Gina Carano in GQ
In just a week, the Steven Soderbergh movie 'Haywire' will be released. Despite initial poor reviews, the movie is being well-received by those that have had the opportunity to view it before the nationwide release. Featuring a cast of Hollywood greats, the spy-thriller's success will determine Gina Carano's future in both MMA and acting.
Carano walked away from MMA after a first round destruction at the hands of Cristiane Santos. Though fans didn't want to admit it at the time, the loss of Carano was a nail in the figurative coffin for women's MMA. While Strikeforce attempted to fill the void with names like Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey, both attractive females in their own right, neither was able to capture the male audience like Gina Carano.
At Strikeforce: Melendez vs Masvidal, Santos successfully defended her featherweight belt against Hiroko Yamanka only to have the decision overturned after a positive test for Stanozolol. Santos became the first major female fighter to test positive for PEDs and her positive test has opened up discussion and discourse over if it will be the death of WMMA.
Thomas Myers of MMA Mania had the opportunity to speak with the former "face of women's MMA" Gina Carano to get her thoughts on Cyborg's positive test and if it changed her opinion on the outcome of their fight. Her response is pretty surprising.
I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't hurt by the whole thing. That fight with her was definitely the biggest moment of my mixed martial arts (MMA) career and at that time I had people around me telling me she was on steroids and everything. But, if there was a chance that she wasn't, I never wanted to take anything away from her [win]. She is a wonderful athlete, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't sting a little. In fact, I could have gone the rest of my life without hearing that. But, at the same time, she's a human being and a phenomenal athlete, so maybe someone around her was telling her she needed to do that when she really didn't. Maybe it was someone around her telling her the wrong things, I don't know. She's going to have a tough enough time getting people to believe in her [after this], so she's going to go through her own problems. I sympathize with her sometimes -- we all make mistakes in life. And, she's going through that very publicly in front of a lot of people who already thought that she [was using steroids]. I kind of feel bad for her.
Emphasis mine. Carano's point of view is the same as most of ours. Going forward Cyborg will have to deal with the fans and media who will doubt her at every turn. Even if all of her subsequent drug tests are passed, she'll still be the female fighter who took steroids.
It also creates an interesting 'parallel universe' scenario where if Cyborg doesn't beat Carano, WMMA continues to grow and thrive on the commercial success of Gina Carano. Instead, the 145 pound title is all but dead and the future is bleak for the women's featherweight division.
0 recs | 81 comments
Please allow me
to be the kind shoulder for you to lean on so we can commiserate our sorrows for madame Santos together.
Cory Braiterman - January 12, 2012
LOL
Matthew Roth - January 12, 2012
aaaaaaand you get a rec
Rob Young - January 12, 2012
what a gentle lady she is
considering how many women Cyborg hurt, tkod and injured due to roids, it’s pretty big,
wanted to say FIRST but Cory posted first, snap! :D
Nodir Shermatov - January 12, 2012
this is the problem. People arenow going to assume she was on steroids for all her past fights. Despite the possibility that it’s true there’s no evidence of it
Our Bovine Public - January 12, 2012
Actually the problem is that she got popped for roids… the rest of the problems come along with getting popped… Evidence, Assumptions, Public Ridicule… that’s cyborgs cross to bare and right fully so. When you cheat you forfeit your right to say what’s fair or not…
RECE ROCK - January 12, 2012
aside from the visual guesses we all had in the first place
Cory Braiterman - January 12, 2012
Here’s some free advice: don’t do that. Not only is it incredibly retarded, people who post “First” around here get their posts deleted and a warning and usually get a warning that the next “First” will mean a ban. But mostly it’s just incredibly retarded.
Chromium - January 12, 2012
now that u say that, I just kid, man. I always kid in a positive way.
you don’t have to make an elephant from a fly. And I will keep that in mind next time:). no more)
btw, what do u guys think, will this incident discredit all of Cyborg’s accomplishments by now? I believe it require far more than steroids to do what she has been able to do, to be such an amazing athlete. it’s sad to find out these news.
Nodir Shermatov - January 12, 2012
I though he was meaning he wanted to post having his shoulder available for Gina to cry on first, but Cory beat him to it. But like you said, if he meant to just say “First” that sounds ban-worthy to me. I was hoping to offer up my shoulder as well, then her finding it too bony she offers to switch me onto her shoulder thus making my life complete…or causing a singularity.
