With her next big fight a month away, Gina Carano is jet-setting this week. Tuesday, she was in NYC for a press conference for her upcoming fight against Cris Cyborg on Aug. 15 in San Jose, the first ever female MMA headlining fight. Yesterday, she was back out in L.A. for last night’s ESPY Awards (“We’ve got dresses, high heels – it’s kind of a different scene. It’s a nice thing to do every once and awhile”). Somehow she found a few minutes to chat, and after I informed her that FOX was rehashing her Bruce Lee impression during the All-Star game on Tuesday (the Pepsi commercial…that wouldn’t stop recurring), she filled me in on her upcoming fight and her brief stopover in NYC…
This will be your eighth pro fight, making you for all intents and purposes a seasoned vet. Without giving away any secrets, what’s the weirdest thing you do to get ready for a fight?
I just turn into this crazy, focused, healthy person which is not at all what I’m like normally – I’m all over the place usually. I also stay by myself alot when I train. I become sort of a hermit.
Where does Gina Carano go in NYC? Do you roll with bodyguards, or is that unnecessary?
I was only in NYC for 48-hours, but we got to go out a little one night. I roll by myself a lot. It’s funny, everyone always expects me to have an entourage. The fans are usually pretty cool – come up to me and tell me they admire what I’m doing.
This being the first time a women’s match will headline a fight card makes this an unparalleled landmark in the history of MMA. Looking back, is there a moment in sports history you can remember watching that stands out as particularly memorable to you personally?
I’ve always been more of player and would rather be out there competing. And with MMA there were no real established female fighters to look up to, so I had to kind of make my own way. My dad did play for the Dallas Cowboys, so I remember watching them growing up.
As you know, the other night was the Major League Baseball All-Star game. We know that you have a pretty extensive background in a few different sports (volleyball, softball, basketball). Were you ever an All-star, and what was your greatest All-star achievement?
My fondest memory as a player was definitely leading my high school basketball team to state and winning the state championship. I was the point guard and got the MVP!
Cris Cyborg, Cyborg Santos – sounds more like a comic book villian. Have you ever thought about fighting under an alias?
Well, Conviction is my ring name, but I’d never go by anything but my real name. When I’m in the ring, it’s purely me in there.
Lastly, prediction for the fight? (Don’t just say “pain”)
I don’t usually make predictions, but I don’t think it’s going to go the distance.
Check out Gina’s blog on Yardbarker.com as she prepares to face Cris Cyborg for the 145 lb. Female World Title, Saturday, Aug. 15.
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