Unified featherweight world champion Amanda Serrano says she’d love to step into an MMA cage again—and her dream matchup is Gina Carano. With MVP’s MMA card on her mind, Serrano pointed to a potential “Serrano vs. Carano” pairing while preparing for her next b
Amanda Serrano is used to hearing her name in arenas built for boxing—but the idea of an MMA cage doesn’t feel like a detour to her. It feels like unfinished business.
Just days after discussions around mixed martial arts came up, the unified featherweight world champion made it clear she’s interested in returning to that different kind of fight. When asked whether she’d hop on a next MVP MMA card, Serrano didn’t hesitate.
“100%. I told [Jake Paul], listen, put me in coach, I’m ready to go in!. It was a great show, live on Netflix, first time MVP’s done an MMA card, and it turned out beautiful. And if they decide to do it again. maybe before I’m completely done with fighting in general. I would love to go get in that cage.”.
Then the conversation turned—naturally, loudly—to Gina Carano. Serrano’s reaction carried that mix of excitement and playfulness fighters seem to save for the matchups they actually want.
“Listen, just hear the sound of it. ‘Serrano vs. Carano. Serrano, Carano!’” she said while laughing when Carano was brought up.
She also didn’t pitch it as a fantasy based only on star power. Serrano framed it as a matchup style-wise, pointing to Carano’s striker background and kickboxing roots.
“It would be an honor to go in there with such a great fighter. She’s a striker as well. She comes from a kickboxing background. So ya never know. You never know.”
Carano’s name is already in the MMA conversation for MVP. Most Valuable Promotions co-founder and CEO Nakisa Bidarian told Serrano they wanted to give Gina Carano another fight after her return to the cage versus Ronda Rousey earlier this month. With that in mind. the “Serrano-Carano” idea starts to sound less like a tease and more like a plan someone might try to make real.
Serrano’s own MMA record is built on submission finishes, and that detail matters if you’re imagining her in a cage against a striker. She is 2-0-1 as a professional MMA fighter, and her two wins have not come by knockout. They were submissions—a guillotine and a rear-naked choke.
There’s a different kind of stakes waiting for Serrano before any imagined MMA sprint begins. Before she even thinks about the cage again, A.S. is set to return to the squared circle Saturday night in El Paso against Cheyenne Hanson. The bout will air on ESPN.
Hanson is 17-2 and is 28 years old, and she’s facing the established champ with a goal that Serrano says won’t go unchecked.
Hanson may be looking to make a name for herself against Serrano, but for now, the champion’s focus is still clear: box next, then keep the MMA option open—starting with the fight she seems most interested in, Gina Carano.
Amanda Serrano Gina Carano MVP MMA Jake Paul Ronda Rousey Cheyenne Hanson ESPN El Paso featherweight world champion MMA fighter boxing
Wait, Gina Carano is fighting again now??
I saw Jake Paul mentioned and immediately thought this is just another YouTube circus thing, not real MMA. But if Serrano actually goes in the cage… that would be crazy. Carano vs Serrano sounds kinda fun though.
Not gonna lie I’m confused like… Carano is more famous than she is technical right? So how would that “striker vs striker” thing even work. Also MVP on Netflix already feels staged, like they just pick matchups based on hype. But hey, Serrano’s legit at least.
Amanda Serrano wants to “get in the cage” and I’m here for the chaos lol. I don’t even know if Carano is currently training or if she’s just a name they throw out for ratings. The article says kickboxing background so I’m assuming she’s dangerous, but MMA is different than boxing for sure. Also calling it “unfinished business” sounds dramatic, but maybe she’s serious serious.