NickRingp4pGOAT - January 13, 2012
good girl Gina
I knew that dude was juiced up. See you next year big man Cyborg.
biggant - January 12, 2012 via mobile
is it just me..
…or is Cyborg taking a lot more heat for this than most of the guys who have failed tests?
Obvious exception being repeat offenders like Barnett
rexthedog - January 12, 2012
Not especially, no, to most people with half a brain the fact that she was on steroids was a given
She was also the title holder in her weight class.
menckenstein - January 12, 2012
yes!
biggant - January 12, 2012 via mobile
You could argue it’s a bit sexist, and I think there is a good argument for that. But I think it’s a bit natural for guys to feel a bit protective over seeing women get beaten up. The reason steroids are an issue in combat sports is the extra advantage they give translate into the potential for someone to get seriously hurt. That factor probably gets amplified by seeing what basically looks like Pride-era Wandy kurbstomping someone who is presented to the viewer as a sex symbol.
brad23 - January 12, 2012
Negative...
Most people that have been popped the last few years and got a pass have people who you look at and go…really?
IE: Leben/Bonnar/Hallman/Silva/
The people that are given hell are either A: Loudmouths(Shamrock/Sonnen), B: Repeat Offenders( Barnett/Marquardt), C: “Obvious Cases”(Thiago Silva/Sherk and now Cyborg)
I’d say she is catching a pretty equitable amount of heat all things considered.
Jacob Hayes - January 12, 2012
Except Thiago Silva stands out because he made it look like he was fighting a girl when he gought poor Brandon Vera
Skoobs - January 12, 2012
Cue Thiago drumming “ba-dum-dum. Tsssk.” on Veras back drum kit.
NickRingp4pGOAT - January 13, 2012
It’s very simple: it’s reasonable to assume that many male fighters juice, thus equal playing field. It’s also reasonable to assume that most female fighters don’t. So instead of a fight like Sherk vs whoever, you end up with fights like cyborgs last travesty. She ends up looking like a roided out bully, and no one like a bully. This is why Cyborg never had any fans to begin with.
Hutchy - January 12, 2012 via mobile
Considering she was champ and the GOAT of Women's MMA
I think the heat is more than appropriate.
Pat Tzu - January 12, 2012
Maybe female fighters are less likely to take steroids
So whenever someone does, it gets more heat. Also because she was a champ ,and that much better than the competition didnt win her any fans.
Mejis - January 12, 2012
exactly my thoughts
but she’s the CHAMPION. that must be the core reason, also a female. but errbodey tends to overlook Chael’s frauds, Dan’s TRT and etc. especially CHAEL P. SONNEN :)
Nodir Shermatov - January 12, 2012
I think a lot of it is because so many people refused to bring up the topic before she failed the test. Everyone was thinking it but nobody in the MMA press would touch it with a 10 foot pole.
MadNachos - January 12, 2012
But Mauro Ranallo would like to touch it with a 10 inch pole.
Ikuhisa Quinoa - January 12, 2012
Yep, she is his type of dude.
MadNachos - January 12, 2012
yes he is his type of dude
biggant - January 12, 2012 via mobile
I thought Jake was his type of dude
brad23 - January 12, 2012
A Mauro and Gus sandwhich. A thing of nightmares...unless you're Jake Shields.
NickRingp4pGOAT - January 13, 2012
Man, why are all these chicks so nice about it? “I feel bad for her”, etc. I would be pissed and spewing venom at her, definitely not any sympathy (unless I too was using). Ah, women…
Horselover Fat - January 12, 2012
They still have empathy since they’re not all roided out or suffering from testosterone poisoning.
mollcutpurse - January 12, 2012
Or taking PEDs themselves. :)
KGNLuc - January 12, 2012
Exactly
They’re smart enough to not say anything that might bite them in the ass later.
TheFilt - January 12, 2012
Think about it
Women who play sports are entering a realm in which they are doing traditionally male activities. All female athletes have to fight stereotypes and work 10x as hard to be pretty so that people don’t call them men. If you read these forums (or worse, Mania) in any article related to Cyborg even before the steroid test, it wasn’t even an implication about her cheating but rather how much they wouldn’t want to “fuck her.”
