It’s the most anticipated female fight since Cyborg vs Carano, as number 2 ranked Featherweight, “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey drops down a weight class to challenge number 1 ranked and current Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion, Miesha “Takedown” Tate. Tate (12-2) is currently riding a six-fight win streak since dropping a decision to Sarah Kaufman at the inaugural Strikeforce Challengers event in May 2009. In her last bout in July 2011, she captured the belt from Marloes Coenen via an arm-triangle choke late in the fourth round. Rousey (4-0), an Olympic Bronze medalist in Judo, has won each of her seven bouts, including 3 as an amateur, via armbar in less than one minute apiece. As a pro she has submitted, Ediane Gomes in 25-seconds, Charmaine Tweet in 49-seconds, Sarah D’Aleio in 25-seconds and Julia Budd in 39-seconds. This matchup headlines the main card and will be televised LIVE on Showtime starting at 10pm EST.
The undercard will also feature a highly anticipated bout as 3rd ranked, Sarah Kaufman and 4th ranked, Alexis “Ally-Gator” Davis. Kaufman (14-1) and Davis (11-4) first faced off in April 2007 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The bout was Davis’s pro debut and Kaufman’s fourth fight. Kaufman emerged victorious via third-round TKO and went on to capture 135-pound titles in both Hardcore Championship Fighting and Strikeforce. Her unbeaten streak came to an end at the hands of Marloes “Rumina” Coenen in October 2010, but she has since battled back with two victories. Davis, meanwhile, has won back-to-back fights in Strikeforce, including wins over Julie Kedzie via unanimous decision and an impressive TKO stoppage of Amanda Nunes in her last outing.
The fight between Kaufman and Davis is expected to serve as a number one contender’s bout, with the winner going on to face the victor of the title fight between Tate and Rousey. This bout headlines the undercard which will broadcast LIVE on Showtime Extreme starting at 8pm EST.
**Rankings info supplied by the Unified Women’s MMA Rankings.
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