Dana White: A deal with Gina Carano is 'close'

Although a rumored deal between the UFC and Gina Carano has been brewing for months, it finally looks as though the former Strikeforce women's featherweight title challenger is ready to make her long-awaited return to the cage.

"There's just one more little thing (in the negotiations)," UFC president Dana White told reporters following UFC 177 (via BloodyElbow). "It's close, but it'll be done (before the end of the year)."

The UFC's original reported plan of immediately matching Carano up against champion Ronda Rousey may not come to fruition, as  White seems to be considering other options in the women's bantamweight division.

"I did at one point (believe Carano would get a title shot)," White said. "I don't know now. (Cat Zingano) is next in line. (And Bethe Correia) looked great tonight."

Should the UFC choose to wait on a Carano/Rousey superfight (a scrap Rousey likely wins via "vicious mauling"), they'll likely toss Carano a softball in order to give her a title fight in her second trip to the Octagon.