Ronda Rousey Vs. Gina Carano Getting Closer, UFC On FOX Fight Change, Fights Announced
- UFC president Dana White is determined to bring Gina Carano back to MMA and inside the Octagon. White recently told ESPN that he and UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta will meet with Carano soon to iron out the contract details.
"One down, one to go," said White, in reference to signing Carano after adding Holly Holm last week. "I'm going to meet with Gina and get that (expletive) thing done. It's just a matter of me and Lorenzo going to jump on a plane to Los Angeles, get in a room with her and her lawyer, and get this thing done."
Carano (7-1) left the sport after a 2009 loss to Cris Cyborg in Strikeforce. She embarked on a full-time movie career, but has maintained her desire to return to MMA. Her interest level peaked earlier this year when she stated plans to do just that, sparking talk of a potential fight with Ronda Rousey.
"There's no doubt about it, she wants to fight," White said. "And she wants to fight Ronda."
- Josh Thomson has a new opponent for his UFC on FOX 12 fight, as Bobby Green has been tabbed as a replacement for Michael Johnson. The two are expected to kick-start the FOX main card on July 26 from the SAP Center in San Jose.
Green (22-5) was originally set to face Abel Trujillo at UFC Fight Night 47, but Ross Pearson has been signed to meet Trujillo now. The former Strikeforce fighter has won three straight since coming over to the Octagon, including finishes of James Krause and Jacob Volkmann.
The UFC on FOX 12 card features a main event between Robbie Lawler and Matt Brown, along with Anthony Johnson vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Clay Guida vs. Dennis Bermudez.
- Two more fights have been announced for future UFC events, as former Ultimate Fighter runner-up Al Iaquinta takes on Rodrigo Damm at UFC Fight Night 50, while heavyweights Ruan Potts and Anthony Hamilton seek their first UFC win at UFC 177.
Iaquinta is coming off a loss to Mitch Clarke, while Damm has found mixed results with the promotion. The lightweight contest is set for September 5. Potts and Hamilton each dropped their Octagon debuts and will meet as part of the August 30 card from Sacramento that features T.J. Dillashaw defending his bantamweight title against Renan Barao.