Sonderbergh Casts Fighter Gina Carano in 'Knockout'

Academy Award winning director Steven Sonderbergh will enter the martial arts action arena with his next film featuring female mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Gina Carano.

Carano started her career in the sport of Muay Thai and quickly rose to dominate the arena of broadcast MMA fights between women. She currently holds a record of 7-1, remaining undefeated until August 2009.

The self-professed tomboy, known as Gina “Conviction” Carano in the fight arena, is certainly no stranger to the camera. Both her natural good looks and her powerful techniques have been known to seduce fans. 

On the small screen, Carano served as mentor for aspiring female fighters in the Oxygen reality series Fight Girls, which documented seven female fighters' attempts at winning a championship. She also appeared as "Crush" (pictured at right) on the NBC show American Gladiators.

Sonderbergh’s film however will mark Carano’s big screen debut in a major motion picture.  She will take the lead role as a girl from the wrong side of the tracks who is given a second chance to use her skills for constructive purposes – mostly a femme fatale like foray into espionage. The spy thriller film is called Knockout but doesn’t take place in the ring.

Sonderbergh, known for cult hits like the Ocean’s trilogy, has explained that this newest film is a pure action film à la James Bond. He was introduced to Carino when he saw her fight in the mixed martial arts circuit.

Filming for Knockout will start in late January 2010. Shooting will take place in locations around the world including Ireland, Turkey and the United States.

Watch the video below to see Gina Carano in an a pre-fight interview on behalf of EliteXC. Carano joined the MMA circuit in 2006.