On June 10th, 2006, Gina Carano began fighting for women's place in United States Mixed Martial Arts competition. After earning an impressive 12-1-1 record in Muay Thai competition, "Conviction" knocked Leiticia Pestova out in 38 seconds in Nevada's first sanctioned Women's MMA bout. 6 fights later, Carano is undefeated, continues to crack the glass ceiling for women in Mixed Martial Arts and is an inspiration for aspring women mixed martial artists. The efforts are monumental enough that Carano is touted in the media and within the MMA community as "the face of Women's Mixed Martial Arts."
But, Christiane Santos is ready to test and rearrange Carano's pretty face on Saturday, August 15th, 2009. Universally known as "Cyborg," the Brazilian-born Santos began honing her craft in Curitaba, Brazil in 2005. After treating SmackGirl (a Japanese women's MMA promotion) fighter Hitomi Akano like a punching bag on April 11th, 2009, the up-and-coming StrikeForce promotion finally gives the 7-1 "Cyborg" the fight she and dedicated MMA fans have wanted since 2008.
The real story and appeal of the fight extends beyond satisfying the fans, or Santos facing the biggest challenge of her Mixed Martial Arts career. The fight is of undeniable historical significance and importance; the fight will not only crown a Champion (at 145 pounds), but is the first time in American history that a women's fight has headlined a Mixed Martial Arts event. The fight headlines not just any event, but a televised event, hosted by Showtime.
Carano vs. Santos is also the first women's MMA bout to have the standard rules of Mixed Martial Arts bouts. For some incoherent reason, women competitors were always limited to 3-minute rounds. Years of complaints from competitors, fans and commentators alike finally reached a fever-inducing pitch, and StrikeForce finally grants Carano and Santos the normal, equal and well-deserved 5-minute rounds.
If the main event opportunity and equality in rules wasn't alluring enough, Carano vs. Santos will finally crown a Champion in a division on the verge of bursting wide open in quantity and exposure. Although Carano always remains modest and flattered about the "face" label, she has a chance to lend even more credence to the popular conception. Beating the very tough and intimidating Santos will certainly reaffirm the "face" label bestowed upon her, but wearing the belt will silence all doubts and catapult Carano even higher in status and value. Santos, on the other hand, has a chance to extinguish the flames surrounding Carano, while astronomically propelling her own status and value overnight.
The biggest chance and opportunity is what Carano and Santos are fighting for in the first place: equality and a visible place in the Mixed Martial Arts realm. Carano and Santos can prove once again that women are just as capable, focused and tough enough as the men in the sport. Accordingly, Carano and Santos will have the MMA world and (hopefully) the media paying close attention, as they make history. Most importantly, Carano vs. Santos can do for Women's MMA what Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar did for the UFC and the Ultimate Fighter reality television series in 2005: gain acceptance, pave the way for other and future competitors, and usher in the long-overdue recognition and popularity for a movement ready to change television and sports forever.
May Women's Mixed Martial Arts prosper!
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