Gina Carano is back in the gym and she’s more than capable of making a comeback — if that’s what she wants.
That’s according to her coach John Wood, who was holding pads for Carano in a training video she posted on social media just days ago. Carano hasn’t fought since 2009 when she suffered a knockout loss to Cris Cyborg in Strikeforce before turning her full attention on an acting career.
While she did get into negotiations with the UFC about a possible fight against Ronda Rousey back in 2014, Carano ultimately never ended up signing and instead continued taking on major acting roles in films like Deadpool and the popular Star Wars spinoff TV series The Mandalorian.
“She’s training with us right now,” Wood said about Carano’s appearance at his gym, Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas. “She’s been there for the last month or two. I’ve known Gina and her husband Kevin Ross, one of my friends who lived with me for years back in the day 20 some years ago. He started at my gym a long time ago, kept contact and those two, great people. Really, really awesome people that I’ve always loved.
“To be able to have them in the gym and be able to train with them, work on some things, it’s been really cool.”
Carano never actually retired when she stopped fighting in 2009, although outside of talks with the UFC about potentially facing Rousey, she hasn’t hinted at a return to action.
That said, Wood believes if fighting was her plan, she’s more than capable of competing again after she put together a successful career in both MMA and kickboxing.
“Well, do I think she can still fight? Absolutely,” Wood said. “Do I think she’s still got pop and can lay it on somebody? Absolutely. Is that what’s happening? I don’t know. That’s a Gina Carano question.”
Carano showed off her training footage but hasn’t hinted if that’s part of a bigger plan that could include another fight.
Of course the timing is interesting with rumors swirling for weeks that Rousey was also potentially considering a return of her own after she was reportedly tied to a potential boxing match against Katie Taylor. UFC CEO Dana White later said “it’s bullshit” when asked about the possible Rousey vs. Taylor fight at the UFC 323 post-fight press conference.
But could a fight against Carano possibly materialize in 2026?
Her coach isn’t saying anything but it doesn’t sound like Carano returned to the gym just for the fun of it.
“She’s back in there everyday,” Wood said. “She’s got that fire lit and she’s training her butt off. It’s been really cool to have here in there. She’s a legend in the sport, not just in women’s MMA but the sport in general so it’s really awesome to have someone like that. People when they walk in and realize ‘oh it’s Gina!’ She’s such a fan favorite and just a great person. Down to Earth. Her and Kevin are amazing people.
“To have them in the gym and to be able to share time with them and training has been really, really cool. I expect you might hear some things at some point in time here.”
Read the full article here
