Randy Couture has been there before. The iconic pugilist has seen his share of titles slip away.

The former UFC champ had a chance to talk to Gina Carano -- a woman who has spoken of him as a mentor -- after her tough TKO loss to Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos in the first major female title match to be contested in North America.

“She’s doing fine,” said Couture, who visited with Carano in her locker room after the fight. “I think her pride is a little more damaged than anything else. It’s a first loss for her so, you know, there’s some adversity there.”

Is Gina Carano rust-proof?

Thanks to botched promotional care (courtesy of the curdled ProElite) and contract muck, Carano will have enjoyed a 10-month layoff by the time she and Santos square off. Even if that time was spent in the exclusive company of a heavy bag and blended oatmeal -- and it wasn’t -- Carano will have some timing issues to work out in the opening moments of the fight. There is no substitution in prizefighting for someone trying to take your head off. For a prize.

Are looks everything?

Remember how ripped up Linda Hamilton looked in “Terminator 2,” and how all anyone could discuss were her marbleized arms? If this training video is any indication, Santos will make Hamilton look like a plus-size model.

You may find a number of reasons to dislike women’s fighting -- suspect cardiovascular conditioning, lack of KO power, potential emasculation in knowing any of them would whip your Cheetos-cushioned ass -- but there are few excuses not to be excited at Saturday’s promise of an undisputed female champion.

Joined at the hip since 2007, 145 lb. contenders Gina Carano and Cristiane Santos will finally resolve their status and determine who holds claim to being the toughest lactating human on the planet. You can be reasonably sure Andy Kaufman is very, very glad he never lived to encounter either one.

As part of her media gauntlet in anticipation of an August 15 bout with Cristiane Santos, Gina Carano recently spoke with ESPN the Magazine staffer Ryan Hockensmith; a preview of their August 10 issue may prompt some male discomfort. You’ve been warned.

"I try not to schedule fights the week I'll be on my period,” she told Hockensmith. (Who, I presume, nodded solemnly and tried not to shift in his seat.) “Making weight is hard enough and during our period, we may retain around seven pounds of water weight. Plus bruises hurt more, you're bloated and cramping and emotionally, it's tougher to battle through the training.”

Carano also mentioned she wears three sports bras during a fight. Considering the rash of low-blow interruptions in events, maybe male combatants would do well to consider a three-cup rule.

I think we’re all still recuperating from the blitzkrieg that was UFC 100, but rest of the sports world moved on effortlessly with ESPN’s annual ESPY Awards, which was held in grand red-carpet fashion last Wednesday in Los Angeles.

Moving among the Kobe Bryants, Terrell Owens, and Williams sisters of the world, Gina Carano managed to stand out on a couple of scorecards (and another with Dan Henderson.)

This was on the heels of a well attended media day for Carano and opponent Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos at Madison Square Garden in New York City (The ladies barely conquered that backdrop) to rally the troops for Aug. 15’s Strikeforce event in San Jose, Calif.

Strikeforce held a press conference at Madison Square Garden’s WaMu Theater Tuesday afternoon to promote the Gina Carano/Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos title bout in San Jose on August 15. In attendance: Jimmy Lennon, Jr. Carano, Santos, and Santos’ translator.

As is per the usual for these gatherings, nothing of any real significance was said: both women were confident of their chances and appreciate the opportunity to put women’s fighting in the spotlight. Carano said she got interested in MMA when she and an ex-boyfriend were “drinking 40s” one night and he was talking about starting training. Carano also disagreed with assertions that the fight was one of technique vs. power, and that both women had plenty of each to spare.

On how male and female MMA athletes differ, she noted that women had different genitalia. I suspect footage featuring Carano saying the word “penis” will not go unnoticed by forum regulars.

According to a release circulated by Strikeforce and highlighted by Fanhouse, the promotion is set to dangle some mainstream media bait by hosting a press conference for the Aug. 15 Gina Carano/Cristiane Santos fight at Madison Square Garden’s WaMu Theater on July 14.

Considering that it wouldn’t take roping off a city block to house MMA media, it’s clear Strikeforce is counting on a surplus of mass press attention for what has easily become the highest-profile women’s MMA bout to date.