LAS VEGAS -- After months of optimism regarding the potential signing of female mixed martial artist Gina Carano, UFC president Dana White now says negotiations may cease altogether.
At a media event Thursday, White referred to Carano as the "the hardest human being we've ever dealt with," and he blamed the holdup on the fighter-turned-actress' representation.
"I didn't see it coming," White said. "Dealing with her people, I just don't even know if it can be done."
Carano, 32, is reportedly signed on to appear in the Lionsgate/Grindhouse film "Bus 657," alongside Robert De Niro. Filming begins this year, although no release date has been announced.
A pioneer in female MMA, Carano (7-1) has not fought since she suffered a first-round TKO loss to Cris Justino, aka "Cyborg," at a Strikeforce event in August 2009.
White said he had basically removed himself from the negotiations recently, deferring to UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta. While he didn't go so far as to say a potential deal was dead, White's stance was a striking difference from what he's previously offered on Carano.
"We've paid insane financial demands (before)," White said. "We've had all the biggest superstars in the world. You're talking about a girl who hasn't fought in awhile. Any time you deal with anybody in Hollywood, it's a joke. It's literally a joke. It's comical. You feel like you're in a 'Saturday Night Live' skit."