Gina Carano, star of MMA’s ring and silver screen, on fighting and feminism
By Carolyne Zinko September 20, 2017 Updated: September 20, 2017 5:15pm
Gina Carano smiles after a training session in 2009 in Las Vegas. Photo: Esther Lin, AP
Before Ronda Rousey became a mixed martial arts superstar, Gina Carano — a fighter with Bay Area ties — was busy paving the way for other women to follow. She’s the kind of 35-year-old who likes to work out hard — getting a black eye from a wayward punch is no big deal. On the flip side, she’s girly enough to wear makeup (Chanel’s her favorite).
Carano fought in the first officially sanctioned female MMA bout in Nevada in 2006 and left the ring in 2009 after losing to Brazilian Cris “Cyborg” Santos in San Jose, in the first headline match to feature women. With her cover-girl looks, she turned to Hollywood and appeared in a string of action films, including 2011’s “Haywire,” 2013’s “Fast & Furious 6” and 2016’s “Deadpool.”
It was in tiny gym in San Francisco that Carano fought in her very first fight some 13 years ago. Her grandfather is the name behind Ferrari-Carano winery in Healdsburg. And surprise: She and her boyfriend, kickboxer Kevin Ross, have been quietly living in the East Bay for two years. On Saturday, Sept. 23, she’ll be ringside again, supporting Ross as he takes on Domenic Lomurno in the Featherweight Kickboxing World Title Bout at the SAP Center, one of several matches put on by Bellator MMA, with the main event featuring Benson Henderson against Patricky “Pitbull” Freire.
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Carano, who gives few interviews, talked exclusively with the Style section about the rise of women in MMA, feminism versus femininity, and what she likes about getting a black eye. The interview has been edited for length.
Q: Where are you calling from today?
A: Dublin (California.). I moved from Los Angeles to Dublin two years ago. I absolutely love Northern California. I just went on a bike ride in Sonoma, the first time I ever rode a road bike. It was a 100-mile, three-day journey and (actor) Dennis Quaid ended up being my bike coach in a Parkinson’s disease charity ride.
Q: Do you get to San Francisco?
A: I need to make it into San Francisco more. It’s where I had my first fight ever. It was at this tiny little gym. MMA and kickboxing weren’t what they are now. It was like a “Fight Club” scenario. The place didn’t have any air conditioning, it was way overpacked. It probably should have had 150 people but there were 400 people packed in a tiny gym. The girl who was closest to me was 12 pounds heavier than me. I did really well, but thought, “What have I gotten myself into?” After I got done with the fight, I was addicted.
Q: How has women’s participation in MMA changed since you last fought?
A: Just like anything and any sport, everything has its beginning and its middle and it keeps growing. I was very fortunate to be at the beginning of it hitting mainstream. By the time Cyborg and I had fought, we had garnered enough attention that people were ready to see women in the cage. By people being able to see it on TV, it opened up people’s eyes and inspired a lot of females to go in and be the first to fight in the UFC. You had Ronda Rousey, who took it to another level. Now it’s like wildfire.
Q: Why Dublin?
A: In Los Angeles, I was getting too carried away with (film proposals like) “Here’s an action movie, here’s this ...” You see this suff come across your desk. I was always a fan of (Jane Austen’s) “Pride and Prejudice,” a fan of stories. I didn’t watch the “Fast & Furious” before I was in it. To be honest, I didn’t watch it after. I love that crowd, and people who are into cars, but it wasn’t really my deal. In moving out here and training with a wonderful gym, CSA (Combat Sports Academy), I just kind of started doing my own passion projects and developing things I want to do and see. I feel like I’m taking back control of my life.
Q: How much does feminism play a role in this sport, and how do female fighters keep their femininity?
A: Being feminine is something that men and women both have. When you’re facing somebody else in a fight, the natural you is going to come out. At that point, feminism and masculinity doesn’t matter. You get the job done. There’s a quote out there I really love: “If we’re shooting to be like guys, we’re shooting too low.” I don’t mean that as a knock on men. I love men, and I love men being men. Where women get it wrong is in saying, “I have to be like this man in order to do their job.” That is the wrong mentality. If we do the job in the way we know how, there’s so much beauty and brilliance and presence and style in a woman’s mind, and if you bring that into the ring, it’s a completely different animal than men.
Q: What makes for a champion, in your opinion?
A: The word champion gets thrown out there a lot, maybe too much. Definitely too much. Everybody’s a champion. Everybody has a belt. What makes a champion? It’s like a little diamond in someone. It’s about the purity of how they’ve conducted themselves in their career. Did they take those tough fights, put it on the line, risk losing it, come back? All these things that make a person special and truly a champion. They’re very few and far between.
Q: How do you get in shape?
A: Being in shape starts in your mind. If you don’t have the right purpose, like you’re getting in shape because your boyfriend or husband says you need to lose a few pounds, then f— off. That’s the wrong kind of pressure. Or because you’re an actress and need to lose weight for the camera. That’ll eventually implode.
You have a healthy relationship with food and balance. I’m not in the best shape but I love myself more. The more comfortable you get in yourself, the more you’ll do it for yourself, not for outward pressure.
Q: What about bruising?
A: I love a good black eye. I’m weird. I like the fact that you can see something, and watch it evolve and heal. I have a very sturdy body. My jaw, my nose, my face — I’ve been very blessed with a very sturdy body. I would do stunts with Michael Fassbender for (the film) “Haywire” and he was on the ground, “Oh! My knees!” and I was just kind of standing there. In the same film, Ewan McGregor punched me once when I was practicing. He was like, “Oh! I’m so sorry.” I was like, “No — is your hand OK?” I’ve been like this since I was a little girl — a bit of a wrecking ball, I guess.”
Q: This is the Style section, so let’s talk makeup. Do you have any favorites?
A: I do use Chanel Perfection Lumière sunscreen tinted moisturizer. I’m not very big on a lot of makeup. The less makeup I wear, the younger I feel. I’m not opposed to putting on some natural-looking false eyelashes. I love opening up the eyes. My little sister got me into Rodan and Fields (skin care). I like to stay away from chemicals.
Q: What’s more fun — mixed martial arts or making movies?
A: At different points in my life, they’ve both served a great expression for me. Mixed martial arts is something I’ve done nonstop. But I think storytelling is one of the most powerful things you can do. I haven’t been fortunate enough in telling the stories I want to tell, but I don’t want to give up trying.
Q: Fans are being offered a chance to win a dinner with you and MMA stars Michael Chandler and Fedor Emelianenko. I can’t imagine those brutes sitting down with a white tablecloth and glasses of Chardonnay. What’s this about?
A: If people think I’ll just be “Salad, please,” they’re completely mistaken. I’m not sure where it’s going to be, other than in San Jose. The cool thing is that I’ve never met Fedor in all my years in the sport, so ... I’m super excited and a little bit nervous. I’m having a fan girl moment when it comes to meeting Fedor.
Carolyne Zinko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email:
czinko@sfchronicle.com
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