Strikeforce--Carano Vs Cyborg

Photo: Cris "Cyborg" Santos celebrates immediately after defeating Gina Carano on Saturday. Credit: Jeff Chiu / Associated Press

Props to Strikeforce for not only promoting a women's fight, but for making it the headline fight. This is huge for MMA and for showing that women can kick some ass. Not to mention, allowing them to fight a proper title fight time of 5, 5 minute rounds. I've always been disappointed in past fights for decreasing the women's fighting time to 3, 3 minute rounds (men fight 3, 5 minute rounds when it is a non-title fight). This isn't basketball--women in MMA don't need different rules when it comes to time. They can train the same, have the same conditioning, and punch just as hard.

(note to Strikeforce--drop the stupid animations showing techniques, drop Shamrock and his man-braces, and for the love of god, drop Mauro and his stupid sayings!)

The Women

This women's title fight is at 145lbs. Gina weighed in at 143; Cyborg at 144. Both have had difficulties meeting weight in the past, although I think it's because the weight was just too light for either of them. (Can I just call bullshit last time about Cyborg not making weight because it was 'her time of the month'--do you see that body? No body fat means no menstrual cycle.) Strikeforce has finally given us a great women's MMA fight--these are 2 fighters worthy of each other. They didn't pull some 120lb girl from Japan or a college boxer who wants to see what this MMA thing is all about. These are fighters with Muay Thai backgrounds who train in MMA with other MMA fighters (not to mention, have some of the best coaches in MMA). They both came in winning their last 7 fights.

The Fight

Stopped at 4:59 in the first round for TKO, Cyborg wins...WOW!!! SO much technique--the punching, the kicks, the sprawls, the ground work, the cage work. This is why I LOVE female MMA fighters. You can see the all of what goes into MMA. Cyborg was good at closing the distance and going after Carano. Her punching power is out of this world. You could see Carano trying to pace, trying to keep the distance and keep the fight going beyond the first round. Carano is there for the fans and wanted to draw out the fight. Cyborg wasn't having it--she came all out and didn't let up. She was there for her. Cyborg is best kneeling over her opponent, and using all of her body and power to punch down. And that's just what she did. Carano was no longer defending herself against the ground and pound, so the referee called it just 1 second before the bell.

You know what else I like about women's MMA? No smack talk. Perhaps it's because the field is small right now, so the female fighters are all in the same pot and support each other. Well, I like it. Gina and Cris hugged it out afterward and were totally respectful of each other through out the hype leading up to the fight and immediately afterward.

Also, how about a shout out for that awesome dragon tattoo on Cyborg's back? (Perhaps we can put her in the running for Tattoo of the Week? - Donna)