Sarah Kaufman knows how to start a conversation.
The UFC women's bantamweight division turned its game of musical chairs to full blast Thursday, when Kaufman posted a short video on Instagram challenging popular colleague Miesha Tate to a rematch.
"Don't be scared, Cupcake," Kaufman said in the video, calling Tate by her nickname.
Don't be scared, Cupcake. @mieshatate @ufc @seanshelby
A video posted by Sarah Kaufman (@sarahkaufmanmma) on
It's a bold and funny addition to the discourse, harnessing the power and spirit of that which we call the social medias.
But this was only the first turn of the women's bantamweight online carousel. Meanwhile, Tate is in the midst of a mini-campaign of her own, spoiling for a showdown with one Bethe Correia.
If u wanna see me fight @bethecorreia next & end her win streak help me get this ball rollin! Tell @danawhite @lorenzofertitta & @seanshelby
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) February 3, 2015
Correia may not be as well-known as Tate or even Kaufman, but she's gaining steam for her nickname or, more accurately, mission in this UFC division. The self-proclaimed "Horsewoman Killer" is halfway to her goal of toppling The Four Horsewomen, a team of Jessamyn Duke (whom Correia has defeated), Shayna Baszler (another Correia victim), Marina Shafir (not in the UFC) and a certain Ronda Rousey.
Because Correia beat two of her horsewomen and then bragged about it to other people, Rousey presumably wants to administer to Correia more or less the same treatment William Wallace received after being apprehended by the king's guard, per MMA Junkie's Steve Marrocco. But Tate believes she, not Rousey, is the better next opponent for Correia. Take that as you will.
In the meantime, Kaufman makes another interesting entrant into the musical chairs game. She would be 1-1 in the UFC had an opponent's failed drug test not overturned the result. What's really backing Kaufman's claim is the decision victory she scored over Tate back in 2009 under the Strikeforce banner.
It's impossible to know who the UFC will pair with whom, but it's good to know there are some enthusiastic suitors out there who can be molded into some very entertaining combinations.
As for the queen bee herself, she's engaged to defend her bantamweight strap against Cat Zingano at UFC 184 on Feb. 28.
