Gina Carano action figure set for stores this summer

If you ever wondered what Barbie would look like if she could beat Ken (or GI Joe) up, she’d probably look a lot like a Gina Carano action figure.

Former American Gladiator Crush and top women’s fighter, Gina “Conviction” Carano is not just another pretty face.  She’s well trained in Muay Thai kickboxing and possesses an unbeaten MMA record.

Known to many as the face of female mixed martial arts, Carano has  truly transcended the sport of MMA. Now, the unbeaten star has announced she will be working with Round 5, the leader in collectible MMA figurines, to produce an action figure that reflects her stardom.

Carano (7-0) has emerged as MMA’s most popular female fighter following her stint with the now-defunct EliteXC organization. She became the first female fighter to compete on U.S. network televised when she appeared on CBS in 2008. She was also the first female fighter to appear on Showtime, and she competed in Nevada’s first-ever state-sanctioned female combat-sports bout in 2006.

A pioneer in women’s MMA, Carano has earned additional attention by serving as a mentor/coach on the Oxygen network series “Fight Girls.”

Although now a free agent, Carano is expected to sign with Strikeforce in time for an August bout with Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos. The two were on a collision course in EliteXC before the company’s collapse. The bout will likely be the biggest in female MMA history.

“Gina Carano has emerged as a star, not just in MMA but in the mainstream,” said Damon Lau, Round 5 President. “As the first female in the Round 5 line, we expect her figurine to be popular among the sport’s enthusiasts as well as those who have seen her on TV or in magazines.”

“I’m incredibly blessed to be a part of so many wonderful opportunities and to now be included in Round 5’s line up of gifted fighters is another exciting privilege,” said Carano. “When I was a little girl my dad always joked about making a ‘Gina doll’ and I smile when I think it has become a reality. It is both humbling and invigorating to consider this is just the beginning with so many other gifted women whose figurines are yet to be made.”

The six inch Carano figurine is tentatively scheduled to be released as part of Series 4, which is planned for a summer 2009 release. Carano will maintain creative control of her likeness and will have a major hand in creating the final design. She’ll also benefit from a royalty agreement that gives her a portion of the proceeds.

For more on the company behind the figurines, check out MMAjunkie.com’s Round 5 company profile.

Gina Carano to be auctioned to highest bidder

November 5, 2008 – We talk so much about how empowering and motivating women’s sports can be but we often forget the business side of things.  Professional athletes, like movie and TV stars, are often little more than commodities.  

So what happens when you’ve signed a contract with a company that goes belly-up? Well if you’re MMA fighter Gina Carano, your contract is an asset that can be auctioned to the highest bidder.

The bankrupt EliteXC, who promoted Carano, recently posted a notice of public sale saying its assets will be sold, including the following:

all contracts between any Debtor and mixed martial arts fighters (including, but not limited to, Kevin Ferguson a.k.a. “Kimbo Slice”, Gina Carano, Jake Shields, Robbie Lawler, Frank Shamrock, Antonio Silva, Brett Rogers, Dave Herman, Scott Smith, Nick Diaz, Cristiane Venancio Justino a.k.a. “Chris Cyborg”, Eddie Alvarez, Yves Edwards and Wilson Reis)

Carano and Cris Cyborg, who are two of the highest-profile women in MMA, are caught in the middle of this mess.  They can’t look for fights elsewhere and there maybe potential legal battles when their contracts are bought by promotions they have no interest in fighting for.

Unfortunately, business is business and it’s not always fun.

Gina Carano’s fight future in limbo

October 21, 2008 - The fighting future of top MMA draw Gina Carano is in limbo as word emerged today that the mixed-martial-arts organization Elite XC will file bankruptcy and cease future operations, according to parent company, Pro Elite Inc.

Elite XC, which produced seven of the 10 most-watched MMA matches in U.S. history on two CBS specials in recent months, will be closing its doors at the end of the week. This leaves a roster of fighters, including Carano, looking for work.

Will Carano move to the sport’s highest-profile group the UFC? According to Yahoo Sports,

UFC president Dana White has said he’s not interested in promoting women’s fighting, although Carano’s success as a draw may cause him to reconsider. Her match with Kelly Kobold two weeks ago ended up adding more new viewers than any MMA match on television in the U.S.

Stay tuned.

Gina Carano, Elite XC fighter

October 3, 2008 – Women’s mixed martial arts has hit the main stage and the biggest star on the female MMA scene is Las Vegas native Gina “Conviction” Carano. Carano (6-0) is set to return to action for EliteXC tomorrow night against Kelly Kobald (16-2-1).

Carano’s bout against Kobold, on the main card of EliteXC: Heat, takes place at the BankAtlantic Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and will air live on CBS October 4 beginning at 9pm ET.

Carano’s celebrity has grown in leaps and bounds over the past few months after putting on an exciting fight at EliteXC’s debut show, appearing on the Oxygen network’s Fight Girls show amd NBC’s American Gladiators, and being seen in numerous magazines all over the world.

Though known as the “face” of women’s mixed martial arts, it’s not necessarily the label  she’s looking for. BecauseIPlayedSports.com provides some nice background on Carano. There’s also an LA Times interview today where she talks about her life, ‘American Gladiators’ and the guys at the gym.

Since she’s fighting this weekend, check out Gina’s bio and a video promoting her upcoming Elite XC fight.

 New to MMA?? Read ProElite’s “MMA 101″

(Editors Note: Carano beat Kelly Kobold improving her pro MMA record to 7-0. According to EliteXC, Carano’s next matchup will be against Cris Cyborg and will be the biggest fight in the history of women’s MMA.)