• UFC

White: Attempts to sign Carano complicated

July 27, 2014
Dana White has expressed interested in booking Ronda Rousey against Gina Carano © Getty Images
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UFC president Dana White says he remains "positive" about the possibility of signing retired female fighter Gina Carano but negotiations are "complicated".

White and UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta met with the Hollywood actress in Los Angeles on Monday. Prior to the meeting, White expressed optimism a deal would get done and that the UFC was interested in booking Carano to a 135-pound title fight against Ronda Rousey on December 6 in Las Vegas.

On Saturday, White admitted there was no update on Carano.

"It's complicated," White said. "I'm very positive about it, but it's complicated. I'm still working on it. That's all I can say."

Carano, 32, is scheduled to begin production on a film titled The Opium War, directed by Justin Steele, at the end of summer. A pioneer of women's mixed martial arts, Carano has not fought since a TKO loss to Cris Justino in August 2009.

When asked if he still hoped Carano would be available on December 6, White responded, "I don't know."

Carano (7-1) has enjoyed several milestones in her career, including participating in the first sanctioned female fight in Las Vegas. The Justino bout, which aired on Showtime, was the first female contest to ever headline a major MMA event.

She was scheduled for a comeback fight on a Strikeforce event on June 18, 2011, but eventually withdrew from the bout. Strikeforce officials cited medical reasons for the withdrawal.

This article originally appeared on ESPN.com

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