Carano Vs Cyborg: Women's MMA Hangs in the Balance

There's a lot more on the line at Carano vs Cyborg than a Strikeforce title. When Gina Carano steps into the cage against Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos, it will be the first time that two female fighters have headlined a major MMA event. This is a big accomplishment for Strikeforce, as UFC parent company Zuffa had been pursuing Carano's services, yet did not embrace the idea of an entire women's division as Strikeforce has. But while the entire idea of a fight between two talented women isn't going to be marketable by itself. Carano (pictured above) brings some obvious visual appeal for key male 18-35 demographic.  And the stark contrast between her, and her menacing foe, Cyborg is what makes this fight so appealing to the casual viewer. However, all of that changes when the fight actually begins. Once Carano and Cyborg start fighting, all marketing strategies go out the window, and it is all up to the fighters. I like to think of myself as a reasonable pe...