Carano, ‘Cyborg’ Hype Aug. 15 Date
Jake Rossen Jun 19, 2009
The clock is ticking on the first headlining women’s MMA fight on
television:
on Thursday, Gina Carano,
Cristiane
“Cyborg” Santos and promoter Scott Coker held a teleconference
to get the drums beating early.
Most of the quotes were what you’d expect -- I have yet to hear any fighter beyond Forrest Griffin ever express doubts about winning a fight -- but there was one choice sound bite from Santos that’s worth a mention.
“We can go in there and demonstrate our skill,” she said. “Perhaps one day, we might even fight men.”
While that sounds like something Japan would happily endorse -- with fireworks -- there’s precedent for it not working out too well. Lucia Rijker, arguably the greatest female combatant of any era, fought a man in a muay Thai bout, and it didn’t end in her favor. Her opponent, Somchai Jaidee, did not make any allowances for gender. It’s a pretty unpleasant thing to watch (which would describe most videos on the Internet, but still).
Rijker, incidentally, tried for years to get a fight with Laila Ali, but it never happened. If it ever does, Rijker would be in her early 40s. That we can watch Santos and Carano in their prime, running toward -- not away -- from each other, is a pretty swell deal.
Most of the quotes were what you’d expect -- I have yet to hear any fighter beyond Forrest Griffin ever express doubts about winning a fight -- but there was one choice sound bite from Santos that’s worth a mention.
“We can go in there and demonstrate our skill,” she said. “Perhaps one day, we might even fight men.”
While that sounds like something Japan would happily endorse -- with fireworks -- there’s precedent for it not working out too well. Lucia Rijker, arguably the greatest female combatant of any era, fought a man in a muay Thai bout, and it didn’t end in her favor. Her opponent, Somchai Jaidee, did not make any allowances for gender. It’s a pretty unpleasant thing to watch (which would describe most videos on the Internet, but still).
Rijker, incidentally, tried for years to get a fight with Laila Ali, but it never happened. If it ever does, Rijker would be in her early 40s. That we can watch Santos and Carano in their prime, running toward -- not away -- from each other, is a pretty swell deal.
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