, Jessica Mendoza, who is eight months pregnant, and Lauren Lappin are all top players on the U.S. women's softball team.

ESPN The Magazine

American Lolo Jones is one of the top hurdlers in the world.

ESPN The Magazine

Carano, who has a 7-1 MMA record, will appear in director Steven Soderbergh's upcoming film, 'Knockout'.

ESPN The Magazine

Amputee Sarah Reinertsen has competed in the Ironman World Triathlon Championship.

ESPN The Magazine

Dwight Howard, who is the one of the top players in the NBA, won a gold medal with Team USA at the Beijing Olympics.

ESPN The Magazine

Natasha Kai is a star on the U.S. women's soccer team and plays for WPS champion Sky Blue FC.

ESPN The Magazine

NASCAR driver Carl Edwards is currently vying for his first NASCAR title in the Chase for the Championship.

ESPN The Magazine

Reinertsen has appeared on the reality TV show, 'The Amazing Race.'

ESPN The Magazine

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

10-07-2009 @ 2:44PM

ongos4me said...

LIKE THEY SAY ...BLACK IS DEFINETLY BEATIFUL...SERENA LOOKS GREAT IN HER PHOTO....AND GINA WOULD BE SOMEONE I WOULD LOVE TO LOSE TO IN THE OCTAGON...I WOULD THROW THE FIGHT

10-07-2009 @ 3:37PM

M13 said...

Do you always have to write in full caps?

10-08-2009 @ 8:02AM

jceasars911 said...

They need to make it her/him take that gender test that they made that runner take!

10-08-2009 @ 7:44PM

hookmrl said...

WHO/

10-07-2009 @ 3:43PM

Eric said...

M13 - Yea, I hate it too. I hide my FB friends that write in caps.

10-07-2009 @ 4:52PM

lol. Seriously.

10-07-2009 @ 4:36PM

Guitar God!!!!!! said...

People. Stay focused here. We are talking about Ginas ta ta's! Lol. Can't wait for the inevitable Playboy spread. No pun intended.

What do you think of that ear though? Just playing.

10-07-2009 @ 5:14PM

lobo121148 said...

Gina Carano's future is in the movies, not the MMA. She has the looks and body too be a action movie star. She'll NEVER be a world class MMA fighter because she's way too pretty. Picture her in a few years IF she keeps fighting, with a couple of Couture ears! Not so cute now is she. You fight enough good fighters, your going to get uglier than you started out. She has the face/body/personality to be a female ARNOLD. She would be a fool to keep fighting, especially after the whipping she got against a REAL MMA women fighter her last outing. That girl was freaking scary, she had the fight won at the judges instructions. Being a pretty women fighter gives the other women who are not so pretty, extra incentive too UGLY you up. Get in the movies GINA, they have stand-ins for the fights!

10-07-2009 @ 5:23PM

gruntridgetodds said...

For years all mainstream magazines printed pics of stick thin waifs... My daughter is a high school athlete and is always worried that she looks too muscular/athletic. Most people think she looks beautiful and real but she's used to stickly models in teen magazines. Hopefully, more emphasis on athletic bodies instead of anorexic bodies will be a positive for athletic girls.

10-07-2009 @ 5:40PM

malcolm said...

ESPN magazine is crappy. Had it for one year then dropped it. Nothing worth reading.

10-07-2009 @ 9:12PM

nankerphelge6 said...

MAYBE HE'S HARD OF HEARING!!!

10-08-2009 @ 2:20PM

Kev said...

What was that you said? Can you speak a litle louder please. Why are you whispering? LOL

10-07-2009 @ 11:06PM

Dinesh said...

i seriously doubt that is gina caranos body, she hasnt looked that fit in years, although she is absolutely beautiful, thats not her body, i have never seen her look that toned

10-08-2009 @ 10:29AM

vqueen1116 said...

After following Gina for over a year, that is not really her body. I love her to death, but come on, you're a fool to think that it hasn't been "enhanced" in some way.

10-08-2009 @ 12:24PM

The cover shot could be altered a little with photoshop & lighting, but the black and white photo looks legit to me ... and she's looking pretty hot in that one IMO.

10-07-2009 @ 11:31PM

stonewt said...

Regarding #1:

'Black' may be beautiful in some cases, but Serena is extremely unattractive. She was included on the cover to provide 'balance' for the much more attractive Gina. The vast majority of the buying public will pass on the Serena cover in favor of the Gina cover.

10-08-2009 @ 5:47AM

James said...

Serena's photo was SERIOUSLY doctored up to make her look more feminine. Length was added to the legs and muscularity has been toned down and air brushed out. If they hadn't done that, she would look more like Kimbo Slice sitting there. Now before everybody jumps on my case and calls me a racist idiot, I am not white and I am a photographer.

10-08-2009 @ 9:56AM

timdavidabbott said...

For those of you who say Gina needs to get into movies, pics, etc. and stay out of the Octagon, obviously haven't seen her fight. She's a bad ass and can beat any woman they put in front of her with the exception of the one woman who beat her.....Cris Cyborg. And there are men who can't beat Cyborg!! But I want to see a rematch to see if Gina can get her belt back from Cyborg.......