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Yes, America, Girls Can Fight!

  • 10:38 PM ET  05.31
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By Josh Gross, SI.com

For years, boxing's female ranks suffered in obscurity, often considered sideshows to their male counterparts.

That is not the case in MMA, which has a thriving female side populated by excellent grapplers and competent strikers. It also has its face: Gina Carano. As has been the case with the vast majority of women's MMA bouts I've seen over the years, Carano's tangle with Kaitlin Young brought roars from a crowd motivated by the effort and skill of competitors in the cage.

In the case of Carano, known to some as "Crush" on the newfangled version of American Gladiators, the girl appears to be a star. Chants of "Gina! Gina!" thundered around the Prudential Center as she and Young offered crisp strikes and a mix of ground work. Giving up close to five inches on Young didn't prevent Carano from finding her mark with overhand rights and sharp hooks.

Showing the muay Thai skills that brought her into the fight game, Carano's front push kick was equally effective. Unlike Laila Ali, Carano is not trapped by the disappointing reality of a lack of opponents. Women's MMA has thrived globally, and features more than enough fighters to make for sellable, competitive bouts. So enthralled by gentler side of the sport is EliteXC that they plan to promote women-only cards. Headlined by Carano, who pounded Young to the point that a New Jersey ringside physician called the contest after the second round, they should have an audience eager to watch.

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June 1, 2008  02:32 PM ET
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Good article, Gross. Gina is an awesome fighter and personality. I have been following the sport for now 5 years and would buy a PPV just to watch her fight.

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