Gina Carano’s coach, John Wood, fired back at accusations from critics suggesting her fight with Ronda Rousey was “fixed.”
Wood coached Carano at Syndicate MMA in her comeback fight after 17 years away from the sport in the main event of the MVP MMA card on Netflix. Although Carano trained hard for the fight, including losing 100 lbs of weight just to make it to the scale, she ended up losing in 17 seconds when Rousey submitted her with her signature move, the armbar.
John Wood Fires Back at Critics of Rousey vs. Carano
Because the fight ended so quickly, many fans were quick to suggest it was “rigged.” But Carano’s coach is making sure to let fans know that’s not the case.
Speaking to MMAFighting.com, Wood assured fans that Carano did everything she could to get her hand raised. Unfortunately, she just got beaten, but Wood said the fight was fully legit.
“She was ready. The camp was taken serious. She put in six months of work. Anybody that says it was rigged, she’s gutted. No one wanted to get out there and fight more than her. She was ready,” Wood said.
According to Wood, the game plan for Carano was to stick and move. But Carano’s fighting instincts immediately kicked in as she marched forward right off the opening bell and was taken down by Rousey, leading to disaster.
“The first round was going to be hands and move. Get on that bike. We needed to kill that first two minutes off. Slow things down because we knew she was coming hot and heavy. (Stay) behind the jab and circling. Honestly, the game plan was very much like Ronda and (UFC legend Amanda Nunes). To catch her when she’s coming forward. To catch her when she’s coming in. Give ourselves time to let that happen. I really, truly believed that was something that was really big, that was possible of happening. Boxing and footwork was the main premise of this. Obviously, takedown defense. But hey, the girl is a kickboxer at heart and shit happens,” Wood said.
Will Gina Carano Fight Again?
Carano is 44 years old, and this was her first fight in 17 years. She also made $1.05 million in disclosed pay, so if she walked away and went back to acting, no one would blame her.
But Wood thinks there is a good chance Carano will step into the cage again, especially given how this fight played out.
“I definitely think it’s not out of the question. I think Ronda’s pretty much a hard no. I do not believe Gina is a hard no. She’s even said that. I can’t speak for her, and I can’t speak how she’s going to feel in a couple of weeks when all of this settles down. Again, I think there’s an itch there that hasn’t been scratched. I think that it kind of woke up something in her. She loves training again. She loves that gym atmosphere. I think it’s healthier than she’s felt in a long time and probably the better Gina than even so far as 15 years ago. So, for me, I would love to see her take another crack at it. But ultimately it’s her (decision). The one thing I can say about it, it’s definitely not a no yet. There is a world where we do see it happen,” Wood said.
Coach Fires Back At ‘Rigged’ Accusations in Rousey vs. Carano