Ali Akbar Rosady
Las Vegas, NV – Mixed martial arts analyst and former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen has outlined a strategic pathway for Gina Carano’s potential return to the cage, emphatically naming former UFC Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm as the only logical opponent. This comes in the wake of Carano’s recent comeback fight and subsequent loss, which sparked considerable debate within the MMA community regarding her future in the sport.
Carano, a pioneer in women’s mixed martial arts, made her highly anticipated return to active competition after a seventeen-year layoff. The fight, headlining MVP MMA 1, saw her face off against former UFC Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey. The bout concluded swiftly, with Carano suffering a defeat via knockout in just 17 seconds. This rapid conclusion, coupled with Carano’s perceived indifference in the immediate aftermath, drew critical reactions from fans and pundits alike, including initial commentary from Sonnen himself.
Prior to her recent return, Carano (record 7-1) was widely considered the "face of women’s MMA" during the sport’s nascent stages. Her career highlights included a dominant run in EliteXC and Strikeforce, where she amassed a professional record that included notable victories. Her last professional bout before the long hiatus was in August 2009, a Strikeforce Lightweight Championship contest against Cris Cyborg, which she lost via TKO in the first round. Following this defeat, Carano transitioned away from competitive fighting, embarking on a successful career in acting, featuring in several high-profile films. Her return against Rousey, another iconic figure in women’s MMA, was therefore viewed as a significant event, bridging two eras of the sport.
The initial public reaction to Carano’s demeanor following her 17-second loss to Rousey at MVP MMA 1 was largely critical. Many observers interpreted her post-fight smile and seemingly lighthearted comments as a lack of genuine emotional investment in the outcome. This perception, according to Sonnen, was detrimental to her standing with the audience. However, a crucial shift in the narrative emerged when Carano’s head coach, John Wood, publicly clarified her emotional state. On Thursday, Wood revealed that Carano was, in fact, "gutted" by the loss and was actively contemplating another fight.
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This revelation from Coach Wood was a pivotal moment for those assessing Carano’s future, as acknowledged by Sonnen on his podcast. "This was very helpful. This was great that coach Wood came out and did this, because that was the part that was missing," Sonnen stated. He elaborated on the critical importance of a fighter demonstrating genuine care and emotional investment to maintain a connection with the fanbase and promoters. Sonnen underscored the commercial realities of combat sports, where a fighter’s narrative and perceived dedication are as crucial as their in-cage performance, particularly for securing high-profile bouts.
Sonnen argued that Carano’s initial post-fight reaction had jeopardized her standing. "When Gina got up and smiled, and talked about how wonderful this was, and how proud she was for this moment, how grateful, it does break the deal with the audience," he explained. "It literally could end her career that she got up and smiled and hugged it out, because now she’s letting everyone know, ‘I don’t care.’ And if you don’t care, then we can’t care. It’s not possible." This perspective highlights the unwritten contract between a fighter and their audience, where passion and desire are expected elements of the spectacle.
According to Sonnen, Coach Wood’s intervention effectively re-established a necessary narrative for Carano. The perception of being "gutted" and the contemplation of another fight signal a renewed commitment that is essential for any potential career resurgence. Sonnen, a veteran of high-stakes fights and a savvy self-promoter during his own career, understands the intricate dance between reality and storytelling in the fight game. He emphasized that for Carano to secure another significant fight, especially one in a headlining capacity, a compelling narrative of redemption and genuine ambition must be meticulously constructed and maintained.
"Nobody thought 240-pound, ex-fighter, 17 years removed, was going to get a headlining role, that sets records, that pays millions of dollars," Sonnen remarked, referencing the unexpected scale of Carano’s recent return bout against Rousey. "Nobody thought [that would happen], but everything lined up just right. So, it can be done, as long as the ingredient that she cares is part of this. And that’s why it was so helpful that coach Wood came out and said she’s gutted." This illustrates Sonnen’s belief that Carano still possesses significant drawing power, provided the narrative around her is correctly managed to re-engage the audience.
Sonnen then outlined the subsequent steps required to build this narrative, which he described as a "story." "Now what does she need? She needs to get back to the gym. Again, it’s just a story, guys. We don’t know if she didn’t care just because she looked like she didn’t. We don’t know if she’s gutted, just because her coach said she was. We don’t know if she’s back in the gym. It’s a story. But the story has to be told this way. If she truly cares and this is a passion of hers, she’d be back in the gym." This strategic advice underscores the performative aspect of professional fighting, where public perception and carefully crafted narratives often dictate opportunities.
He concluded his strategic outline for Carano’s potential return by detailing the final, crucial step: opponent selection. "Then, once you set the table in this way – she cares, she’s back, she’s in shape, she’s embarrassed, she’s coming back – then the fourth and final ingredient, which comes about a week from now, then you tell us the proposed opponent."
Regarding the choice of opponent, Sonnen unequivocally dismissed the idea of a rematch with Ronda Rousey, citing various factors not specified in detail, but likely including the decisive nature of the first bout and the unlikelihood of a quick turnaround or a competitively viable second encounter given the outcome. Instead, Sonnen presented a singular, compelling option: Holly Holm.
Holly Holm (MMA record 15-6, professional boxing record 33-2-3) is a highly decorated combat sports athlete with an illustrious career spanning both boxing and mixed martial arts. As a professional boxer, Holm achieved multiple world titles in three weight classes and was widely regarded as one of the best female boxers of all time before transitioning to MMA. Her entry into mixed martial arts saw her quickly rise through the ranks, eventually capturing the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship. Holm’s most iconic moment in MMA came at UFC 193 in November 2015, where she delivered a stunning head-kick knockout victory over Ronda Rousey, ending Rousey’s undefeated streak and securing her place in the sport’s history.
Sonnen’s rationale for Holm as Carano’s next opponent is rooted in a compelling blend of historical significance, competitive viability, and narrative resonance. "Gina’s putting pieces, but the final one is who? And then you’ve got to sit back and react. I don’t know what the community is going to do to the idea of Gina vs. Holly Holm. I just know that’s the direction. That’s the only possible direction," Sonnen asserted.
The proposed matchup between Carano and Holm presents a fascinating cross-generational clash. Carano, representing the initial wave of women’s MMA pioneers, against Holm, a fighter who not only achieved significant success in MMA but also delivered the first professional defeat to the woman who superseded Carano as the sport’s biggest star, Ronda Rousey. This connection through Rousey adds a layer of intrigue, positioning the fight as a potential litmus test for Carano’s enduring relevance and competitive spirit against a fighter whose legacy is intrinsically linked to the same era.
Sonnen concluded by emphasizing that the ultimate success of such a bout would still depend on the public’s reception. "So you’ve got to build it, you’ve got to set it out there, and the community is going to jump on it. They’re either going to like it, or they’re not. But that’s still the way the game is played." This statement encapsulates the speculative nature of high-profile fight promotion, where strategic matchmaking and narrative control are paramount in capturing fan interest and translating it into commercial success.
As Carano contemplates her next move, the advice from a seasoned strategist like Chael Sonnen provides a clear, albeit challenging, blueprint. Whether Carano chooses to follow this path, and if the MMA community embraces a potential Carano-Holm showdown, remains to be seen. However, Sonnen’s analysis offers a compelling argument for a strategic approach that prioritizes narrative and legacy in the ever-evolving landscape of professional mixed martial arts.
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