Cris Cyborg: Leader of the Pack
Written By: TheGARV
Great quote from Cris Cyborg today at the Strikeforce conference call. She was asked: Cris, you beat Gina Carano, who was the face of women’s MMA fighting. I guess now you are the face of women’s MMA fighting. Do you like that role? Cyborg replied:
I wasn’t thinking about who is the face of MMA when I fought Gina. Gina was just another opponent like anyone else. With me being the face of women’s MMA or not, I’m just going over there and doing my job, making sure I’m training hard and leading up the pack for all women in MMA.
Gina Carano ranks 68 on AskMen.com’s Top 99 Women of 2010 (Pic)
Written By: Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com)
Where do you rank her? Arianny Celeste placed 98.
For the other 97 women here.
MMA Quick Pic: More photos from Gina Carano ESPN Body Issue
By: Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com)
Props: MMA Convert
For the first series of pics click here.
Gina Carano ‘Body Issue’ cover pic from ESPN The Magazine
By: MMAmania.com
Props: USA Today
Strikeforce “Carano vs. Cyborg” photo gallery
By: ProMMA
“Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg” took place on Aug. 15, 2009 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. The big winners of the night were Santos, Melendez, Mousasi, and Werdum. Here are some photos of the fighters in action.
To view the complete list of photos go to: ProMMA.info
CYBORG SCORES FIRST-ROUND TKO OVER CARANO IN HISTORIC STRIKEFORCE WOMEN’S WORLD TITLE FIGHT BEFORE 13,524 FANS AT HP PAVILION IN SAN JOSE, CALIF.
Mousasi, Melendez, Werdum Also Victorious
Saturday Aug. 15, 2009, on SHOWTIME®
From HP Pavilion, San Jose, California
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Aug. 16, 2009) – In the biggest, most important and highly anticipated fight in the history of women’s mixed martial arts, Cris Cyborg registered a brutal 4:59, first-round TKO (punches) over Gina Carano before a raucous 13,524 at HP Pavilion here Saturday on SHOWTIME.
For as long as it lasted, the Cyborg-Carano fight was as exciting as it gets. By winning, Cyborg (8-1), of Curitiba, Brazil, earned the first-ever Strikeforce Female 145-pound Championship. Carano, of Las Vegas, fell to 7-1.
The historic, non-stop action match between the two most talented female fighters in the world was stopped by referee Josh Rosenthal a split second before the horn sounded to end the opening round of a scheduled five-round fight.
When the thrilling proceedings were halted, Cyborg was on top of Carano and had delivered approximately 12 clubbing punches with both hands to Carano’s head.
“I just want to thank the fans for all the support I have always received, and to Gina for giving me this opportunity,’’ said a gracious but ecstatic Cyborg, who is a member of Brazil’s famed Chute Boxe fight squad.
Carano, an underdog in the wagering but clearly a crowd favorite, entered the ring to a deafening roar and the fans’ reaction to her introduction was seemingly as loud as one could possibly be.
The incredibly popular Carano gave as much as she took for the most part, but the aggressive-minded Cyborg proved to be too strong for the popular fighter who was making her first start in eight months.
In other televised fights Saturday on SHOWTIME: Gegard “The Dreamcatcher” Mousasi (29-2-1) of Leiden, Netherlands, was victorious for the 13th consecutive time, winning his United States debut and the Strikeforce light heavyweight title by destroying defending champion Renato “Babalu” Sobral (35-9) of Los Angeles via Brazil, at 1:00 of the first-round (TKO, strikes). Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez (16-2) of San Francisco by way of Santa Ana, Calif., avenged one of his two losses and retained the Strikeforce interim lightweight belt with a convincing third-round TKO (punches) over Mitsuhiro “Endless Fighter’’ Ishida (18-6-1) of Japan. Brazil’s Fabricio “Vai Cavallo’’ (12-4-1) Werdum moved closer to a possible world title fight against Fedor Emelianenko with a 1:24, first-round submission (guillotine) over Mike Kyle (12-7-1) of San Jose.
In the second of three Strikeforce world title fights, Mousasi threw a kick but Sobral blocked it and wound up on the ground in a scramble. Mousasi, who was in top position when they hit the ground, quickly unleashed a barrage of punches and that was that, ending Sobral’s five-fight winning streak.
“I am very happy,’’ Mousasi said. “I am willing to fight anybody.’’
Melendez mostly dominated. “The key to this fight was patience and I was patient tonight,’’ he said. “I know what kind of fighter Ishida was, and I knew what I had to do. It’s great to avenge a loss. But I am a different fighter than before.’’
In the opening bout of the telecast, Werdum overcame some early adversity to triumph impressively. “I trained hard and am happy with the result,’’ said Werdum, who resides in Huntington Beach, Calif.
A two-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion who owns a victory over current Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem, Werdum would not be opposed to an immediate crack at Fedor.
Werdum has already defeated one of the Emelianenko brothers. On Nov. 12, 2006, he registered an impressive first round (3:24) submission (arm triangle choke) over two-time Russian National Sambo champion, Aleksander Emelianenko, brother of Fedor
“I would be very happy if Strikeforce wanted to make a fight between Fedor and myself. Fedor is the best in the world and this world be a fantastic opportunity.’’
Saturday’s event will re-air as follows:
DAY CHANNEL
Wednesday, Aug. 19 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT SHOWTIME 2
It will be available ON DEMAND beginning Tuesday, Aug. 18 lasting through Monday, Sept. 14.
