Long before Ronda Rousey became a household name, UFC president Dana White had his sights set on another female fighter to pioneer women's MMA in the Octagon: Gina Carano.
In fact, Carano was already deep in discussions to headline the UFC's first-ever women's fight—a title bout against Rousey that would have made history years before it actually happened. But when negotiations fell apart, the fight was ultimately moved to Netflix instead, leaving fans to wonder what could have been.
While Rousey has spoken openly about wanting to compete in the UFC, Carano recently admitted she had hoped her return to the sport would come through a debut in the promotion. Looking back, she reflected on how close she came to fighting in the Octagon even before what many assumed would be her final bout back in 2009.
Despite missing out on some major opportunities during her time away from fighting, Carano made it clear she holds no regrets. In a candid interview with MMA Fighting, she shared her thoughts on the choices that shaped her career and where they ultimately led her.
The talks between Carano and White broke down more than a decade ago, centered around a potential comeback fight against Rousey. But this wasn't the first time the two had discussed her future. Before her 2009 showdown with Cris Cyborg, White had actually advised Carano not to take that fight and instead sign with the UFC.
"Before I fought Cyborg, I had a meeting with Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta, and they were like, 'Do not fight Cyborg and come to the UFC,'" Carano told ESPN. "But I had given my word to fight Cyborg, and I come from a time where you show up and fight whoever is in front of you."
That decision set her on an entirely different path. Just one week after her loss to Cyborg, filmmaker Steven Soderbergh reached out, offering Carano a lead role in his next project—launching her acting career.
Reflecting on what might have been, Carano admitted that a win over Cyborg would have kept her in MMA. "I would have continued fighting if I beat Cyborg," she said. "I would have had to defend the title and wouldn't have had time to act. I can say now that I'm happy with how things went."
Carano's departure left a void in women's MMA that wasn't filled until 2013, when the UFC finally introduced a women's division—with Rousey leading the charge as its first champion.
It's a fascinating "what if" in combat sports history, and a reminder that sometimes the path not taken leads to something just as extraordinary.