Gina Carano turns 41: Celebrating an MMA pioneer through the years

Gina Carano was born in Dallas County, Texas, and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, by her mother after her parents’ divorce when she was seven years old.

She graduated from Trinity Christian High School in Las Vegas, where she played basketball, volleyball, and softball.

Carano started her combat sports career in Muay Thai and had a record of 12-1-1 before receiving an offer from Jamie Levine to participate in the first-ever sanctioned female MMA bout in Nevada with World Extreme Fighting, which she won.

She defeated Tonya Evinger via RNC for her first career win by submission on the September 15, 2007, Showtime EliteXC card.

Yep. Tonya Evinger and Gina Carano pose with fans | Esther Lin
Yep. Tonya Evinger and Gina Carano pose with fans | Esther Lin

Carano agreed to forfeit 12.5% of her “show” purse to Kaitlin Young, whom she defeated at EliteXC: Primetime on May 31, 2008, for failing to make weight.

Throwback: Kaitlin Young vs. Gina Carano
Throwback: Kaitlin Young vs. Gina Carano

She successfully made weight for her bout against Kelly Kobold on October 3, 2008, and won by unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, and 29–28).

Gina Carano and Kelly Kobold
Gina Carano and Kelly Kobold

Carano would go on to face Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos for the Strikeforce Women’s Lightweight Championship on August 15, 2009, and lost it. It was one of the first significant bouts in WMMA.

 

Gina Carano was supposed to return to Strikeforce in 2011 against Sarah D’Alelio, but it was later announced that the bout was removed from the card for other reasons.

Carano was considering a return to MMA in 2014, but contract negotiations with the UFC had stalled.

Later Carano revealed she felt disrespected in the process and opted to pursue a movie offer instead.

Gina Carano in 2008
Gina Carano in 2008

Carano is still under contract with the UFC through her old Strikeforce contract and had four remaining on that contract.

Gina Carano in 2009
Gina Carano in 2009

Carano has had several television and film appearances throughout the years, including American Gladiators, Blood and Bone, and Fast & Furious 6.

She landed the leading role in the spy thriller Haywire in 2011 and was cast in In the Blood in 2012.

Henry Cavill and Gina Carano arrive at Tom Ford Cocktails in support of Project Angel Food on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Henry Cavill and Gina Carano arrive at Tom Ford Cocktails in support of Project Angel Food on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

In 2012, she was cast as the lead in an all-female ensemble action film, tentatively titled The ExpendaBelles, but the project has yet to materialize.

In July 2013, Carano announced that she would star as the titular character in the big-screen adaptation of Rob Liefeld’s Avengelyne.

Haywire wasn’t a commercial success. Director had decided to redub all of Carano’s role and replace her voice with another actress.

Carano was cast in The Mandalorian, Lucasfilm’s first live-action Star Wars television series in 2018, and played the role of Cara Dune in seasons 1 and 2.

In February 2021, Lucasfilm announced that Carano would not appear in future Star Wars projects following controversial social media posts.

Carano announced in February 2021 that she would be developing, producing, and starring in a new film project with conservative media company The Daily Wire,

After her first movie with them was critically panned, she starred in a parody My son Hunter.

Carano appeared on JRE in 2023 sporting blonde hair and curvaceous figure
Carano appeared on JRE in 2023 sporting blonde hair and curvaceous figure