Film contract may prevent Gina Carano's debut in the UFC

Over the past few months, talk of a Gina Carano's debut in the UFC and return to professional fighting, have increased. Not long ago, most fans more or less considered the former Strikeforce champion in a state of permanent retirement. She has a budding film career, with several significant roles in the works, and in general she seems to have made a rather seemless transition out of professional fighting and into professional stunt fighting. Leaving at the peak of her abilities (albiet on a loss) and remembered quite fondly as the first major star of women's MMA.

But now, with a new kid on the block, in Ronda Rousey, and one badly in need of new name opponents, Gina Carano has been teased for a potential MMA return and UFC debut. What seemed to start as little more than publicity building for her latest film project has turned into a seemingly reasonable expectation that fans will soon be seeing Carano in the octagon, potentially in a major PPV headliner. The sport needs her and the interest is there. Unfortunately, her aforementioned film career may not allow it. Jeremy Botter reported the news on twitter, that Carano's movie deal has become a potential roadblock to her UFC signing.

Gina Carano to the UFC is not as much of a lock as I thought it was yesterday. Movie conflicts. Studio has to sign off.

— Jeremy Botter (@jeremybotter) July 14, 2014

Studio worried that losing to Ronda will hurt Gina’s action hero allure. And yeah, it would.

— Jeremy Botter (@jeremybotter) July 14, 2014

Not to say it won’t get done. Just that more forces are at play than just Dana negotiating with her agent. Not as simple.

— Jeremy Botter (@jeremybotter) July 14, 2014

Keep in mind, this is directly on the heels of Dana White's comments that a deal with Carano was only a week away:

"One down, one to go," White said. "I'm going to meet with Gina next week and get that f---ing thing done. Next week, man.

"It's just a matter of me and Lorenzo going to jump on a plane to Los Angeles, get in a room with her and her lawyer and get this thing done."

It sounds like the UFC is trying to make a heavy play to get Carano back in the cage, so I don't expect this is the last we've heard of a potential deal. Stay tuned to Bloody Elbow for all the news and updates.