Personally, though I’m offended by all cheaters, I can understand why women would feel a special bond over the fact that they’re constantly facing societal pressures to be extra feminine to “make up for” their athletic talent.
Scott Whitaker - January 12, 2012
Eh.. I guess so, maybe.
Horselover Fat - January 13, 2012
i cant care less
What gina thinks of cyborgs failed test. Is rather hear her explain why she wasn’t cleared to fight last time.
filo bedo - January 12, 2012 via mobile
The doctor saw her beautiful face and couldn't bear to see her take anymore punishment like she did in the Cyborg fight
He was protecting her, out of love.
menckenstein - January 12, 2012
What kind of Star Trek (2009) kinda bullshit is this!
RashadsLeftNipple - January 12, 2012
great show
Our Bovine Public - January 12, 2012
I meant the movie (from 2009)
They created an alternate reality in that movie to get away with doing odd things (2 spocks).
RashadsLeftNipple - January 12, 2012
Have you seen this yet?
http://redlettermedia.com/plinkett/star-trek/star-trek-09/
Art_Wanderlei - January 12, 2012
Are my Star Trek posts not welcome here!?
RashadsLeftNipple - January 12, 2012
I was randomly thinking of Star Trek the other day (Next Generation specifically) and it strikes me as funny how much more advanced today’s tablets are than Star Trek’s “futuristic” datapads.
Machiel Van - January 12, 2012
TNG was the best, really loved that show.
It’s about time they should make a new Star Trek series, methinks.
Horselover Fat - January 12, 2012
HBO Star Trek reboot.
Kefka - January 12, 2012
It's the only way
For it not to suck.
Scott Whitaker - January 12, 2012
I spent a day in bed watching all of his Star Wars prequel videos
Brilliant.
Shaun32887 - January 12, 2012
Kind of puts everything into words you can agree with.
discoandherpes - January 12, 2012
His review of Star Wars was mostly positive, considering the way he reviews things
Hell Plinkett even cited some stuff from Star Wars as a positive contrast in his review of Episode III.
Chromium - January 12, 2012
oh yeah sorry I meant the movie too but referred to it as a show just to confuse everything
Our Bovine Public - January 12, 2012
I’m glad they chose that photo of Gina to go with the story. It shows her sadness…especially with her throbbing chest, heaving from sobs, glistening with tears…….. uh, oh….be right back…
( . Y . ) - January 12, 2012
( . Y . )
Rob Young - January 12, 2012
10 points to griffendore...
You got a real life LOL out of me.
Danthemmaman - January 12, 2012
For those of you that don't speak "woman," let me translate
She got what she deserved! She was probably taking those back when we fought—I should’ve been champ but it doesn’t matter because I’m beautiful and in a new awesome movie! IN YOUR FACE, CHEATER!
Keren - January 12, 2012
Woman is a complex language indeed...
Stupid Rosetta Stone, hurry up with that one.
menckenstein - January 12, 2012
Rosetta Stone: Woman
Would just tell you that you were wrong every time you said something.
TheFilt - January 12, 2012
It’s like trying to read Shakespeare. One of these days I’ll get it. I’ve got one phrase down. “I’m fine” means that I should set my face on fire and walk away.
DayGeaux - January 12, 2012
Good ol’ passive aggressiveness. Not annoying at all.
Machiel Van - January 12, 2012
bitch
Our Bovine Public - January 12, 2012
The speed in which “I’m fine” is said also alters its meaning.
TheLastEmpress - January 12, 2012
This is true
DayGeaux - January 12, 2012
If you ever hear us sigh, it means you should probably run away as fast as you can. It’s 10 times worse than “I’m fine.”
Keren - January 12, 2012
Non verbal cues are easy. That’s pretty direct. It’s when I have to cross reffernce three converstaions along with checking the moon cycle, weather, and highlights from Desparte Hous Wifes to figure out that she wants to go dancing.
DayGeaux - January 12, 2012
How is this not green?
Sabate - January 12, 2012
Sounds about right
and I agree though I can’t get by the article’s photos so I’m biased.
Coeman - January 12, 2012
I really got a chuckle out of all the people wondering why Carano was being so nice.
Lauren J Darkbloom - January 12, 2012
She's a cheater, plain and simple.
