The last time we saw Gina Carano in the cage she looked like that pic over there. Now that she made her movie, she is returning to Strikeforce on the June 18 Dallas show. I always thought she would return because she has two fights left on her contract. Scott Coker finally confirmed on Saturday that Gina will face Sarah D'Alelio at 145lb. It leaked out a few weeks ago. Sarah's record is 4-1 and she is training at Lana Stefanac's camp. But she normally fights at 135lb. So if you've followed Gina's career, you'll know that most of her wins have been over undersized opponents. This was because Gary Shaw of EliteXC wanted her to fight at 135 because the fighter pool is larger. Of course the problem was that Gina could never make that weight. In fact, the Cris Cyborg fight was her only fight at 145. So I would prefer she fight someone her own size. She opens herself up for criticism if she gets a win over an undersized opponent. They can avoid that crap. But Coker also announced on Saturday that Gina plans to drop to 135. If that's true, why isn't this fight at 135? The answer is it may not be true. Remember Cris Cyborg is not under contract. So Coker could be sending a message to her that if she doesn't sign, he'll eliminate the 145lb division. Cris is a free agent at the end of June. So Coker could be playing a little contract negotiation poker with Chute Boxe. He lies a lot so it's hard to believe anything he says anyway. It's OK with me if Gina wants to fight at 135...if she can make weight. It's questionable. She's tried to do that before and failed. I know what you're thinking. If Marloes Coenen can make 135, why can't Gina make 135? Historically, Gina has demonstrated a lack of discipline that manifests itself in missing weight. No one ever questioned whether Marloes could make 135 because of her dedication and discipline. Gina needs to prove that she has that same dedication and discipline.
I don't see it happening. Gina doesn't have the body type to go down to 135. Even if she did, it could have a negative impact on her fighting.
ReplyDelete-important & missing issues-
ReplyDeleteHere are some answers as to why this fight is not at 135lbs. Its a comeback fight with a fighter having a two year layoff. Remember the widely publicised, intended opponent was noted 145lb fighter (Cindy Dandois) consequently excluded due to personal revelation of pregnancy 8 weeks from the fight date. Also, Sarah D'alelio has fought at 145 lbs and has revealed in interviews to strongly prefer the higher weight class.
-of note-
Marloes Coenen's camp has made it known the efforts to cut to the 135lb class have been quite arduous.
Despite the 140lb Elite-XC catch class, aside from possibly a tie with Amanda Nunes, Carano HAS faced the best set of 7-8 opponents of anyone by comparison. Almost all of them were descript fighters before she fought them.
I saw the interview with Sarah D'Alelio. When she says she prefers 145, she's lying. Remember the fight is on Showtime and she signed a six fight contract. That's why she took the fight at 145. Who wouldn't? She will return to 135 afterwards. She can't say she is dreading fighting a larger opponent. She has to lie. But it's very poor matchmaking as it opens Gina up to criticism for fighting a smaller opponent...again.
ReplyDeleteI remember it being a 3 fight contract.
ReplyDeleteThe missing details and that bit of misinformation in your posts opens up substantial doubt in this claim. Unless you claim insider testimony from her ppl or Sarah herself, this is hard pressed to believe. sorry.
So, which 145lbers do you think were a feasible, criticism-safe alternative after the Dandois pullout for a Carano comeback?
A couple of sources told me Sarah was telling people at the summit that it is a six fight contract. Maybe they had to sweeten the pot. It doesn't matter. You're splitting hairs. She accepted the fight because of the multi fight contract. She doesn't really want to fight at 145 and probably won't after this fight. They have Julia Budd under contract or they could have got Shana Olsen or Yoko Takahashi. All are legit 145 pounders.
ReplyDeleteIf all you've got to bely Sarah's past (albeit minority) experience at 145lbs and her own testimony is the fact that anyone in her position would highly likely take the offer, speaks for itself. & so would the pot really need sweetening anyway? Sounds like some more conjecture there. If indeed she later fights at 135lbs, it doesn't necessarily prove your speculation on her intent, especially not with the known scarcity of 145lb fights.
ReplyDeleteNornally, I don't nitpick numbers (3/6) but those claiming inside knowledge should generally be right about promulgated news.
Both Takahashi and Olsen are coming off of two losses a piece, actually three for Yoko (but it was Cyborg) I also question Julia Budd as a comeback opponent. Carano would have to change style or overcome someone who bested her before in Muay Thai rules. That is a sizeable challenge to say the least for a lengthy comeback fighter. If the goal is to criticise, then one can almost always find a way, but those werent exactly forced.
thanks for your time
It's the same thing Strikeforce did with Jan Finney. They gave her a multi fight deal so she would take the Cyborg match. That's what they did here. Sarah would have been foolish to take the fight without the multi fight contract. But Yoko Takahashi is better than her record. She will lose but she'll be competitive. She actually beat Olsen but Olsen got a home town decision. She would be the perfect fodder and no multi fight deal. And she's a legit 145 pounder.
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