MMAFIGHTING.com's Ariel Helwani reported on UFC Tonight on Wednesday that the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is getting closer to signing former mixed martial artist Gina Carano.
News about the possibility of Carano joining the UFC was hinted at last week by UFC President Dana White to come out this week, according to MMA Fighting. Helwani said sources close to the discussions indicate the negotiations are "doing a lot better," than they previously did, and that a potential contract was "getting close."
A deal with Carano is expected to put her in a title match with UFC Women's Bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey later this year. The idea has sparked debate between fans of mixed martial arts (MMA), with some saying Carano, who hasn't fought in five years, would be pushed ahead of ranked contenders, while others argue in favor of the potential fight, saying it would be great for business.
The contributions Carano made to women's MMA are another reason why fans want to see her fight Rousey, FOXSports.com reported. White also said the deal has a good chance of going through, and that Carano would likely challenge Rousey for the title in December. Rousey won her last fight at UFC 175 on July 5th, knocking Alexis Davis out in 16 seconds.
Since retiring from fighting, Carano has been appearing and starring in a variety of films, such as "Haywire" in 2011 and "In The Blood," which came out last April. Both Carano and Rousey are to be featured in upcoming films, with Carano's latest movie, "The Opium War" set to start filming by the end of the summer, and Rousey set to appear in "The Expendables 3."
