Gina Carano talks about her life, 'American Gladiators' and the guys at the gym
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
The woman considered to be the No. 1 women's MMA fighter in the world is scheduled to face Kelly Kobold in Florida.
Gina Carano, with a record of 6-0, is considered the No. 1 women's mixed martial arts fighter in the world. She is scheduled to fight Kelly Kobold (17-2) in the three-round Elite XC semi-main event Saturday night at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla. The card will be televised on Channel 2 beginning at 9 p.m. PDT
Carano, who plays Crush on the television show "American Gladiators" and is the daughter of former Dallas Cowboys backup quarterback Glenn Carano, has drawn rave reviews from MMA fans for her striking ability and equally striking looks.
If the 5-foot-8 Carano defeats Kobold, and top Brazilian fighter Cristiane Cyborg can get past Yoko Takahashi on the same fight card, the winners will meet early next year in what's anticipated to be the most lucrative women's MMA fight in history.
Carano, 26, who lives in her hometown of Las Vegas, recently sat down to talk about her upcoming fight and the demands of her sport.
Question: After weighing in for your last fight four pounds over the 140-pound limit, forcing you to give your opponent a percentage of your winnings, you hired a nutritionist. So, no more trips to McDonald's?
Answer: It's more just a different game plan. I'll eat six times a day, with a specific weight, such as a three-ounce chicken or white fish. No meat, certain kinds of carbs. ... It's just very, very specific."
Q: Elite XC created the 140-pound division specifically for you, but are you thinking of fighting in the more traditional 135-pound division?
A: I started going down to 135 originally because ... there's just so many girls right around that weight. So, I want to keep doing that, but it's just, I've got to figure out my body to do it.
Q: Unlike most MMA fighters, you didn't train in any particular form of self-defense while growing up. Were you one of those who learned on the street?
A: I'd been in a couple fights before, you know, when I was younger, but that was more because, I don't know, I used to always run into trouble for some reason. I think I might have carried a little bit of a chip on my shoulder that caused other females to react in a negative way, or even guys. ... But it was just because I was just socially awkward and I didn't talk a lot and I was just to myself, and sometimes people really confuse that and feel threatened by that. ... I'm not much of a talker either. I don't have anything to say back; I'm not that witty. People take that wrong.
