"Critiquing the Cage" Who Are They: Gina Carano

Gina Carano is a former Middleweight MMA fighter. She began her training in Muay Thai, eventually crossing over to mixed martial arts. Born in Dallas County, Texas, Carano was always athletic, leading her high school girl's basketball team to a state title.
Carano started her career competing in Muay Thai events, and after going 12-1-1, was extended an invitation to the World Extreme Fighting, to face Leticia Pestova. She then faced Elaina Maxwell at Strikeforce Triple Threat on December 8, 2006, winning the bout by unanimous decision. This was the first female bout in Strikeforce's history. In February 2007, Carano defeated Julie Kedzie during a televised event on Showtime, the first of its kind. Her most notable bout came on August 15, 2009 at Strikeforce, going head to head against Chris "Cyborg" for the first Women's Middleweight Championship. Carano lost by TKO in the first round. Her MMA record stands at 7-1.

Gina Carano can be credited with being the face of women's MMA and has used her accomplishments to land on the cover of ESPN magazines' cover, and starring in films such as Haywire in 2009 and most recently, Fast and Furious 6.