Sarah Kaufman predicts 18 months to be 'back in UFC and in title contention'

LAS VEGAS – In December 2015 Sarah Kaufman dropped a split decision to former title challenger Valentina Shevchenko in the last fight of a UFC contract that wasn’t renewed. But if her prediction is right, that wasn’t the last we’ve seen of Kaufman in the octagon.

Kaufman headlines this month’s Invicta FC 27 event in what will be her first fight for the promotion in more than four years. A former Strikeforce champion who’s met the likes of ex-UFC champs Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate, the 32-year-old vet had a bumpy 1-2 UFC stint (with one no-contest) before going into free agency.

Looking back Kaufman is aware she “didn’t show up” in the octagon and failed to bring the levels of excitement of her early career. But the Canadian bantamweight wants another chance to prove to others what she already knows: that she “absolutely, 100 percent” belongs in there.

“At this stage of my career, of course the UFC has the top talent,” Kaufman said this past weekend. “They have so many females to challenge yourself with every day that you get the opportunity to get in there. But I’m already at the stage of my career to fight for myself – to fight for just why I can be the best.

“I don’t care who I’m fighting as long as I perform at my abilities. And that is where the belt should be. And I know that probably 18 months from now, I’m definitely going to be back in the UFC and in title contention.”

Kaufman (18-4) is hoping her Jan. 13 meeting with Pannie Kianzad (8-2) at Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo., is a first step in that direction. Invicta FC 27, including Kaufman’s pivotal main event, streams live on UFC Fight Pass.

Kaufmann, who had worked with Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp before, is certainly happy with the promotion and how it’s been treating her behind the scenes. But most of all, she’s happy to have a date, a willing opponent and the guarantee of a paycheck for it.

Sure, that sounds like the bare minimum. But it’s something Kaufman has learned to appreciate during her free agency.

“I’m not going to lie, it has not been great,” Kaufman said. “The fight in Korea, against (Jessica) Rose-Clark, who’s now in the UFC, was great. I mean, the opportunity to fight, the potential to get paid. But then we didn’t get paid. I still have not gotten paid.

“I talked to Jessie today when we were training, and she still hasn’t seen any money – not a penny. Out of pocket, for sure, for that fight.”

Kaufman beat Rose-Clark via unanimous decision when she competed for Battlefield FC in South Korea back in March. At the time, she and multiple fighters complained about not getting paid. But this wasn’t the only issue she faced in the past months.

“I had a couple other opportunities throughout the year, and they just kept falling through,” Kaufman said. “One fell through three days before. One fell through a couple of weeks before. And it’s definitely been very frustrating. Partially, I think, because of my skill level; there are not a lot of girls willing to step up and fight me.

“In the UFC, the big issue, I think, was there weren’t girls stepping up to fight me. I was clawing and scratching and trying to put my name out there for any opportunity. And my name never would come up because people would just say no to the fights.

“I think that’s also been part of the issue trying to find fights outside the UFC, is just girls say no when they hear ‘Sarah Kaufman.'”

If everything goes according to plan, though, things will start looking up for Kaufman early this year. And despite the rockiness of the past couple of years outside the octagon, Kaufman is optimistic about the scenario she would encounter should she return there.

“I actually feel like I have less of a chip on my shoulder,” Kaufman said. “I think, in the past, I was frustrated. When Ronda had the belt, I’d already fought Ronda (Kaufman lost via armbar in the first round of a 2012 Strikeforce headliner). So I feel like a lot of the opportunities weren’t there, because they were trying to get new people for Ronda. And then when Holly (Holm) won and then Miesha and now Amanda (Nunes) – I think it’s really opened up the landscape of 135.

“And the UFC needs bantamweights. They need exciting bantamweights. So my goal, Jan. 13, is to remind people that I am the exciting bantamweight that they need. I’m not just a bantamweight; I’m the exciting bantamweight.”

To hear from Kaufman, check out the video above.

And for more on Invicta FC 27, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.