Sarah Kaufman

Sarah Kaufman
Sarah Kaufman
Born	September 20, 1985 (age 41); Canada
Occupation	Mixed martial artist (former)
Known for	First Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Champion; Invicta FC Bantamweight Champion

Sarah Elizabeth Kaufman (born September 20, 1985) is a former Canadian mixed martial artist who primarily competed in the women's bantamweight category. She held the title of Invicta FC Bantamweight Champion and was the first-ever Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Champion. Additionally, Kaufman was the inaugural and sole holder of the Hardcore Championship Fighting Women's Bantamweight belt.

Biography

Kaufman completed her studies at Claremont Secondary School before attending the University of Victoria for two years, initially pursuing a career as a cardiovascular surgeon. Her father is of Jewish heritage.

Beginning dance lessons at just two years old, Kaufman trained in ballet, jazz, and hip-hop styles. At age 17, she enrolled in an MMA gym founded by Adam Zugec located in the same facility as her dance studio. She started with aerobics kickboxing and rapidly broadened her martial arts training.

By February 2010, Kaufman had achieved a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, followed by a promotion to brown belt on October 1, 2011.

Mixed martial arts career

Kaufman made history by winning the first female MMA bout in the TKO promotion, defeating Valérie Létourneau via second-round TKO on June 1, 2007. She captured the Hardcore Championship Fighting Women's Bantamweight title by overcoming Ginele Marquez with a second-round TKO at HCF - Title Wave on October 19, 2007.

She successfully defended this championship once against Molly Helsel through a second-round TKO on March 29, 2008, prior to the organization's closure. On April 23, 2009, Kaufman secured a victory over Sarah Schneider at Palace Fighting Championship by second-round TKO.

Kaufman then signed with Armageddon Fighting Championship and made her debut on April 2, 2011, in Victoria, British Columbia. She headlined AFC 5 by defeating Megumi Yabushita via third-round TKO.

Strikeforce

Kaufman entered Strikeforce on May 15, 2009, at Strikeforce Challengers: Evangelista vs. Aina, stepping in as a late replacement to face wrestler Miesha Tate. She earned a Unanimous Decision win, marking the first time she completed a full fight distance.

Her next appearance occurred on June 19, 2009, at Strikeforce Challengers: Villasenor vs. Cyborg against submission expert Shayna Baszler, where she again won by Unanimous Decision. This event featured the first women's bout in Strikeforce contested under five-minute rounds.

Women's Bantamweight Champion

Originally set to compete against Japanese challenger Takayo Hashi at Strikeforce Challengers: Kaufman vs. Hashi on November 20, 2009, their match was postponed and eventually took place on February 26, 2010. This fight determined the inaugural Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Champion (135 lbs), with Kaufman securing victory via Unanimous Decision.

Although Kaufman announced in May 2010 that she was no longer contracted with Strikeforce, the promotion confirmed that her contract was automatically extended following her championship win over Hashi.

She defended her title against Roxanne Modafferi at Strikeforce Challengers: del Rosario vs. Mahe on July 23, 2010, winning by knockout through a slam in the third round.

On October 9, 2010, Kaufman faced Marloes Coenen in San Jose, California. She suffered her first professional MMA loss via submission due to an armbar in round three, resulting in the forfeiture of the Women's Bantamweight Championship.

Post-Championship Defeat

On July 22, 2011, Kaufman secured a unanimous decision victory over Liz Carmouche at Strikeforce Challengers: Voelker vs. Bowling III held in Las Vegas, Nevada.

It was announced on January 7, 2012, that Kaufman would have a rematch against Alexis Davis at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey on March 3 in Columbus, Ohio. Kaufman emerged victorious in the competitive encounter by majority decision.

On August 18, 2012, Kaufman challenged the Women's Bantamweight Champion, Ronda Rousey, in San Diego, California. She was defeated early in the first round via submission due to an armbar.

Kaufman's association with Strikeforce concluded following the organization's final event in January 2013, after its acquisition and subsequent shutdown by UFC parent company Zuffa LLC.

Invicta Fighting Championships

Kaufman was originally scheduled to make her Invicta Fighting Championships debut against Kaitlin Young at Invicta Fighting Championships 3 on October 6, 2012; however, she withdrew due to injury. Her first appearance for the promotion came at Invicta FC 5 on April 5, 2013, where she faced Leslie Smith. Kaufman won by split decision in a closely contested bout that earned Fight of the Night accolades.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

On February 25, 2013, Kaufman signed with the UFC alongside four other female fighters. She was slated to debut against Sara McMann at UFC Fight Night 27 on August 28, 2013; however, McMann withdrew for personal reasons, resulting in Kaufman's removal from the fight card.

