Carano makes most of opportunities

Gina Carano has heard all of the criticism lobbed at her about her ever-expanding interests outside the cage.

The Las Vegan, however, doesn't make any excuses for the fact that she has parlayed success as a fighter, and good looks, into a variety of options for herself outside the limited world of mixed martial arts.

"I've been able to take a lot of opportunities," she said. "Just because I'm a fighter doesn't mean that's the only thing I can do."

Those opportunities include her regular gig as Crush on "American Gladiators," magazine layouts, an upcoming movie and a yet-to-be-released non-MMA video game.

Still, she remains intent on honing the skill that has led to her fame.

Carano will take on Kelly Kobold-Gavin on the third CBS-televised EliteXC show Saturday night in Sunrise, Fla.

Carano trains locally at Xtreme Couture with some of the top fighters in the sport, both male and female, and remains dedicated to MMA.

"There's so many good (fighters) that come out of that gym," she said, adding that the training has enabled her to expand on the Muay Thai fighting base she brought with her to the gym.

Carano has a 6-0 record as a professional, including three wins by knockout and one by submission. Should she win Saturday night, a fight with emerging EliteXC star Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos is most likely on the horizon.

"I'm not looking past Kelly, but I'm definitely looking forward to fighting Cyborg," Carano said. "I do want to fight the best out there, and Cyborg's definitely one of them, but I have a lot of respect for Kelly."

Santos also is fighting on Saturday's card, but she is part of the undercard and her bout might not be televised.

• LATE ADDITION -- The televised card featuring Carano on Saturday night is headlined by the heavyweight battle between Kimbo Slice and MMA legend Ken Shamrock, but a recently added fight may end up being the best on the card.

Elite XC announced last week that former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski will take on Las Vegan Roy Nelson as part of the CBS show.

Both fighters were scheduled to appear in separate bouts on the canceled Affliction show that had been slated for the Thomas & Mack Center on Oct. 11.

The card also features a welterweight title clash between champion Jake Shields and Paul Daley.

The broadcast will air tape-delayed at 9 p.m. on KLAS-TV (Channel 8).

• WEC NARROWS FOCUS -- World Extreme Cagefighting always has prided itself on the quality of its lower weight divisions.

Now, the organization will only feature classes below 170 pounds.

Following the Dec. 3 event in Las Vegas, the WEC no longer will promote middleweight or light heavyweight fights. It will be narrowed down to welterweights (170), lightweights (155), featherweights (145) and bantamweights (135).

The decision was a long-rumored one for the promotion, which is owned by the UFC's parent company, Zuffa, LLC.

The WEC was not deep at the heavier divisions, but it did feature some good prospects. The move will not only allow a greater focus on the organization's lighter weights, but it will allow some of the better fighters in the defunct classes to move into the UFC.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.