Kaufman on Tate v. Rousey: "It’s Pretty Ridiculous"

by Keren on Jan 6, 2012 2:47 PM EST in News

Sarah Kaufman spoke with MMA Fighting regarding her opinion on the reports of a Miesha Tate v. Ronda Rousey title fight.

"I think it's terrible news. I put in my time and, being the former champ and having had two fights since the only loss of my career, I've definitely earned the right to fight Miesha Tate and fight for the 135-pound title with Strikeforce. Then there's Ronda, who's only been fighting for a year. Granted, she has her judo experience, but she hasn't fought anyone of a high caliber. She's fought at 145 pounds -- hasn't even competed at 135 pounds at all -- and for her to be given the opportunity to fight for the title, it's pretty ridiculous."

Wait, there's more.

"I've been pushing for the Miesha fight since I fought her. That's all I can do, is get in interviews and say what I think, which is that I deserve the fight. Maybe that's not what they want to hear. They want to hear, 'I'm the prettiest and you can market me and sell me to guys.' That's not my thing, and I won't do that. I'll present myself as an athlete and be feminine in my own way without being over the top."

Strikeforce has not officially announced Tate v. Rousey, but it seems that the fight will come to fruition. I completely agree with Kaufman – it is not fair to give Rousey an immediate title shot – and that Kaufman is more deserving of one. However, there are not that many women in the 135 pound division in Strikeforce. I understand that Strikeforce would want to go with the fight that people are more interested in seeing. Tate v. Rousey may get more viewers than Tate v. Kaufman and from a business perspective that may be the only thing they need. Also, this is Strikeforce. Tomorrow Keith Jardine will be fighting Luke Rockhold for the middleweight championship and Jardine has never fought at middleweight before and he came to a draw (in reality he lost that fight) in his last fight. As the old adage goes, it is what it is.

Tweet Comment 9 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Why are people so high on Rousey because she shot her mouth off once?
She just beat someone who is a 2-2 fighter and has less than 5 fights herself. Goes to show how shallow WMMA is.

by cyke on Jan 6, 2012 3:56 PM EST reply actions

It’s not just that wmma is shallow, but that people seem to be more interested in Tate v. Rousey than Tate v. Kaufman because of Rousey’s looks. You don’t see that with men fighting. It’s all bull.

Gals Guide to MMA

by Keren on Jan 6, 2012 4:15 PM EST up reply actions

As long as we’re talking about looks Kaufman wins that fight with Rousey imo.

by cyke on Jan 6, 2012 4:17 PM EST up reply actions

Shallow in talent and in personality.

Gals Guide to MMA

by Beth on Jan 6, 2012 11:30 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Kaufman had her chance for defense of her championship and blew it. Rousey has taken on some very good caliber female fighters.

She does deserve the billing against Tate. Looks, granted, she is a beautiful woman and Kaufman really is a plain-jane. Is there some jealously somewhere Kaufman? It is really when it is boiled down, ability, skill, intelligence in any fighter’s careeer.

by coyoteye on Jan 6, 2012 6:35 PM EST reply actions

1. Rousey has finished the 2 opponents given to her in less than a minute.
2. She is pretty. Tate is pretty. Pretty vs Pretty = ratings
3. Kaufman, despite being one of the best female fighters is unexciting in her strikeforce career thus far. other than the slam KO all her victories are not “thrilling”.
4. nobody wants to see u fight

God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore's vengeance, and you must see it; I set myself entirely in your hands. I know you must see it now.

by yellopanda on Jan 6, 2012 8:58 PM EST reply actions

The real deal

Zuffa is aware that Rousey is marketable. They are also aware that Tate’s game plays right into Rousey’s hands, which will result in a Rousey victory and championship.

Does Sarah Kaufman deserve this title fight more? Of course. Would a Kaufman vs. Rousey #1 contender’s match make more sense, sporting wise, of course. However, Kaufman has all the tools to beat Rousey. Kaufman is the type of fighter that is most dangerous to Rousey. Hell, Rhonda has admitted this openly in interviews that the type of fighter she will have trouble with is one with good striking and solid footwork that she will have to get punched in the face a bunch to get a hold of. She’s even gone as far as to say Kaufman would be a much tougher fight for her.

Zuffa knows this, and would much rather cash in on Rousey vs. Tate now, rather than risk Rousey losing to Kaufman and having a Kaufman vs. Tate rematch without getting a Tate vs. Rousey fight while they are both on the winning streaks they are on.

The bottom line is Georges is being a little bitch. He didn’t step up and say anything when the UFC pulled me out of this fight. I understand sometimes you have to do what you’re told, but why wouldn’t you tell the media you still want to fight me? If I was Georges, I would want to fight the best. I would have asked for the Anderson Silva fight. I would have asked to fight the Strikeforce champ. But he sits there like a robot and doesn’t say anything at all, just like he’s not going to say anything about me calling him a bitch now. If I saw BJ Penn walking down the street and called him a bitch, we would be fighting right there on the spot. — Nick Diaz

by The Midge on Jan 6, 2012 9:17 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Rousey is just pure gene-pooled beauty that has lots of marketable skills. She would decimate kaufman

by coyoteye on Jan 6, 2012 9:43 PM EST reply actions

i wouldnt be surprised

I think the most dangerous girl for her in 2012 would be Marloes Coenen. Or maybe Amanda Nunes. That one punch power could easily devastate a girl without a stand up game like Rousey (or maybe Rousey can stand. Never seen it, so I doubt it)

by The Midge on Jan 7, 2012 12:33 AM EST up reply actions