Sarah Kaufman Signs With EliteXC
by Robert Sargent
Following a five-month layoff from competition, undefeated Canadian standout Sarah Kaufman has finally managed to find a promotion with females willing to face her, as she has signed a contract to compete in the EliteXC women's division.
Kaufman (7-0-0), a relentless powerhouse who has won all of her fights by stoppage, will now get a chance to compete against many of the world's top 140-pound female fighters.
On October 19th of 2007, she captured the Hardcore Championship Fighting Women's Bantamweight Championship with a second-round TKO victory over Ginele Marquez, a highly-touted pupil of former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett.
Kaufman successfully defended her title, at HCF "Crow's Nest" on March 29th against Molly Helsel, but was left without a promotion to compete for after HCF abruptly closed its doors. Now, after months of waiting, she will get her chance to compete on the largest stage yet, in EliteXC.
Already the undisputed top female fighter in Canada, Kaufman will now be a part of a talent-rich group of women in EliteXC, including Gina "Conviction" Carano, Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos, Kaitlin Young, Kelly Kobald, "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler and Julie Kedzie.
Though primarily known for her striking and aggression, Kaufman has shown a strong ability to control a fight even if it goes to the ground. EliteXC's women's division is filled with skilled strikers for Kaufman to stand and trade with, but also features a number of talented grapplers, such as Baszler.
Kaufman will need to be at the top of her game to compete among the "elite" in EliteXC, but she has proven before that she can rise to the challenge and excel in front of a large audience.
Her signing to EliteXC is arguably one of the best female acquisitions the company has made to date, if not one of the best overall acquisitions, period. Her first fight in the promotion has not yet been announced, but fans will likely endear themselves to her aggressive and exciting style.
Also announced as signing with EliteXC is Dutch submission ace Marloes Coenen. Having dominated much of her female brethren in SmackGIRL in Japan, Coenen (15-2-0) will look to make a name for herself in North America.
Coenen holds two victories each over Megumi Yabushita and legendary Japanese female fighter Yuuki Kondo, as well as a trio of wins over Yoko Takahashi. Her lone defeats came against Erin Toughill - also known as "Steel" on American Gladiators - and the ever-dangerous Roxanne Modafferi.
A showdown between striker (Kaufman) and grappler (Coenen) could prove most interesting, but whether the paths of EliteXC's newest signees cross remains to be seen. One thing that's for sure is that EliteXC is continuing to build upon its already stellar women's division.
