via Esther Lin and Showtime

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Gina Carano finally speaks out about her loos to Cyborg, (via FightOpinion)

For the people who have supported me this far...

I wanted to take time to collect my thoughts and speak from the heart rather than spew out some cliché anecdote about a tough loss. I know I am a better fighter than the way I performed that night and was heartbroken to not give more to those who have been inspired. However, I find some relief in knowing that this has never been only about me, and now more than ever I feel freedom to learn and grow at my own pace. I make it a point to constantly remind myself throughout this journey who I am, what I am doing, and why. Life is the most amazing gift and I want to live it for the right reasons. To my family, coaches, management... thank you from the bottom of my heart for believing in me, loving and encouraging me. Also a special thanks to the fans who support me from their computers at home, watch me on television and scream for me in the stadiums. Because of you, barriers have been broken down and you have inspired me to believe in a larger dream. Congratulations to Cris Cyborg and the women of MMA who have a great platform to shine. I am more excited than ever for female fighters and this amazing sport which has transformed my life. God Bless.

Gina

Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg coverage

There were several other numbers that WKR needed to be pointed out in lieu of our previous comparison of the Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg ratings versus UFC 100's ratings.

The UFC and Strikeforce have been down this path before. Earlier this year Strikeforce was preparing to hold their first event since picking up the pieces of ProElite and the UFC decided to counter the event with a replay of UFC 94. Comparing this data to the current data provides an excellent baseline to draw better conclusions. 

The UFC 94 replay, which was intended to counter broadcast Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz, did 1.9 million total viewers. This means that the UFC 100 replay only did 100,000 more total viewers than their previous replay, which would indicate that there is a market saturation for UFC replay products around 2 million viewers. Does this mean that the UFC drew away viewers from Strikeforce, probably not. 

Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg held an average of 576,000 viewers with a peak of 856,000 viewers compare that to Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz  which only did 364,000 viewers. That means Strikeforce grew their audience by 58%. If we compare the Shamrock vs. Diaz numbers to the peak viewers of Carano vs. Cyborg then Strikeforce's peak audience was 135% larger for their latest event. Again, indicating strong growth when compared to the UFC nominal increase in replay ratings of 5%. 

Couple this comparison with the obvious differences in premium cable and regular cable and it is easy to conclude  that Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg was a success.  

WKR will be adding this comparison to our previous post.

Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg coverage

The UFC 100 replay, which was intended to counter Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg, outdrew the Showtime event four to one. 

The UFC 100 replay averaged 2 million viewers while Carano vs. Cyborg drew an average of 576,000 viewers. The Strikeforce event did peak at 856,000 viewers during the main event. Strikeforce also nearly doubled their ratings from previous events and set a record for viewers on a Showtime MMA event. 

Showtime is only available in 21 million households (another website said 16.5 million households) where as Spike is available in approximately 98 million households. 

That means the UFC 100 replay was available to five or six times as many people and outdrew Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg by only four to one. While these ratings are impressive showing for a replay event they are not nearly as dominant as their base viewership should indicate. Simple linear regression tells us if something is available to X times more people than X times people should show up, in this case that didn't happen.  

The UFC also sent out a press release describing the UFC 100 replay as a success specifically citing its dominance within the male 18-34 demographic. 

The telecast bested heavy sports competition during the day in the advertiser-coveted demographic of Men 18-34:

UFC 100 (Spike TV) - 513,000

PGA Championship (CBS) - 479,000

MLB Baseball (FOX) - 242,000

Strikeforce (Showtime) - 181,000

Any time in dealing with media relations you want to put your best foot forward. Zuffa has done this continuously by trumpeting their dominance within the 18-34 male demographic. However this is not a good indicator of main stream or overall appeal. 

Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg coverage

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via Esther Lin and Strikeforce

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Salaries via MMA Mania

Cristiane Santos: $25,000 (includes $5,000 win bonus)
Gina Carano: $125,000
Santos defeated Carano via technical knockout (strikes) at 4:59 of round one

Gegard Mousasi: $2,000 (no win bonus)
Renato Sobral: $75,000
Mousasi defeated Sobral via technical knockout (strikes) at 1:00 of round one

Gilbert Melendez: $50,000 (no win bonus)
Mitsuhiro Ishida: $30,000
Melendez defeated Ishida via technical knockout (strikes) at 3:56 of round three

Fabricio Werdum: $50,000 (includes $25,000 win bonus)
Mike Kyle: $14,000
Werdum defeated Kyle via submission (guillotine choke) at 1:24 of round one

Jay Hieron: $55,000 (includes $30,000 win bonus)
Jesse Taylor: $12,000
Hieron defeated Taylor via unanimous decision

Scott Lighty: $4,000 (no win bonus)
Mike Cook: $2,500
Lighty defeated Cook via technical knockout (strikes) at 2:05 of round one

Justin Wilcox: $5,000 (includes $2,500 win bonus)
David Douglas: $5,500
Wilcox defeated Douglas via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:16 of round three

James Terry: $6,000 (includes $3,000 win bonus)
Zak Bucia: $2,000
Terry defeated Bucia via technical knockout (strikes) at 1:23 of round one

Alexander Trevino: $3,500 (includes $1,500 win bonus)
Isaiah Hill: $2,000
Trevino defeated Hill via submission (keylock) at 3:56 of round one

These salaries do not include bonuses or sponsorship dollars. 

The salary that stand out the most is Mousasi's reported pay of $2,000. 

Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg coverage

via Esther Lin and Showtime Sports

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David Whitley of AOL Fanhouse is not a fan of women's MMA. Well the feeling is mutual I am sure. 

WKR thought about sending this to the Fire Joe Morgan boys but maybe WKR can handle it. 

We've just witnessed the greatest advancement for female sports since Brandi Chastain ripped off her shirt at the end of the World Cup.

Do you have a poster of it because I do!

So why does it feel more like a punch to the stomach?

Maybe its because you were you punched in your stomach last night. Just saying.

I'm talking about last weekend's MMA bout between Gina Carano and Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos. It supposedly is the breakthrough battle that will make female fighting mainstream.

I don't believe anyone thinks male's MMA is mainstream. Carano's claim to fame was being on American Gladiators, Red Alert 3 and Maxim. If that is the ceiling of mainstream appeal for an MMA star then we are in trouble. Thank god we have Chuck Liddell on Dancing with the Stars.

It came days after the International Olympic Committee approved female boxing for the 2012 Olympics. The ancient Greeks who started the Olympics treated women like property. Now we're letting women treat themselves like animals.

You know what two professions were open to women in ancient Greece? PROSTITUTE OR SEAMSTRESS!

This, of course, is seen as progress. Maybe it's the thought of a female Chuck Wepner, but I don't see much enlightenment.

What the hell does the guy who was the inspiration for Rocky have to do with this....oh....wait a second. You're a boxing fan aren't you? Now I get it. 

I can't rationally argue women shouldn't be allowed to beat themselves bloody. It's more an emotional repulsion that makes me hope these breakthroughs are overblown.

Wait, you can't rationally argue against women's MMA so why are you writing this? That's right, you need to feel good about your bias and there is nothing as cathartic as mind dumping your thoughts on AOL Fanhouse. Jay Marrioti does it too. 

On a practical level, I doubt the Carano vs. Cyborg was the fighting equivalent of the 19th Amendment. When it comes to female fighters, the MMA still has less depth than Paris Hilton. Carano was its Danica Patrick, and now she's been beaten by Ivan Drago.

We all enjoy making fun of Paris Hilton so I can't fault you for that, oh wait I can! Here's some of that depth: Sarah Kaufman, Megumi Fuji, Tara LaRossa, Kelly Kobold, Miku Matsumoto, Marloes Coenen, Yuka Tsuji, Shayna Baszler  and many more. 

We all know that looks matter, which is why the WWE long ago replaced the Fabulous Moolah with pole dancers. If female combat is going to ever make it big, it will need competitors who look like strippers and fight like bouncers.

That concludes the Male Chauvinist Pig portion of this column. Honestly, I don't think a woman's place is on the sideline waving a pom-pom. I'm all for equal pay, a female president and my daughters growing up in a misogyny-free world.

Its so refreshing to see someone admit their sexist and discriminatory opinions. Now if we can just get those damn birthers to admit that they are mad about a black men being elected President. 

I just don't care to see them in a boxing ring, even if they're beating up some Russian for a gold medal.

Clearly you never saw Million Dollar Baby.

Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg coverage

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Photo from Esther Lin and Showtime Sports

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One of the more interesting juxtapositions of the weekend was the negative reaction coming out of the United Kingdom due to the IOC's decision to admit female boxing into the 2012 games versus the enormous enthusiasm displayed by MMA fans in San Jose for the first female fight title fight that also made history by headlining an event filled with males. 

