Lengthy article about women’s MMA in the Minneapolis City Pages:

Let’s look at the tale of the tape. Kaitlin Young has a one-inch height advantage, but her opponent, Gina Carano, has at least four pounds on her. Both study Muay Thai and jiu-jitsu. They stand across from each other inside a circular cage, bouncing in their respective corners. Young is a college student from the University of Minnesota. She’s well-respected, yet relatively unknown in women’s mixed martial arts. Carano is “Crush” from the new version of American Gladiators and the face of female MMA.

They continue to bounce while an announcer bellows introductions to the thousands of fight fans watching live inside the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, last May. Millions more watch at home on CBS television. Lights flash and close-ups of the two fighters are shown on Jumbotrons inside the center.

The fight card, dubbed “EliteXC: Primetime,” is something of a historic moment for the sport: It’s the first time any MMA fight has aired for free in primetime on national TV. Later, CBS will report that 6.5 million viewers tuned in to watch. And right now, all those millions of eyes are on the two women, the night’s first and only female fight.

Gina Carano, Kelly Kobald and Kaitlin Young fight for acceptance @ Minneapolis City Pages