November 20, 2008 - It started out with the fierce fourteen 2 months ago and ended last night when Brittany ‘McKey’ Sullivan was chosen to be the next America’s Top Model.

The former tomboy from Lake Forrest, Illinios, McKey, won (all together now…) a contract with Elite model management, a spread and cover for Seventeen magazine, and a $100,000 contract with covergirl.

Nineteen-year-old McKey defeated her rival, LA high school student Samantha Potter, after strutting along one unique runway, a giant hot pink hill, and striking memorable poses. Annaleigh was third in the contest.

We picked both of the finalists at the beginning because of their athleticism and beauty. Winner McKey played all kinds of sports as a kid including hockey and soccer. She now trains as a boxer with her cagefighter bf. 

When McKey was 15, a sports injury forced her off the field and she began to channel her competitive energy into modeling.  Looks like it paid off!!

Filed under: Beauty, Boxing, Entertainment, Fashion, MMA, TV by jane
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November 5, 2008 - We talk so much about how empowering and motivating women’s sports can be but we often forget the business side of things.  Professional athletes, like movie and TV stars, are often little more than commodities.  

So what happens when you’ve signed a contract with a company that goes belly-up? Well if you’re MMA fighter Gina Carano, your contract is an asset that can be auctioned to the highest bidder.

The bankrupt EliteXC, who promoted Carano, recently posted a notice of public sale saying its assets will be sold, including the following:

all contracts between any Debtor and mixed martial arts fighters (including, but not limited to, Kevin Ferguson a.k.a. “Kimbo Slice”, Gina Carano, Jake Shields, Robbie Lawler, Frank Shamrock, Antonio Silva, Brett Rogers, Dave Herman, Scott Smith, Nick Diaz, Cristiane Venancio Justino a.k.a. “Chris Cyborg”, Eddie Alvarez, Yves Edwards and Wilson Reis)

Carano and Cris Cyborg, who are two of the highest-profile women in MMA, are caught in the middle of this mess.  They can’t look for fights elsewhere and there maybe potential legal battles when their contracts are bought by promotions they have no interest in fighting for.

Unfortunately, business is business and it’s not always fun.

Filed under: MMA by jane
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October 21, 2008 - The fighting future of top MMA draw Gina Carano is in limbo as word emerged today that the mixed-martial-arts organization Elite XC will file bankruptcy and cease future operations, according to parent company, Pro Elite Inc.

Elite XC, which produced seven of the 10 most-watched MMA matches in U.S. history on two CBS specials in recent months, will be closing its doors at the end of the week. This leaves a roster of fighters, including Carano, looking for work.

Will Carano move to the sport’s highest-profile group the UFC? According to Yahoo Sports,

UFC president Dana White has said he’s not interested in promoting women’s fighting, although Carano’s success as a draw may cause him to reconsider. Her match with Kelly Kobold two weeks ago ended up adding more new viewers than any MMA match on television in the U.S.

Stay tuned.

Filed under: Boxing, MMA, Martial Arts, News Bytes by jane
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October 3, 2008 - Women’s mixed martial arts has hit the main stage and the biggest star on the female MMA scene is Las Vegas native Gina “Conviction” Carano. Carano (6-0) is set to return to action for EliteXC tomorrow night against Kelly Kobald (16-2-1).

Carano’s bout against Kobold, on the main card of EliteXC: Heat, takes place at the BankAtlantic Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and will air live on CBS October 4 beginning at 9pm ET.

Carano’s celebrity has grown in leaps and bounds over the past few months after putting on an exciting fight at EliteXC’s debut show, appearing on the Oxygen network’s Fight Girls show amd NBC’s American Gladiators, and being seen in numerous magazines all over the world.

Though known as the “face” of women’s mixed martial arts, it’s not necessarily the label  she’s looking for. BecauseIPlayedSports.com provides some nice background on Carano. There’s also an LA Times interview today where she talks about her life, ‘American Gladiators’ and the guys at the gym.

Since she’s fighting this weekend, check out Gina’s bio and a video promoting her upcoming Elite XC fight.

 New to MMA?? Read ProElite’s “MMA 101″

(Editors Note: Carano beat Kelly Kobold improving her pro MMA record to 7-0. According to EliteXC, Carano’s next matchup will be against Cris Cyborg and will be the biggest fight in the history of women’s MMA.)

Filed under: MMA, Profiles by jane
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Nov. 21, 2007  - The World Boxing Council (WBC) recently voted Carina Moreno “Female Fighter Of The Year”. This marks the second award in 2007 for the champion who received the same honor from the NABF back in July.

Recognized as one of the best pound for pound female fighters in the world, Moreno is riding a 7 fight winning steak and looks to continue her winning ways when she’s expected to battle Terri Mosson December, 6 2007 at the Tachi Palace Casino in Lemoore Ca.

An ecstatic Moreno commented by saying, “2007 has been a break out year for me. Holding the WBC title is what every Mexican fighter dreams of. I want to thank my trainer Rick Noble, my promoter Christian Printup, along with my manager Repo Rick for doing a fabulous job in guiding my career. I wouldn’t be in this position without them.”

Known as a pressure fighter, Carina displays an exciting style that fans have grown to love and appreciate. Team Moreno plans to stay active, bringing exciting fights to everyone who is fortunate enough to see her fight live.

Filed under: Boxing, MMA, News Bytes by jane
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