Carano fails final test

NEWARK, N.J. -- With the hot sun beating down outside the Prudential Center, a small gathering of fans and media watched on as the fighters for Saturday's EliteXC event endured their final test before making their prime-time television debut: weigh-ins.

Of the 24 mixed martial artists on the card, only Gina Carano failed. As the "female face of MMA," Carano missed her 141-pound weight limit by three-and-a-half pounds. Her opponent, Kaitlin Young (140 1/2 pounds), accepted 12 1/2 percent of Carano's purse rather than force the Las Vegas-based fighter to shed additional weight.

Friday marked the fourth time Carano has failed to make weight for a bout since the start of her professional MMA career in June 2006.

Headlined by a hyped heavyweight tilt between Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson and James Thompson, the five-bout card on CBS (aired at 9 p.m. ET) offers a series of contests that promise stand-up wars.

The evening's lone championship fight became official when EliteXC middleweight title-holder Robbie Lawler and his challenger Scott Smith each made weight at 184 1/2 pounds.

Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson (235 1/2 pounds) vs. James Thompson (257)

Robbie Lawler (184 1/2) vs. Scott Smith (184 1/2)

Kaitlin Young (140 1/2) vs. Gina Carano (144 1/2)

Joey Villasenor (184 1/2) vs. Phil Baroni (185)

Brett Rogers (263 1/2) vs. Jon Murphy (260 1/2)

Chris Ligouri (161) vs. Jim Bova (160 1/2 pounds)

Carlton Haselrig (263) vs. Carlos Moreno (261)

Nick Serra (167) vs. Matt Makowski (171)

Wilson Reis (140 1/2) vs. Justin Robbins (140 1/2)

James Jones (154 1/2) vs. Carlton Kattar (155 1/2)

Zach Makovsky (135) vs. Andre Soares (134)

Joe Sampieri (155) vs. Mike Groves (154)