Dana White Says UFC Is Getting Gina Carano Contract Done Next Week
It looks like UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey may have some stern competition coming up through the ranks, as we learned earlier in the week that the promotion had signed pro boxer turned 7-0 MMA prospect Holly Holm. Dana White had been pursuing the signing for a while, but not as long as he has been talking about acquiring Gina Carano.
Last seen getting TKOd by (a likely juicing) Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino at featherweight in 2009, the former Strikeforce champion ‘Crush’ has taken up a career in acting. But as White says to ESPN, he plans on locking Carano in to a UFC contract as soon as next week:
“One down, one to go,” White said. “I’m going to meet with Gina next week and get that f—ing thing done. Next week, man. It’s just a matter of me and Lorenzo going to jump on a plane to Los Angeles, get in a room with her and her lawyer and get this thing done. There is no doubt about it, she wants to fight,” White said. “And she wants to fight Ronda.”
This is huge news for the UFC women’s 135-pound division, and just days after we learn that ‘Cyborg’ is scheduled to make her bantamweight debut for Invicta FC. It would be a clean sweep for the UFC if they were able to capture Justino by the end of the year too. But would it be too soon for Gina to fight Rousey right away?
After all, even Holm who has been very active recently is taking at least one tune up fight, so why would Carano risk facing the best female fighter on the planet after five years away from active MMA? Perhaps she sees some holes in the champion’s game, or maybe she is just that confident in her own abilities. Whatever the case, it would be a huge risk.
‘Rowdy’ recently smashed Alexis Davis in just 16 seconds at UFC 175, raising questions about the legitimacy of the talent in the top 10 of the division; questions, it seems, that are being addressed with the acquisition of new (potential) superstars in the UFC women’s category. One big question stands above the rest though, do Carano, Holm or anyone else possess what is required to end the champion’s dominance?
