Issue 095

December 2012

MMA has always been a bloody, rough sport, but lately it’s added a whole lot of sex appeal. We look at some of MMA’s most alluring moments

1 Gina Carano’s Career

One of the few positive things boxing promoter Gary Shaw did for MMA with his chaotic EliteXC promotion was push females to the forefront, convincing broadcaster Showtime to give the women a slot on their debut event in February 2007. Stealing the show, former American Gladiator Carano and Julie Kedzie fought a stirring three-round war that forever changed the face of women’s MMA, making it not just more acceptable, but something people were clamoring to see.

And the primary reason was Carano’s ability to fight inside the ring and be unbelievably sexy outside. Seemingly every cageside appearance, media interview and weigh-in prompted more and more adoration. Now working in Hollywood, she drew good reviews for her role in revenge thriller Haywire and will next be in the cinemas in The Fast and the Furious 6, starring alongside Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. 

2 Felice Herrig and Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc Staredown

Ahead of their May 2011 grudge fight for the Illinois-based Xtreme Fighting Organization, Felice and Nicdali stared one another down at the weigh-ins. Nothing unusual there, but much to the delight of the assembled crowd, Herrig did so in the absolute tiniest of shorts while Nicdali wore a striking, figure-hugging dress. All very nice, but what really excited the crowd was just how close they got to each other.

Pressed up as close as possible, nose to nose, for a second it looked as much like they were going to passionately embrace as it was punch one another’s lights out. The following day they did they latter, with Herrig claiming a hugely entertaining three-round decision victory.

3 Tank Abbott vs Paul Varelans

Never let it be said that Fighters Only looks down on ‘unusual’ or minority tastes. Watching a replay of himself kneeling on the unfortunate Varelans’ head and repeatedly punching him in their brutal July 1995 UFC 6 fight, Abbott advised the production crew to switch the video off as he was “starting to get sexually aroused.” One of the more memorable quotes of Abbott’s long, often hilarious career, this one may have opened a window into the goatee-bearded brawler’s mind that many would rather have stayed shut. Now, there’s probably some who agree with Tank and get perhaps a little too excited about seeing one big, hairy sweaty man whaling on another in this way. There’s probably even a specific name for it. But I’m not Googling it. Feel free to do that research yourself! 

4 Ronda Rousey vs Miesha Tate

Ever since the promotion was bought by the UFC, Strikeforce has largely gone from a strong competitor to a afterthought for some fans, with perhaps only one major exception – the female division. The rise of stunning motormouth Ronda Rousey and her bitter rivalry with the sultry Miesha Tate made Strikeforce not just relevant but, in more ways than one, red hot. Gracing the front page of USA Today and showing everyone how to hype a fight on the internet, Rousey and Tate starred in a superb promo video the week before the fight. Elegantly dressed, the two of them strut through a plush nightclub, meeting in the middle for a staredown. A few days later they had an awesome fight where Rousey, as ever, won with an armbar, proving their skills are just as impressive as their looks.

5 ESPN Magazine Body Issue

Ronda Rousey’s second appearance on the list concerns her front cover appearance on the latest of ESPN magazine’s annual ‘Body Issue’ editions. Released every year since ‘09, the ‘Body Issue’ features the usual sports coverage alongside modesty-intact nude and semi-nude photos of famous sportspeople. The 2008 Olympic bronze medalist in judo and reigning Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion is just the fifth MMA fighter to appear, following Carano, Evangelista and Cris ‘Cyborg’ and Randy Couture. Rousey’s front cover isn’t just an acknowledgement of how far she’s come as a mainstream sporting name, it’s an eye-popping look, artfully done, at an extremely attractive female athlete adorned only in pink hand wraps.