Gina Carano?s ?Haywire? opening to very good reviews

The chances Gina Carano returns to get punched in the grill anytime soon gets slimmer and slimmer by the second with the release of her new movie “Haywire.”

[Yahoo! speaks with Gina Carano about Haywire]

The L.A. Times wrote glowingly about the performance by the former “face of women’s mixed martial arts.”

[...] watching Carano kick, spin, flip, choke, crack and crush the fiercest of foes ? mostly men about twice her size ? is thoroughly entertaining, highly amusing and frankly somewhat awe-inspiring.

That’s something MMA fans have been entertained by for years, but to hear a non-fan that impressed, has to make Carano feel pretty good. It’s certainly going to make a huge impression on folks looking to include the fighter in future projects.

The film critic Betsey Sharkey says the movie isn’t Steven Soderbergh’s best effort – she lists “Traffic” – but says Haywire is far from his worst. She also hints strongly that Carano has future beyond on-screen kicks and submissions.

There is a sense within all the haywire high jinks that Carano might be able to do just fine with a role that didn’t rest so heavily on fighting (though stunt coordinator R.A. Rondell proved a genius in choreographing all those tumbling rumbles). Her athleticism gives her movement a kind of force that translates powerfully on screen ? people do seem inclined to get out of her way even when she’s not angry.

Carano, the daughter of former NFL quarterback Glenn Carano, took up Muay Thai in her teens. She fought professionally in MMA eight times. She hasn’t fought since losing back in aug. of 2009 to Cristiane Santos. Chances are she never will again if Haywire continues to get reviews like this.

The Vancouver Sun also liked the film. So did the Washington Times, AP, L.A. Weekly, and Rolling Stone invoked the name of Alfred Hitchcock. The U.K.’s Guardian found it a bit boring beyond the fighting scenes.

Tom Big Cat Erickson Martinsh Egle Eric Butterbean Esch Efrain Escudero Rashad Evans

Observations from My Couch: UFC on FOX 2 ? ?Ultimate Stinker?

A few observations from UFC on FOX 2: ?Evans vs. Davis?: -Last night the UFC had their ?UFC 33 moment? on major network television. There, I said it. Now let?s get past it. -We can add Lavar Johnson to the list of kickass fighters the UFC plucked from Strikeforce. He may not be a Nick [...]

Roger Gracie Rolles Gracie Royce Gracie Royler Gracie Ryan Gracie

Gouveia stops Lewis in the main event, McKee leaves with a win at MFC 32

All the attention might be on the UFC and FOX this weekend, but that isn’t stopping MFC and HDNet from delivering another card to the hardcore MMA fans. Coming to us live from the Mayfield Inn Trade and Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, it’s MFC 32: Bitter Rivals. As always, FiveOuncesOfPain.com will provide complete [...]

Stav Crazy Bear Economou  Yves Edwards  Justin Eilers  Jon Olav Einemo Per Eklund

Johnson Focused on Making 2012 “The Year of The Menace”

Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah  Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama 

Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum Countdown Preview Show – Strikeforce

Fight Network previews Strikforce’s heavyweight Grand Prix featuring Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum and Josh Barnett vs. Brett Rogers taking place on June 18, 2011 in Dallas, Texas.

Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah  Terrance Aflague