Mike Chiappetta • E-mail

Popular EliteXC female fighter Gina Carano will likely take on Kelly Kobold-Gavin when she returns to the cage on CBS's Oct. 4 production, a source close to one of the fighters told NBCSports.com.

The fight has not yet been officially signed but is expected to be announced soon, according to the source.

Carano was one of the stars of the inaugural CBS Saturday Night Fights broadcast in May, scoring a second-round TKO over Kaitlin Young in the co-main event of the evening. CBS and EliteXC credited Carano's star power with some of the success of that initial broadcast, along with the attention received by Kimbo Slice. That broadcast reached more than 6.5 million viewers at its highest ratings period.

Last weekend, EliteXC returned to CBS and ratings dropped by almost 40 percent with a main event featuring a rematch of the Scott Smith-Robbie Lawler middleweight title fight that ended in a draw the first time around. In addition, only 3,701 fans paid to enter the Stockton Arena and watch the fights live. Both Carano and Slice will be back for the next show in hopes of a turnaround.

It was believed that Carano could possibly face Cris "Cyborg" Santos following her impressive win last weekend, but it appears EliteXC will go in another direction.

The 26-year-old Carano has become one of the most well-known female MMA fighters, having had fights televised on Showtime cable and CBS, as well as starring in NBC's American Gladiators. Her last win over Young kept her unbeaten at 6-0.

The Minneapolis-based Kobold-Gavin is 16-2-1 in her career, but hasn't fought in nearly a year since losing a decision last August. Carano and Kobold-Gavin do have one common opponent, Julie Kedzie. Carano defeated Kedzie via unanimous decision in February 2007, just six months before Kobold-Gavin fought her and lost a decision.

The event will take place at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla., a 22,000-seat venue.

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