"When I first started in Showtime I was called the pet project: ‘Here, I’m going to help you out and put you on this show.’ In my head, I’m like, I train and work out like everyone else. They like to tell you what you’re not. They like to keep you down, so they can get more out of you for their money. But fans don’t lie. When they’re all chanting your name, you know they’re supporting you. So we went from being the pet project to now we’re headlining an event. So this is huge for me. I’ve been carrying this whole thing with women’s mixed martial arts for a couple years, and that’s a lot. It’d be a great thing to win and hold that belt. But that means that load stays right where it’s at."

-- Female mixed martial arts mega-star and recent Strikeforce acquisition Gina Carano shares her evolution as a fighter with the New York Times heading into her championship bout against Chute Boxe-trained striker Cristiane Santos on August 15. "Conviction" has not competed since a three-round drubbing of Kelly Kobold in October 2008, winning via unanimous decision and pushing her perfect record to seven wins versus zero defeats. Can she handle the fury of Cyborg? Or will the Brazilian crumble against Carano's Muay Thai? Predictions please...