(George Galanis is an MMA fan and regular contributor to BPL.)

There was a time when just a mention of the name Gina Carano would bring both casual and hardcore MMA fans into deep discussion and debate. She was the face of Women's MMA, 'Crush' on American Gladiators, and all-round pin-up girl. Carano was one of the most influential people not just in MMA but all of combat sports.

Carano quickly rose to popularity in the now defunct EliteXC promotion at EliteXC: Destiny — a card that also featured a matchup between Renzo Gracie and Frank Shamrock. Carano was something new to the MMA world, an attractive woman who could also put on entertaining fights. She went 7-0 in EliteXC and Strikeforce, facing undersized opposition and rarely coming in on weight, but no one cared, she was a pretty face who was supposed to win. She was a promoter's dream: classic good looks with a girl next-door personality. The fact she could fight set her apart from the other pretty faces of MMA.

Unfortunately, the bubble burst August 15, 2009, when she faced the biggest test of her career, Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos. Santos was on a similar path of beating up on smaller opponents, but while Carano was more technical with her Muay Thai, Cyborg left a path of destruction. The fight didn't leave the first round and proved to be Cyborg's coronation as the new face of Women's MMA. Carano quietly left the sport and many felt she wouldn't return.

For a year and a half, fans heard talk about the return of Gina Carano, who was off doing her thing in Hollywood. Carano was cast as the lead in Steve Soderbergh's new action film Haywire and her fight career was placed on hold. For over 18 months, she didn't set foot inside the gym at Xtreme Couture and her MMA career was all but dead.

But now it seems she might be returning. So what changed? Why come back now?

There was the usual tawdry and trivial Hollywood gossip - reports that she left the set of Haywire to film some scenes for the new JJ Abrams' film Super 8 but those turned out to be unsubstantiated rumours.

Her return was announced before the main event at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva, and the moment couldn't have been more badly handled. There was little direction from the announcement and absolutely no information given about when and where Carano would return. Strikeforce expects her to fight in 2011, but there are no plans about the date, or her opponent. Her time away from training will definitely result in some ring rust and there are also questions now about her heart as a fighter.

After the announcement, there was very little reaction, to the point where many were left wondering if she spent too much time away from the sport that made her famous. The reaction was a unanimous "ehh," with fans not knowing what to say about the eventual return.

So, are you excited to see her back? I can't say that I am - especially if it's just a gimmick to promote her movie. If it means a re-dedication to MMA, then she'll need to win me back, along with many others.