Former Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion Sarah Kaufman meets a familiar foe when she steps back into the Octagon on April 25th at UFC 186: “Dillashaw vs Barao 2” in Montréal, Québec, Canada. Kaufman is set to face long-time rival Alexis “Ally-Gator” Davis for a third time.
UFC officials announced the trilogy fight late on Tuesday. Kaufman stopped Davis late in the pair’s first meeting in 2007, but a 2012 rematch under the Strikeforce banner was much more competitive and Kaufman narrowly eked out a razor-thin Majority Decision. She now seeks win number three in April.
Kaufman (17-2-0, 1 ND) has long been campaigning for bouts against top contender Bethe “Pitbull” Correia and fellow ex-Strikeforce champion Miesha “Cupcake” Tate, but the British Columbia native will instead have to fight her way past Davis for a third time in order to get back into UFC title contention. Kaufman’s UFC debut initially ended in a loss at UFC 166, but the result was later overturned when opponent Jessica “Evil” Eye failed a post-fight drug test. In April, Kaufman earned her first UFC victory by defeating Leslie “The Peacemaker” Smith for a second time.
Davis (16-6-0) also returns to action following a layoff that dates back to her 16-second knockout loss to UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey this past July. Prior to the defeat, Davis had won eight of her past nine fights, with the lone loss coming against Kaufman in a thrilling bout for Strikeforce. The BJJ black belt earned her shot at Rousey by winning five straight fights. She holds notable UFC victories over Rosi “The Surgeon” Sexton, Liz “Girl-Rilla” Carmouche and Jessica Eye. In order to get back into the title hunt, she must first get past long-time nemesis Kaufman.
UFC 186: “Dillashaw vs Barao 2” takes place on April 25th at Bell Centre in Montréal, Québec, Canada. The event is headlined by a UFC Bantamweight Championship rematch between T.J. Dillashaw and Renan “Barao” Pegado, and also features a women’s strawweight bout between TUF 18 finalist Jessica “The Ragin'” Rakoczy and Valérie “Trouble” Létourneau.
(Photo Credit: UFC)
So basically every healthy 135 now is booked.
Great point TJ – hadn’t realized that. Even Pena is lined up for her return. I hadn’t heard of Jessica Eye’s next fight — whoever that is better be ready. Eye is becoming a monster in the cage.
You know, McMann implied that Kaufman was ducking her, and, then, we saw Kaufman call out Miesha Tate and Bethe Correia, and go as far as call the former a coward… Don’t know what to think of this match-up… While Kaufman won their last fight, Davis made it clear she had the tools to win. She pretty much schooled Kaufman on the ground.
Yes Rafael, I remember Davis took Kaufman down (which is very hard to do) in the 3rd and clearly won that round. And one judge scored Kaufman-Davis II a draw. Kaufman is getting better all the time, but she’s been somewhat inactive lately. Davis also has improved greatly since last losing to Kaufman in 2012. I think Davis will work very hard to redeem herself from her loss to Rousey and will take this via close decision — but they are two of the best and it will be an absolute war.