Just like Sonnen, Marquart and all the others who just happened to get caught. She could gtfo of MMA for all I care.
Kid Kimura - January 12, 2012
OH NOES!!
There’s a hole in her panty hoes. Let me fix it with my penis.
Danthemmaman - January 12, 2012
the sympathy people feel for steroid cheaters is weird
it’s like, “oh no, wow, that’s going to devalue all of her accomplishments now.”
well NO SHIT. she cheated. and not like barry bonds, who just fucked up the ERA for a bunch of pitchers. she cheated in a way which increased the risk of injury to her opponents.
also sick of hearing this:
“there’s no evidence that she cheated any other time.”
fun fact! the fact that she cheated this time IS IN FACT evidence that she cheated other times! just not direct evidence.
also, i should point out that this isn’t a court of law. the rules of evidence in court are not the same as the rules of just making day-to-day inferences. for instance, if my watch goes missing and i say to my roommate: “did you see my watch?” and he says: “i don’t have to answer that question.” i start thinking that motherfucker took my watch. a judge can’t do that, but i can.
same here.
i will reserve my sympathy for carano – since she had her whole career derailed by someone who may have been cheating (but she will never know for sure). although i’m not that sympathetic since now she’s a movie star.
Clifford J - January 12, 2012
exactly- the absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence
hewsdaddy - January 12, 2012
http://images.wikia.com/huey/images/8/87/Bndocks_ep106_08.jpg
hewsdaddy - January 12, 2012
You don't think those pitchers Barry Bonds was facing also juiced?
discoandherpes - January 12, 2012
Ding, ding, ding...
The American Ronin - January 13, 2012
cyborg, even if she wasn't on the juice
would still be a monster.
Over the past few weeks and probably months to come we’ll probably her some drowns from her victims.
enjoy your fame gina, cyborg beat you into an actress, be atleast thankful for that.
elmojo - January 12, 2012
actually, she wouldn't be
Cyborg was a sloppy to fair fighter before she was on the juice. Here’s a video, which Joe Rogan talked about on his podcast, of how different she was before the roids. Not much strength or technique or balance. She pulled the wool over everyone’s eyes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSOF4xqDK9w
femalefightfan - January 12, 2012
her coaches after that fight
http://www.explosm.net/comics/2533/
mollcutpurse - January 12, 2012
..yeah her first mma fight
elmojo - January 13, 2012
she deserves because she was supposedly P4P the best woman...
think if jonny “bones” jones tested posted for steroids…people would throw all kinds of books at him and it would be made a huge deal too…in reality, maybe cyborg went a little too far in the last match she had and got caught finally…and of course you have to question every fight shes had including the one against miss. carano…same shit applies like if it was baseball…you cant tell me some of those home runs barry bonds and mark mcquire hit aren’t QUESTIONABLE…and it should really make u think…this WOULD of changed the face of wmma if she was caught sooner, maybe gina would of never left…
JGaLaXY - January 12, 2012
Anyone with half a brain
Knows Megumi Fuji is the P4P best female fighter.
discoandherpes - January 12, 2012
Oddly enough, it is possible that she might be telling the truth about this (not knowing what it was or that it was banned),
because if she knows anything at all about drugs and testing, she would know that this has at least a 3 week detection window, and if she was using it for cutting as she said, it would have to be used almost right up until the weigh-in, although perhaps she was relying on some sort of masking agent that didn’t work this time.
There is no two ways about it, she used a banned product, and any ignorance is no excuse, but this particular drug is not much of a PED used alone.
Of course, I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if she also used other AAS drugs, but I believe something on the order of perhaps 80% or so of professional combat athletes (and NFL players for that matter) have used a banned substance as a PED at one time or another.
And I have to say, having seen pics of her from a few years ago, some sort of natural explanation (i.e. an endocrine problem of some sort) is highly unlikely, and absent a serious endocrine issue (and I have no idea if there even is one that would allow this), the female body simply can not add that sort of lean muscle mass unaided.
The American Ronin - January 12, 2012
We need comparison pics like we have of Reem, now and early in Cyborgs career.
Kefka - January 12, 2012
Here it is!
The video of Cyborg before roids. She was a fair to poor fighter at most with a slim, unimpressive build. Joe Rogan talked about this video in his podcast.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSOF4xqDK9w
femalefightfan - January 12, 2012
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