Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Carano MIA and ‘Cyborg’ unsigned, how much longer will Zuffa-run Strikeforce stick with female fighting?

It's not looking good for female fighters with the biggest promotions. This week's Strikeforce Challengers card in Washington and next month's Strikeforce cards in Las Vegas and Chicago feature some female fights. After that, who knows?

The two biggest female names under the Strikeforce banner still don't have fights scheduled.

We're now a few weeks removed from Gina Carano bailing on her Strikeforce: Dallas fight and there's still official no word on what the injury was, or a timetable for her return. When Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker spoke with AOL, he still had no answers.

"Gina is feeling much better after having undergone some medical attention and is looking forward to getting back into training very soon. She would like to express thanks to Team Jackson for a wonderful training camp, Strikeforce and the fans," said Coker, reading from a text message he received from Carano's management team.

Beyond that the boss didn't have any details.

"She evidently had some medical attention provided and she looks forward to getting back soon. So that's everything I know," said Carano.

Coker couldn't even answer if the medical issue was career threatening, saying the text was all he's seen.

The situation with Strikeforce's No. 1 female star is just as unclear, or is it?

Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos is currently without a contract.

"Absolutely. I'm pretty sad not to be fighting and I'm trying to renegotiate my contract for a year, but Strikeforce doesn't want to made a deal, they want to keep paying me what they paid before, but now I'm the event's champion and I've never been defeated in Strikeforce. I just wanted to be recognized," Cyborg said.

She also told Tatame that she has taken an August fight in Brazil and just has to wait until her Strikeforce contract runs out this month.

One has to wonder if this is the end of the line for Cyborg in Strikeforce. If Dana White has zero interest in female fighting in the UFC, why would he allow a company that he owns to lock itself into any more long-term contracts with female fighters?

Tip via Fightlinker

Dan Cramer Alberto Crane Marcio Pe de Pano Cruz Luke Cummo  Jeff Big Frog Curran

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