Gina Carano InterviewMarlene: So Gina you’re riding the wave of transitioning from Mauy Thai to MMA, how is that working out for you?
Gina: It’s working out very well. I come form a different world then most of the MMA girls that come from jiu jitsu. My Muay Thai is working really well for me, but I know I have a lot to learn in the MMA world. I joined Team Couture in Las Vegas and I plan in that being a step forward in my career.
Marlene: I know you train with Master Toddy and he is known for taking the time to get to know his fighters on a very personal level. Can you elaborate more on the close relationship between you and him?
Gina: Master Toddy is my mentor! He brought me into this sport and I have ultimate respect for him. I think he is one of the best men in my life, he is fantastic, he is a genius in Muay Thai and in fighting and I can’t say enough good things about him, he’s like a Dad to me! He keeps all his fighters really close like that.
Marlene: I know you actually got involved in training with Master Toddy due to your ex boyfriend. If we can we ask, what is it like training and sparring with him now that you two aren’t dating?
Gina: Well he’s definitely my ex, but he is also my best friend. He tells me the truth when I’m doing good or if I’m letting it slack or whatever. I got good people around me, I’m very blessed.
Marlene: Can you elaborate more on your first meeting with Master Toddy and his statements regarding your weight? Were you in shock that he stated you were a little “chubby”?
Gina: (laughs) Yeah, I know he was like “Oh no baby, baby you fat, you need to lose weight!” but I mean anybody else in my life can tell me I was getting chubby and I wouldn’t pay any attention to them, but when its done honestly and real I was like “You know what? He’s right. Let’s get into shape!” So, I appreciate honesty and when its real, and I’ll listen, you know.
Marlene: So now that you’re on Team Couture, what are you focusing your training on specifically, the jiu jitsu or the wrestling part of MMA?
Gina: I’m working with Randy, he is a big wrestler mostly, but he’s also awesome at MMA and I think he’s gonna kinda round my game from Muay Thai to the unexpected, no one expects me to take anybody down, nobody expects me to be cool on the ground and I think that the element of surprise is gonna open up my striking a lot more. I’m still going to do my Muay Thai at Master Toddy’s but just being around such good people is the most inspiring thing. When you’ve got your head straight and your heart straight it all starts to come together like you wouldn’t believe. It’s going to work out, I now it is, I’ve got complete faith in it!
Marlene: You’re coming from a Muay Thai background, and you mentioned you tend to fight a lot of Jiu Jitsu based fighters, how confident are you in your striking when you encounter a woman that is primarily a grappler?
Gina: Confidence is obviously a key to fighting and knowing that you’re the best, but I don’t underestimate anybody at the same time and I’m not gonna say that jiu jitus girls don’t have power behind their hands. I don’t take anybody lightly and I’m just going to focus on what I can do. I know I have the best trainers around me so I’m just going to focus on that.
Marlene: What’s next for you Gina, any scheduled fights?
Gina: I think the next show is in September, but I hope it’s sooner than that, I got that fighter itch! After I got healthy, I’m like “I wanna go kick something!” you know. But everything happens for a reason I believe, so maybe this is just a waiting period and then I’ll be a completely different fighter by the time September comes around.
Marlene: Thanks you so much for you time, is there anything you’d like to add for on themat.com?
Gina: I would like to thank everybody for being so completely real and honest and giving me love. Nobody really knows me and they’ve just been showing me so much love and support. That’s what females in the sport are going to need in order to get bigger, we’re gonna work our way up just like the guys did!