Versatile play-by-play broadcast veteran Gus Johnson called the action on SHOWTIME with MMA expert Mauro Ranallo and MMA legend Frank Shamrock serving as expert analysts. Jenn Brown was the roving reporter.
Saturday’s non-televised results: Jay “The Thoroughbred’’ Hieron (18-4), Las Vegas, won a unanimous three round decision (30-37 three times) over Jesse Taylor (13-4), San Diego, at 170 pounds; Scott Lighty (5-0), San Luis Obispo, Calif., TKO (punches) over Mike “The Animal’’ Cook (7-5), Fresno, Calif., at 2:05 of the first round (205 pounds); Justin “The Silverback’’ Wilcox (6-3), San Jose, submitted (rear naked choke) David “Tarzan’’ Douglas (4-2) of Antioch, Calif., at 3:16 of the third at155 pounds; a Cung Le-trained fighter James Terry (7-1), San Jose, made in two straight over Zac Bucia (2-4), San Francisco, winning at 1:23 (TKO) in a rematch at 170 pounds; and Alex Trevino (4-0), of San Jose, submitted (keylock) Isaiah Hill (4-7), of San Jose, at 3:36, of the first round of their 155-pound bout.
Mixed martial arts returns to SHOWTIME on Friday, Sept. 25, when Tim Kennedy headlines Strikeforce Challengers, a series for up-and-comers patterned after SHOWTIME’s popular boxing series ShoBox: The New Generation, at Tulsa, Okla.
For information on Showtime Sports Programming, including exclusive video, photos and news links on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING and EliteXC mixed martial arts telecasts, please go to www.SHO.com/sports
About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL® and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL® XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL® HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL® ON DEMAND. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.
About Strikeforce
Strikeforce is a world-class mixed martial arts cage fight promotion which, on Friday, March 10, 2006, made history with its “Shamrock vs. Gracie” event, the first sanctioned mixed martial arts fight card in California state history. The star-studded extravaganza, which pitted legendary champion Frank Shamrock against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Cesar Gracie at San Jose’s HP Pavilion, played host to a sold-out, record crowd of 18,265. Since 1995, Strikeforce has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming for ESPN and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship kickboxing promotion, the company unveiled its mixed martial arts series with “Shamrock vs. Gracie.” Since then, it has co-produced one of the first SHOWTIME PPV mixed martial arts event in history with its world championship “Shamrock vs. Baroni” card on June 22, 2007 followed by the first-ever mixed martial arts event at the world-famous Playboy Mansion on September 29, 2007.
STRIKEFORCE PREDICTIONS
By Gary Herman
Gina Carano vs. Cris Cyborg (for Strikeforce 145-pound women’s title)
Needless to say, this is a historic fight for women’s MMA. By pitting Carano against Cyborg, Strikeforce also has the fighters that can deliver on the hype. The fight should be a stand up war for as long as it lasts. In the end, Cyborg’s power and aggressiveness will overwhelm Carano. I’d take Carano in the rematch once she adjusts to Cyborg’s style, but in this fight, Carano won’t be prepared for the tornado that is coming. Cyborg wins by first round TKO.
Renato Sobral vs. Gegard Mousasi (for Strikeforce light heavyweight title)
This fight has a chance to be boring. Sobral is a good fighter, but his style isn’t the most fan-friendly. He’s at his best when he’s grinding out submission wins. On the other hand, Mousasi is a good striker that also has a talented ground game. Will it be enough to stop Sobral? Yes, eventually Mousasi will catch Sobral standing. Sobral has shown a weak chin in the past, and Mousasi will expose it. Mousasi wins by third round TKO.
Gilbert Melendez vs. Mitsuhiro Ishida (for Strikeforce interim lightweight title)
Back on New Year’s Eve 2007, Ishida handed Melendez his first loss in a close, tough fight at the Yarennoka show. Now, Melendez gets a chance to avenge the defeat. Ishida used a lot of stalling and ground fighting to secure the victory, but it’s a style Melendez should be able to prepare for the second time around. Having the extra two rounds will also help Melendez. Melendez wins by fourth round TKO.
PRO MMA “Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg” staff picks
By: ProMMA
Once again the PRO MMA (promma.info) staff has come together to lend our oh so professional opinions on this weekend’s “Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg” event. Together we summoned the power of the MMA gods to grant us wisdom and insight into this historical evening headlined by Gina Carano vs. Cristiane Santos.
We have made our predictions for the main card, so check our picks and let us know what you think. Do you agree or disagree? Who is right on the money and who is off their rocker? “Carano vs. Cyborg” takes place Sat., Aug. 15, 2009 and airs on Showtime beginning at 10:30 p.m. CT/PT.
To view the complete fight go to: ProMMA.info
Gina Carano, Mitsuhiro Ishida workout quotes and photos
By: ProMMA
SAN JOSE, CALIF. (Aug. 11, 2009) – Female MMA superstar Gina Carano and Japanese wrestling expert Mitsuhiro Ishida participated in a media workout Tuesday at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif.
Two of the top female fighters in the world, the undefeated Carano and Brazilian powerhouse Cris Cyborg will battle for the first-ever STRIKEFORCE Women’s Championship title on Saturday, Aug. 15 live on SHOWTIME® at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.
To view the complete article go to: ProMMA.info
Carano vs Cyborg video: ‘Behind the hype’
By: Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com)
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