Gina Carano Draws Praise Ahead of Saturday Fight as 17-Year Layoff Fuels Doubts

6 articles · Updated · MMA Fighting · May 15

Saturday’s Carano-Rousey bout has sharpened scrutiny on Gina Carano’s readiness, but coach John Wood said her power and speed remain intact after months of comeback training.
Wood and Syndicate MMA teammates described Carano as a heavy hitter with improved all-around skills, saying she has spent several months drilling takedown defense, grappling and jiu-jitsu for Rousey’s ground attack.
Ronda Rousey still enters as the heavy favorite because of her Olympic-level judo and submission game, which historically overwhelmed opponents quickly with throws and armbars.
Carano, once the face of women’s MMA, has not fought since 2009 and spent the past 17 years focused largely on acting, making Saturday a high-profile striker-versus-grappler comeback test.

With odds heavily stacked against her, what is Gina Carano's secret weapon to counter Ronda Rousey’s feared ground game tomorrow night?

Are two MMA pioneers rewriting their legacies, or is this high-profile comeback simply a final, high-risk payday for both fighters?

Can Netflix and Jake Paul's blockbuster fight disrupt the UFC's long-standing dominance over the world of mixed martial arts?