Issue 186

December 2019

Strikeforce: 

Carano vs. Cyborg

On August 15, 2009 women headlined a card for the first time in MMA. 

Strikeforce was way ahead of the curve. It was the first major promotion to put a featherweight belt up for grabs for the ladies back in 2008. 

Long before Ronda Rousey changed the women’s game and the Octagon opened its doors to women’s MMA, Gina Carano and Cris Cyborg made history by headlining a fight card on Showtime and attracting record ratings for their main event.

Carano was the poster girl for the promotion and women’s MMA, but Cyborg was nothing short of unstoppable and, as many predicted, the Brazilian’s power and strength were too much for the American to survive. Here’s how she did it.

Step 1

After being overwhelmed for the majority of the round, Carano found herself tied up in the clinch against the fence in the final minute. Exhausted, she’s tripped to the mat and Cyborg lands on top in half guard. 

Step 2

Cyborg soon secures Carano’s left wrist and puts all her effort into securing an Americana. It’s tight, but to the delight of the San Jose crowd, Gina powers out of it. However, she can’t improve her position beyond that.

Step 3

Cyborg pushes onto her feet and starts raining down punches. Carano covers up, but Cyborg drops to her knees into mount and drops bombs until referee Josh Rosenthal halts the fight with a second to go in the opening round.