Gina Carano backlash?
It was reported in Variety that director Steven Soderbergh has committed to directing a spy thriller starring the face of women’s MMA, Gina Carano. Which means less time in the gym for Carano and that it will probably be awhile before we see another women’s MMA fight headlining a major card.
In instances like this, it’s always fascinating to see how the hardcore fans take it. When a tennis player like Anna Kournikova decides to spend more time posing seductively for cameras than working on her overhand, “true fans” go ballistic. They feel she’s tarnishing everything she has done for the sport with her visibility and that she’s doing nothing to show young girls out there that they can be successful without becoming a model at the same time.
Those people are annoying. They are wrong. And, most importantly, their opinion doesn’t matter.
I don’t know how Carano’s fans will take the news. If they are reasonably intelligent, they should be happy for her. But I’m sure you will have plenty of fans question her dedication to the sport and her desire to be a great fighter. And it’s true that this move for her will mean women’s MMA takes a step back from the spotlight, at least while she’s involved in this project (and maybe longer, if it does well).
I really hope her hardcore fans don’t vilify me for this, because you don’t see too many people upset with Randy Couture, Rampage Jackson or Rich Franklin (among others) when they take movie parts.
I’m sure a lot of people will call her a sellout but she’s done more than her fair share for women’s MMA and she deserves a payday bigger than what she’s getting currently. She should do what’s right for Gina Carano, not what’s right for women’s MMA.
In instances like this, it’s always fascinating to see how the hardcore fans take it. When a tennis player like Anna Kournikova decides to spend more time posing seductively for cameras than working on her overhand, “true fans” go ballistic. They feel she’s tarnishing everything she has done for the sport with her visibility and that she’s doing nothing to show young girls out there that they can be successful without becoming a model at the same time.
Those people are annoying. They are wrong. And, most importantly, their opinion doesn’t matter.
I don’t know how Carano’s fans will take the news. If they are reasonably intelligent, they should be happy for her. But I’m sure you will have plenty of fans question her dedication to the sport and her desire to be a great fighter. And it’s true that this move for her will mean women’s MMA takes a step back from the spotlight, at least while she’s involved in this project (and maybe longer, if it does well).
I really hope her hardcore fans don’t vilify me for this, because you don’t see too many people upset with Randy Couture, Rampage Jackson or Rich Franklin (among others) when they take movie parts.
I’m sure a lot of people will call her a sellout but she’s done more than her fair share for women’s MMA and she deserves a payday bigger than what she’s getting currently. She should do what’s right for Gina Carano, not what’s right for women’s MMA.
Kevin Richardson has been a fan of mixed martial arts competition ever since UFC 3, when 600-pound sumo wrestler Emmanuel Yarborough was beaten by Keith Hackney. Kevin will cover the world of MMA — in Baltimore, nationally and internationally. He plans to take readers into the locker rooms and MMA schools, where they'll hear from local fighters and trainers. If you have a news tip or suggestions for the blog, please 
Comments
I'm sick and tired of everyone saying that Gina Carano is the 'face' of women's MMA. The bottom line is that she isnt that good of a fighter AND there have been many other (more talented) woman fighters that go completely unnoticed because they aren't as physically attractive as Carano. Lets call Carano what she really is: A hot piece of ass and nothing more..
Posted by: Mytwocents | September 8, 2009 4:49 PM
Could not agree more! A true fan would be nothing but happy for her and she deserves it! I can't stand the ridiculous stuff i've been reading since it came out she was going to be in the movie...Go Gina!!!
Posted by: J | September 8, 2009 5:05 PM
i disagree anna kournikova did not make the game of tennis look like she was professsional i think she was more interested in her looks and her fame she was not an inspiration to young girls loving the game of tennis.
Posted by: adrianna | September 8, 2009 5:06 PM
Yes she needs to think about Gina Carano for a change. People critized her for her first loss. Lets see how succesfully wmma is without Gina carano!?
Posted by: Armando | September 8, 2009 7:12 PM
I can understand why hardcore fans would be disappointed in Gina's decision. It's mostly because they want her to reach her full potential but she's distracted by other things. Have you ever been a hard core fan of anyone or an ideal? Anyway, I'm actually excited for her. This is an opportunity of a lifetime.
There will always be haters out there. Can't please everyone all the time right?
Posted by: Interesting | September 9, 2009 12:45 AM
I didn't realize Gina had hardcore fans and if they do exist I'm not sure why. She's not a great fighter and her looks are only good relative to other women's MMA fighters.
Posted by: Corey | September 9, 2009 11:26 AM
It's funny that some are saying she's not a good fighter. I'll give ya the fact she hadn't fought the best before facing "Cyborg." However, that was her first loss... and she hung in there for bit with perhaps the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world before being overpowered - which can happen to any fighter when they simply don't have the strengh to keep up.
Posted by: Kyle | September 10, 2009 12:05 PM
As a hardcore Gina Carano fan I will say it is tough to see her take time away from the sport she has been training so hard to become a front runner. I understand taking opportunities when they come...but it is disappointing that she is not training for a rematch/comeback.
Posted by: Kelly | September 11, 2009 1:08 PM
she was exposed when fighting a woman her own size.beaten mentally as well as physically.i think she will walk...and make as much money as she can while her name still is somewhat in the limelight
Posted by: walter robertson | September 12, 2009 10:43 AM
It bugs me that she has only had one loss and people are saying she is not a good fighter. She has 7 wins and just the one loss. (and lets be honest, cyborg is probably on so many steroids she's growing a pair of testes right now...) I guess if a 7-1 win loss ratio means she is "not a good fighter", then in comparison, I guess Randy Couture must be a piece of shit with a 16-10 record.
Carano has fought good fighters and just because she lost a match doesn't mean she's no good. She has time and room to improve on her skills and become even better. If she wants to branch out to other things as well, why shouldn't she? She doesn't owe anything to anybody except herself. Especially if people are going to jump all over her for losing to a tough opponent who was the better fighter that night.
Posted by: Mark | September 14, 2009 6:17 PM
I whole heartedly agree with Mark. People are jealous that a good looking woman like her is also a good fighter.
Come on , if 7-1 isnt good enough , then what else someone has to do to prove that they are a good fighter ? Have sex with you ???
Mr.MyTwocents, we all know there is always smeone better than the best we know. Thanks for your two cents on that. But that is not the point, among the people that are in the ring , Carano is one of the best. No one said she is the top fighter since the beginning of time to date.
Besides, she has the best attitude inside and outside the ring. She is very affable and makes sure that the opponent is ok after every fight. She has a good nature to go with her talent. I am all for her movie. Rock On Gina .....
Posted by: Jiggy | October 13, 2009 11:54 AM
Gina is an alright fighter but she is far from being the best women's mma fighter... and she is not the face of womens fighting she lacks talent but she has a good face to put on a poster.... By her being all cute and pretty just put Womens fighting back an other 10 years basical it will turn into FOXY BOXING.... there is sooooo much talent out there!!!!! respect people for what they can do!! no what they say or look like
Posted by: nick | November 6, 2009 8:08 PM