Kaufman then faced fellow UFC newcomer Jessica Eye at UFC 166 on October 19, 2013, losing via a disputed split decision. In February 2014, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation overturned the result to a "no decision" after Eye tested positive for marijuana during post-fight drug screening.

Scheduled to compete against Shayna Baszler at The Ultimate Fighter Nations Finale, Kaufman instead fought former opponent Leslie Smith after Baszler and her replacement Amanda Nunes both withdrew due to injury. Kaufman won this bout by unanimous decision.

After over a year away from competition, Kaufman returned to face Alexis Davis for a third time at UFC 186 on April 25, 2015. Despite demonstrating effective striking early in the fight, Kaufman was submitted in the second round.

Kaufman was booked to fight Germaine de Randamie at UFC on Fox: dos Anjos vs. Cowboy 2, but after De Randamie withdrew due to injury, Kaufman faced debutant Valentina Shevchenko, losing by split decision.

Following this defeat, Kaufman became a free agent as the UFC opted not to renew her contract.

Return to Invicta Fighting Championships

On December 6, 2017, Kaufman re-signed with Invicta Fighting Championships.

She took on Pannie Kianzad at Invicta FC 27 on January 13, 2018. Kianzad missed the bantamweight limit by 1.7 pounds and was fined 25% of her purse; nevertheless, the fight proceeded at catchweight. Kaufman won by unanimous decision.

On May 4 at Invicta FC 29, Kaufman competed against German bantamweight Katharina Lehner for the vacant Invicta FC bantamweight title and secured victory via rear-naked choke submission in the third round.

Professional Fighters League

In 2019, Kaufman entered the Professional Fighters League to participate in the Women's Lightweight division tournament. She made her first appearance against Morgan Frier at PFL 1 on May 9, securing a victory via arm-triangle choke in the opening round and accumulating six points.

Kaufman was set to compete with Roberta Samad at PFL 4 on July 11; however, the matchup was canceled after Samad failed to make weight, resulting in Kaufman being awarded three points. During the semifinals at PFL 7 on October 11, she was defeated by Larissa Pacheco through a unanimous decision.

Return to regional circuit

On November 20, 2021, Kaufman squared off against Bellator veteran Jessy Miele at BTC 13: Power, achieving a first-round TKO victory via ground and pound. She was lined up to challenge Cláudia Leite for the inaugural PAW FC Women's Bantamweight Championship scheduled for January 15, 2022; however, this bout was called off due to Leite encountering visa complications.

Kaufman publicly declared her retirement from mixed martial arts on June 30, 2022.

Mixed martial arts

Invicta Fighting Championships
- Awarded Fight of the Night once against Leslie Smith
- Held the Invicta FC Bantamweight Championship (one reign)
Strikeforce
- First-ever Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Champion (one reign)
  - Successfully defended title once
Hardcore Championship Fighting
- HCF Women's Bantamweight Champion (one reign)
Women's MMA Awards
- Named 2009 Fighter of the Year
- Received 2009 Bantamweight Fighter of the Year
- Earned 2012 Fight of the Year honors versus Alexis Davis

Mixed martial arts record

|- | Win | align=center| | Jessy Miele | TKO (punches) | BTC 13: Power | | align=center| 1 | align=center|3:56 | St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada |. |- |Loss |align=center|21–5 (1) |Larissa Pacheco |Decision (unanimous) |PFL 7 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |. |- | Win | align=center| 21–4 (1) | Morgan Frier | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | PFL 1 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 2:22 | Uniondale, New York, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 20–4 (1) | Katharina Lehner | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Invicta FC 29 | | align=center| 3 | align=center| 4:30 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | |- |- Win

| align=center | 19–4 (1)
| Pannie Kianzad
| Decision (unanimous)
| Invicta FC events#Invicta FC 27: Kaufman vs. Kianzad
| 
| align=center |3 
| align=center |5:00 
| Kansas City, Missouri, United States 
|

|- Win

| align=center |18–4 (1)
| Jessica-Rose Clark
| Decision (unanimous)
| Battlefield FC: Korea
| 
| align=center |3 
| align=center |5:00 
| Seoul, South Korea
|

|-Loss

|align=center |17–4 (1)
|Valentina Shevchenko
|Decision (split)
|UFC on Fox: dos Anjos vs. Cowboy 2 
|
|align=center |3
|align=center |5:00
|Orlando, Florida, United States
|

|- Loss

| align=center |17–3 (1)
| Alexis Davis
| Submission (armbar)
| UFC 186
| 
| align=center |2
| align=center |1:52
| Montreal, Quebec, Canada
|