(For those that didn't read the quote or listen to the BBC segment on the IOC's decision I suggest you listen to it to better understand what kind of negative, borderline sexists, opinions were being thrown around.)

The stark difference between the popular reactions in the two countries in response to these two events was fascinating. In England you had a former member of Parliament coming out against the IOC's decision where as in the United States the IOC decision went by with little publicity. But the Carano vs. Cyborg fight was praised as an historic event. 

The significant interest in Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg flies directly in the face of America's own gender debate in athletics, which centered around Title 9. Title 9 detractors said that actively supporting women's athletics would take away from men's athletics, which are the only sports anyone wants to see. Tell that to the 13,000 plus fans that crowded into the HP Pavilion in San Jose to see Gina Carano vs. Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos. The sound and passion that emanated from the crowd was reminiscent of UFC 68, when Randy Couture knocked down Tim Sylvia. While their fight only lasted one round it was easily one of the most exciting rounds of 2009 in MMA. Gauge the reaction for yourself in this video of the crowd's reaction to Gina Carano's entrance. 

Yet women's MMA may have suffered a set back. Gina Carano the so called "face of female MMA" lost. Does Carano's defeat spell doom for the new sport?

In WKR's own (un-scientific) poll, 23% thought that Gina Carano's loss meant the end of women's MMA. While 69% thought that Carano's loss doesn't mean the death of female MMA. 7% of respondents were unsure. A strong majority of MMA fans that visit this site don't believe that women's MMA was dependent upon Gina Carano.

However, the MMA community is not without resistance towards female MMA. 

There was a fascinating thread that began at Bloodyelbow discussing the perception that female athletics and the harsh economic challenges facing female athletics. But WKR disagrees with this assessment when applied to women's MMA. 

As someone with a sister in the Army I believe their is a powerful demographic of strong women that are attracted to these fighters. That doesn't mean there isn't a strong group of male fans that are equally interested. The classic gender roles of the fifties are a forgotten memory for those under thirty. Long gone are the day's of the eighties where Sigourney Weaver became the first female action star in Aliens. A generation of men and women have grown up seeing women in strong physical roles. Every summer men and women are treated to the next crop of strong, powerful, independent women in action roles. 

Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg coverage

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For those that don't remember Kit Cope comments, the Muy Thai fighter went after Xtreme Couture and their preparation for Gina Carano's fight last Saturday. Oh yeah, Cope his Carano's ex. Xtreme Couture trainer, Shawn Tompkins, wasn't pleased with Cope's comments and he essentially called Cope a chump.

Now that Carano was handled so easily Zach Arnold, of MMA Memories, asks the question, was Kit Cope right?

Unfortunately for Xtreme Couture, the fight results involving their two most prominent fighters (outside of Randy Couture) were ugly. Forrest Griffin came in with a horrible fight plan against Anderson Silva and Gina Carano looked terrible against Cris Cyborg.

......

Gina looked like an amateur fighter with a lot of heart but not a lot of legitimate training. Don't get me wrong - Gina will not lose many fans after this fight, but her game was entirely exposed for the world to see and it is not that well-developed. Unlike BJ Penn who looked terrible against Georges St. Pierre, there are real questions about Gina Carano's skill set as a fighter. We all know Penn is world-class at Lightweight and can't be stopped, but what we didn't know going into Saturday night's Showtime fight was how legitimate Gina Carano was. The answer - she has a long ways to go.

Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg coverage

"I'll be back"

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What a weekend for MMA. History was made as we watched the first female MMA champion crowned. On top of that we were also privy to the first female fight headline a card. Really a triumph for female sports and a new generation of sports fans.

You can listen to this episode of Cage Cast here, subscribe to our RSS feed and our iTunes feed. This episode is about an hour long and there is a minor skip due to editing difficulties at the 43:00 minute mark.

First we talk about Carano vs. Cyborg. There is so much to talk about with so many different angles of analysis but we begin with Carano abandoning the mount early in the first round. For Gina to give up on such a dominant position raises some questions about her tactics and decision making. This is to take nothing away from the great showing byCrisitiane "Cyborg" Santos. Santos was dominant, decisive and aggressive. From the beginning she seized the initiative and took control of the fight. Carano was on her heels the whole time and finally succumbed to "Cyborg's" onslaught in the waning moments of the first round. Was the stoppage controversial? WKR thinks this story is a red herring as the fight was stopped at the correct moment by some excellent refereeing.

