Sarah Kaufman is a Canadian mixed martial artist.
She competes in the 135-pound women's bantamweight category.
Kaufman was the first Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Champion and was also the first
and only Hardcore Championship Fighting Women's Bantamweight Champion.
She competes in the UFC women's bantamweight division.
Kaufman is the #7-ranked pound-for-pound female MMA fighter in the world by MMARising.com
and the #4-ranked 135-pound female fighter according to the Unified Women's MMA Rankings.
As of May 26, 2014, she is #5 in official UFC women's bantamweight rankings.
Biography Kaufman is a graduate of Claremont Secondary
School and attended two years at the University of Victoria with a goal of becoming a cardiovascular
surgeon.
Kaufman's father is Jewish, but she wasn't raised Jewish and doesn't practice the faith.
A dancer since the age of two, Kaufman had joined a dance company and danced everything
from ballet to jazz to hip-hop.
When she was 17, an MMA school was opened by Adam Zugec in the building where her dance
company rehearsed.
She joined the school for an aerobics kickboxing class.
Enjoying it, she quickly began taking as many classes as Zugec offered.
While being interviewed on February 15, 2010 by MMA Junkie Radio, Kaufman revealed that
she had obtained a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
She was awarded her brown belt on October 1, 2011.
Mixed martial arts career Kaufman faced Valerie Letourneau at TKO 29
- Repercussion on June 1, 2007.
She won the fight via TKO in the second round.
This was the first female MMA fight in the promotion's history.
She captured the Hardcore Championship Fighting Women's Bantamweight Championship by defeating
Ginele Marquez via TKO in the second round at HCF - Title Wave on October 19, 2007.
Kaufman faced Molly Helsel at HCF - Crow's Nest on March 29, 2008.
She won the fight via TKO in the second round.
This was her only title defense before the promotion folded in 2008.
On April 23, 2009, she faced Sarah Schneider for Palace Fighting Championship and won the
fight via TKO in the second round.
Kaufman debuted for Armageddon Fighting Championship on April 2, 2011 at the promotion's fifth
event, Judgment Day, where she fought in front of her hometown of Victoria, British Columbia.
She defeated Megumi Yabushita by TKO in the third round of the main event.
Strikeforce Less than one month later on May 5, 2009 at
Strikeforce Challengers: Evangelista vs. Aina, Kaufman made her Strikeforce debut as a late
replacement against wrestler Miesha Tate.
Kaufman won the fight by Unanimous Decision, but it was the first time that she had gone
the distance in her career.
She fought again five weeks later on June 19, 2009 at Strikeforce Challengers: Villasenor
vs. Cyborg against submission specialist Shayna Baszler and once again won via Unanimous Decision.
The fight marked the first time that a women's bout was contested under five-minute rounds
in Strikeforce.
Women's Bantamweight Champion Kaufman was set to face highly touted Japanese
standout Takayo Hashi at Strikeforce Challengers: Kaufman vs. Hashi on November 20, 2009, but
the fight was later removed from the card.
It was first rescheduled for January 2010, but finally took place on February 26, 2010.
The fight crowned the first Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Champion.
Kaufman won the fight by Unanimous Decision.
In an interview posted on May 12, 2010, Kaufman stated that she was no longer under contract
with Strikeforce.
However, Strikeforce maintained that Kaufman's contract was automatically extended following
her title victory over Takayo Hashi and she remained with the promotion.
Kaufman defended her Strikeforce title against Roxanne Modafferi at Strikeforce Challengers:
del Rosario vs. Mahe on July 23, 2010.
She won the fight via knockout due to a slam in the third round.
Kaufman faced Marloes Coenen on October 9, 2010 in San Jose, California.
Kaufman was defeated by Coenen at 1:59 of the third round by submission after tapping
out to an armbar applied from the bottom.
This marked the first loss in Kaufman's MMA career and she relinquished the Women's Bantamweight
Championship.
After Losing Championship
On July 22, 2011, Kaufman defeated Liz Carmouche via unanimous decision at Strikeforce Challengers:
Voelker vs. Bowling III in Las Vegas, Nevada.
On January 7, 2012, it was announced that Kaufman would face Alexis Davis in a rematch
at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey on March 3 in Columbus, Ohio.
Kaufman won the back and forth bout via majority decision.
Kaufman challenged Women's Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey on August 18, 2012, in San Diego,
California.
She was defeated by submission due to an armbar early in the first round.
Kaufman's tenure with Strikeforce ended when the promotion ran its final show in January
2013, having been purchased and eventually closed by UFC owners Zuffa LLC.
Invicta Fighting Championships Kaufman was scheduled to make her Invicta
FC debut against Kaitlin Young at Invicta Fighting Championships 3 on October 6, 2012.
However, on September 17, it was reported that Kaufman had suffered an injury and would
not be able to compete.
Kaufman faced Leslie Smith at Invicta FC 5: Penne vs. Waterson on April 5, 2013.
This was her promotional debut.
She won the back-and-forth fight via split decision.
The bout was named Fight of the Night.
Ultimate Fighting Championship On February 25, 2013, Kaufman signed with
the Ultimate Fighting Championship along with four other women.
She was expected to make her promotional debut against Sara McMann at UFC Fight Night 27
on August 28, 2013.
However, McMann withdrew from the bout for undisclosed personal reasons.
As a result, Kaufman was pulled from the event as well.
Kaufman faced fellow UFC newcomer Jessica Eye at UFC 166 on October 19, 2013.
She lost the fight via split decision.
However, in February 2014, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation changed the result
to "no decision" with no reason given for the change.
It was later revealed that Eye had failed her post-fight drug test.
Kaufman was expected to face Shayna Baszler at The Ultimate Fighter Nations Finale.
However, it was announced on April 1, 2014 that Baszler pulled out due to injury.
Kaufman was then scheduled to face Amanda Nunes, but Nunes withdrew as well.
Kaufman eventually faced former opponent Leslie Smith on the card.
She won the fight via unanimous decision.
Championships and accomplishments Mixed martial arts
Invicta Fighting Championships Fight of the Night vs. Leslie Smith
Strikeforce Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Championship
Hardcore Championship Fighting HCF Women's Bantamweight Championship
Mixed martial arts record See also
List of female mixed martial artists References
External links Official Website
Sarah Kaufman Awakening Profile Professional MMA record for Sarah Kaufman
from Sherdog