Seeking Conviction: 5 Best Comeback Matches for MMA Hottie Gina Carano

It's been more than a year and a half since the face of women's MMA has been in action after suffering her first loss to Cristiane Santos in August of 2009.

With Strikeforce being the new home of Carano, she will be returning to the Octagon in the coming year as she will look to regain her once lofty spot in women's MMA.

So does "Conviction" come back into the fold with a huge fight? Does she come back to a fight with a lesser opponent so she can get the rust off before serious competition?

With those questions to be answered when Carano returns, let's take a look at the five potential fights that she can make in her long awaited comeback to MMA.

vs. Jan Finney

Height: 5'8"

Weight: 135 lbs.

Fighting Style: Muay Thai

Overall Record: 8-9

For a more easy transition back into MMA, a bout with Finney would be a solid tuneup for Carano as she has struggled in the past year, dropping two losses to "Cyborg" Santos and Liz Carmouche by KO and TKO, respectively.

vs. Amanda Nunes

Height: 5'8"

Weight: 143 lbs.

Fighting Style: Muay Thai, Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Overall Record: 6-1

With a six-fight win streak and a No. 4 ranking in the Unified Women's MMA Rankings, Nunes would be a high-profile matchup as an opponent for Carano in the near future with both having the ability to score the knockout in their fights.

vs. Miesha Tate

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LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 01: Mixed martial artist Miesha Tate arrives at the third annual Fighters Only World Mixed Martial Arts Awards 2010 at the Palms Casino Resort December 1, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Height: 5'6"

Weight: 135 lbs.

Fighting Style: Wrestling, Jiu-Jitsu

Overall Record: 11-2

As she currently sits at No. 10 in the Unified Women's MMA Rankings, Tate would be a good fight for Carano later in the year, but this idea might not work if Tate were to win the welterweight title from Marloes Coenen this coming March.

vs. Sarah Kaufman

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PHOENIX - AUGUST 13: Mixed martial artist Sarah Kaufman attends the Strikeforce Women's Welterweight Tournament Championship bout at Dodge Theater on August 13, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Height: 5'5"

Weight: 135 lbs.

Fighting Style: Boxing, Wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Overall Record: 12-1

With the ranking of fifth in the Unified Women's MMA standings, these two fighters could match up very well with Kaufman and Carano being able to catapult themselves into the welterweight or middleweight championship race.

vs. Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos

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LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 01: Mixed martial artist Cristiane Santos arrives at the third annual Fighters Only World Mixed Martial Arts Awards 2010 at the Palms Casino Resort December 1, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Height: 5'8"

Weight: 145 lbs.

Fighting Style: Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Overall Record: 10-1

Even though this fight isn't going to be Carano's return bout, the rematch of the two most dominate stars of women's MMA would most likely serve as a main event-level bout when the two fighters match up again in the future.