The fact that the Carano is widely considered the face of female MMA many are questioning whether her loss could be a death nail for women's MMA. WKR doesn't subscribe to this narrative and we explain why.

Next we talk about Gegard Mousasi and his impressive victory over Renato "Babalu" Sobral. As Nick Becker said onWKR, "Welcome to America." Mousasi's victory puts him on a path to be the first fighter to be ranked in the top twenty-five in three divisions on USA Today/SBN's Consensus Rankings.

Next we talk about Gilbert Melendez's victory over Mitsuhiro Ishida and whether this victory puts him on a path for rematch with Josh Thomson. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker mentioned that Thomson could fight Dream lightweight champion, Shinya Aoki.

Fabricio Werdum defeated Mike Kyle via a first round submission. Does this put Werdum on a collision course withFedor?

The last fight we talk about is the Jay Hieron Jesse Taylor fight. Strikeforce screwed both of these fighters over by demoting the fight to the preliminary card. That leads to our next topic how was Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg as a product. Clearly there were timing issues which will hopefully be worked out in the future.

Finally we compare the Strikeforce announcing booth to the UFC's. Zak is in love with Gus Johnson and that is where the conversation spirals out of control.

Thanks for listening to this edition of Cage Cast. Feel free to comment and send us your thoughts about the show. Email us at watchkalibrun@gmail.com.

Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg coverage

Gegard Mousasi must have woke up this morning cursing M-1 management.

Last night, Gegard Mousasi put on a crushing display of dominance, stopping Renato "Babalu" Sobral just a minute into his eagerly awaited American debut to capture the Strikeforce light heavyweight title while hardly breaking a sweat.  Mousasi pulverized "Babalu" with vicious ground and pound strikes that left Sobral looking like he'd just stuck his finger in an electrical socket. 

Calm, cool, and collected, Mousasi showed none of the nerves that one would expect from a fighter making not only his debut in the biggest MMA market in the world but also his debut in the cage after a full career spent fighting in a ring.  A lot of fighters who are accustomed to the many advantages of competing in a ring - better ability to work angles, re-starts when too close to the ropes, etc. - have expressed concern over fighting in the cage (see: Emelianenko, Fedor), yet Mousasi was unfazed by it all.

During the post-fight interview, Mousasi acknowledged that his first U.S. bout came with a bit more stress, but it was akin to a free diver admitting that a 300 meter descent would add pressure to his lungs. 

Fact is, Mousasi came off like a star and now just needs to be marketed like one.  Mousasi is young, good-looking, speaks English, and is, obviously, a hell of a fighter.  He possesses all of the tools required to be a huge star in the United States, and that is where his management did him no favors.  Credit Mousasi for being a man of his word and sticking with the contract he signed with Strikeforce even when it became apparent that M-1 Global played him like a Volynka though later Mousasi said there were no issues with his management and no contract offer from the UFC.

Everyone knows that Scott Coker and Strikeforce have had major difficulty building stars because they don't have the huge promotional muscle behind them that the UFC does.  Strikeforce is to UFC, as Reebok was to Nike.  Just as Strikeforce has some successful fighters, back in the day Reebok had some successful shoes.  Still we all know: Air Jordans > The Pump. 

The question now is who exactly will they have Mousasi fight after his upcoming fight with Sokoudjou?  Strikeforce's light heavyweight division is as thin as skim milk, "Feijao" needs to be built back up after a humiliating KO loss to Mike Kyle and the prospect of Mousasi facing Bobby Southworth is as exciting as a bowl of bran flakes.   

Mark my words, in the next couple of years Mousasi will be as big an MMA superstar as Georges St. Pierre.  But Strikeforce won't be the promotion to get him there - the UFC will.

Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg coverage

I think this sums up the fight nicely via news.fightmagazine.com

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Here are some photo albums from Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg last night. 

Fight Magazine, MMA Convert, Five Ounces of Pain, MMA Fanhouse, MMA Weekly, Sherdog and Showtime's Flickr account. 

Also MMA for Real has some videos of the post fight press conference while Bloody Elbow has all of the post-fight interviews from the fighters. 

Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg coverage