The world’s most recognizable female mixed martial artist Gina “Conviction” Carano has said that she always dreamed of fighting in the UFC.

You’ve been hesitant in talking about your future in MMA, one way or another. What criteria would you use to make a decision about returning or not?

(chuckles) There are certain things that I always dreamed of, like fighting in the UFC. That was a big one.

I don’t know. There’s just certain things that I feel like haven’t been accomplished there. There’s such great women coming up in the sport; seems like a wonderful time to be in women’s MMA,” Carano told USA Today.

That said, UFC president Dana White’s stance on women’s MMA in general is that it lacks depth; however, he did intimate that he’d like to get involved if things changed regarding the talent pool of women in the sport.

Carano (7-1 MMA, 0-1 SF), a former women’s Strikeforce title contender, upped sticks in 2009 following an unsuccessful attempt at the vacant featherweight championship which Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos captured via first-round TKO.

While she hasn’t been competing in mixed martial arts tourneys, Carano’s has been turning her attention to acting.

In her first major role as an actress, Carano plays the lead protagonist in Steven Soderbergh’s espionage action thriller Haywire, which opens in theaters on Jan. 20, 2012.

At present, the former face of women’s MMA is solely focused on promoting the film and any suggestions of a return to the sport that first brought her to the public’s attention will have to take a backseat for the meantime.

Though she’s still undecided with regards to that aspect of her life, Carano did hint that she’d be willing to listen if the right offer comes along.

What would be a high-quality offer, let’s say, in terms of MMA?

Of course, fighting for the UFC, that would be huge. I’m going straight to the top on that one, aren’t I? (laughs)

It’s OK, you can be ambitious.

You know, why not just put it out there? (laughs).

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