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Cyborg vs.Carano Makes History

While the UFC has opted to avoid promoting female fights, the San Jose based promotion Strike Force has gotten into the game with a proverbial bang. August 15, 2009 saw Cristiane Cyborg defeat the tough and highly popular Gina Carano via ground and pound in the first round. Adding to the excitement and drama of the fight, the bout was stopped with one second left in the first round as Carano was unable to continue.

The bout was not one that involved much in terms of a feeling out process. Both fighters immediately started swinging as soon as the bell rang. Carano seemingly gained the advantage at first by knocking Cyborg backwards with a series of on-target straight punches. Carano and Cyborg clinched and this proved to be Carano’s undoing as she was immediately thrown to the ground.

Once the fight hit the ground, Cyborg immediately started to dominate her opponent. Cyborg was able to catch Carano in a bent armlock but was unable to finish the lock. Struggling to defend herself from the lock, it appeared Carano had exerted a lot of energy. This would further make it difficult to mount a comeback. Cyborg was able to gain a top position and then started to reign down strikes on Carano. This appeared to be too much for Carano who was on the receiving end of a series of vicious blows. The bout ultimately had to be stopped and Cyborg was victorious in a match that will go down in the annals of MMA fight history as a seminal moment in the development of women’s professional fighting.

Cyborg is now the first Strike Force Women’s Champion and she will surely be facing a series of eager challengers. For Carano, the future will revolve around working her way up the rankings for title contention. If there is a rematch between the two, it will be a highly anticipated one.