“First I’m gonna elbow her, in the face, then…”

Last time I mentioned my meeting with female MMA superstar Gina Carano at last week’s EA in NYC media event. I got the chance to sit down and ask a few questions and even recorded the conversation via my iPhone, with a handy little app called iDicto. Unfortunately the audio quality was not the best… Gina’s rather soft-spoken voice coupled with a cavernous club with tons of games being played in the background made for a less than audible mix. So here’s the highlights, in written form (and yes, I was very much star struck… hadn?t felt that way since I was in the same air space of George Takai)…

fort90: So to kick things off, what exactly do you do in the Red Alert 3?

Carano: I’m a Soviet assassin. A sniper. I point this laser on people, and then they get bombed!

fort90: You seem quite happy about that.

Carano: I’m SO excited by that! She’s cool man.

fort90: What’s your character’s name?

Carano: Natasha.

fort90: Do you speak in a Russian accent at all?

Carano: [laughs] No… I think I tried do, but it didn’t work out very well.

fort90: So how are you represented in the game? Via cutscenes and the such?

Carano: Yeah, but I’m also a playable character. [note: fellow mixed martial artist Randy Couture, whose camp Carano trains at, is also in the game]

fort90: Have you played Red Alert 3 yet?

Carano: No. This is actually my first time seeing it.

fort90: What do you think of the final product?

Carano: I think its cool! Especially since the last game I played was Nintendo.

fort90: Was going to ask, how much, if any, video games do you play?

Carano: This was my introduction into the world of video games, by being put in one… which is pretty tight, right? It’s pretty sweet. So now I’m gonna have them send me the video game, the system, so I can actually explore this whole new world.

fort90: Well, I know that your roots are in MMA, though most folks know you through the new American Gladiators. That’s how I first became acquainted with you. But now that fighting is once again your focus… Congrats once again on your latest win. In fact, I recorded [the last EliteXC on CBS special] because my girlfriend and I were out of town [due to SPX] and I wanted her to watch it with me, but was rather hesitant because she had seen a bit of that Kimbo Slice match a few months ago, where the guy’s ear almost fell off [btw, here's the footage in question, but be warned, it's pretty gory] and that completely turned her off on the idea of watching any MMA period. It finally took me going, “look, its the girl from American Gladiators that I have a crush on!” So she finally watched the special, and when it came to your fight, went “Wow, that girl is TOUGH!”

Carano: Oh my God! Do you know how many guys tell me that? Like, finally I got my girlfriend and wife to watch fights with me thanks to you.

fort90: It definitely worked!

Carano: I actually got one person who was like, “I was watching your fight and got dumped by my girlfriend because I was watching a little too hard.” I was like, it’s probably better that happened. But a lot guys go, Oh my gosh, my wife’s into it, my grandma’s into it, because of you. It’s an awesome thing.

fort90: Somewhat going back to games, I know you have a major fight coming up, so how do you relax? Because I know many folks, such as athletes, like to use video games to either blow off some steam or get in the mood…

Carano: Or just to check their brains out sometimes. So you don’t have to think. And I think that’s why a lot of fighters play video games, because they’ll be so intently focused on their fight and constantly thinking about it that video games give them the chance to check out into another world. And I think I’m gonna start doing that, because before my last fight I was playing Nintendo and thought, this is SO great, I can forget about stuff, blow off some steam, and you’re not causing drama for anybody else when you’re playing a game. I think I’m actually gonna get into it some more.

fort90: We all know how popular MMA is becoming, and some games have been produced, with more on the way. Do you think you’d ever find yourself playing any of them? Some athletes like to play their game on the small screen, off the real field, or would you prefer not to mix the two together?

Carano: I would totally play them! Because I would be all like “I’m gonna rear naked choke that bitch!” Haha! I would totally do that, because then I’d totally know what I was doing. “First I’m gonna elbow her, in the face, then…”

fort90: So what’s on you’re plate right now?

Carano: Right after I’m done promoting Red Alert, just gonna go back [to Vegas] and train… I have a lot of fights coming up. I’ve got Randy [Carano's trainer] to attend to… He’s facing [Brock] Lesnar, so I’m praying now.

fort90: I think most people are sure Randy is gonna come out on top on this one. I mean, nothing is ever a sure thing in fighting, but…

Carano: Everyone does want Randy to win, I guarantee that. He’s going in the good guy. But its gonna be a tough fight… that guy’s a best. But you know, I’ve got the same kind of fight coming up in February, so I want him to show me, hey I can do this.

fort90: [Cristiane] Cyborg is a worthy opponent…

Carano: Cyborg is kinda like the Lesnar. [laughs] So me and Randy are both kinda looking at the same thing.

fort90: Well, its gonna be a great fight. Everyone is totally stoaked. Hey, gotta ask, is there going to be another American Gladiator?

Carano: I’ve asked [NBC], but they were so focused on the Olympics at the time that I don’t think they any time to think about it. Also the economy is pretty bad and it was a pretty expensive show to put on. If they’re gonna do it, they’re gonna have to figure a way to cut costs, but no one has informed me of anything. I’ve been, look, I’ve been doing all these interviews, talking about the show, you guys had better tell me something!

fort90: Truth be told, all the other women on the show were all very tough, and that’s cool and all, but I guess that why my girlfriend and I liked you so much on Gladiators was that you were just this normal girl, rather cute and totally normal in comparison. Someone she could hang out with!

Carano: [laughs] I first told them, I don’t think I’m much of what you’re looking for, and then they were like, just come and be part of it anyways, and people ending up responding very well to me and my Crush character.

fort90: It’s a good name!