After sitting out most of 2016 due to injury, Kaufman got back in the cage in March 2017 for Battlefield FC: Korea. There, she fought to a unanimous decision win over Jessica-Rose Clark (who coincidentally has jumped to the UFC). That particular event wound up under the microscope, however, when news emerged that several fighters had not been paid. Kaufman was among them, and has not been paid for her performance to this day.
“I did not get paid” she confirmed. “I know that Jessica didn’t get paid. I know that Joe [Ray] didn’t get paid. The main event didn’t get paid, the fight before me didn’t get paid. I do know that Jeff Glover got paid, and I think that’s partly because he put up a social media thing saying he didn’t get paid.”
She doesn’t necessarily see it as being underhanded. “They just ran out of money. They had the intention of paying people. I know that Cris [Cyborg, who appeared in a promotional capacity] got her appearance fee. I know she got paid because we were texting back and forth. They were slowly paying people, then they ran out of money and just… stopped.”
It’s rather shocking to hear of that happening in this day and age. So did the lack of payment have any bearing on her decision to sign with Invicta, where there’s no question she will get paid? Said Kaufman, “I was never against fighting for Invicta, or fighting for Battleground. I just want to be fighting as much as I can. It was a great opportunity and I was supposed to get paid, so that would’ve been nice.”
Getting to the cage has been an issue for her of late, something returning to Invicta should help eliminate. Kaufman explained that a couple of promotions were interested in her services earlier this year, including one in Canada. Bouts were eyed for September and June, “but in June they couldn’t find an opponent. I think that had a lot to do with everyone being tied up for the Ultimate Fighter tryouts. So there were all these girls who were going to the tryouts who didn’t want to take a fight, which I understand.”
“Then in September I was supposed to be fighting, then four days before I found out that the person I had as an opponent never got a contract” she continued. “It was a big to-do that had nothing to do with anything I could control. I’ve been ready to fight quite a lot this year, but I’ve only had the one fight.”
The family feel of Invicta should help with that. It’s a feeling anyone who has been to an Invicta event should be familiar with. Everyone knows everyone. It’s a tight, supportive group. “Shannon Knapp, Kaitlyn Young, Cynthia who runs their social media department, I’ve only had great interactions with all of them” Sarah told us. “I’ve only been treated with the utmost respect. I love the product they put on. I’ve been friends and teammates with Julie Kedzie, who was doing the matchmaking and is now doing the announcing with TJ De Santis.”
“It really is a close-knit team. The entire Invicta staff cares about their fighters. They care about putting out a good product. They want to make exciting fights, they want to give the fighters opponents that they’re excited about.” For her, it’s all crucial to the final product. “All of that’s really important, all of that’s really conducive to a positive work atmosphere and environment where everyone’s trying to help grow Invicta. If you look at pretty much all the female divisions in the UFC, I don’t know the stats but a very high percentage of them are former Invicta alumni.”
Not to mention the fact that Invicta fighters have frequently found gold in the UFC. “Three of their four title holders currently are previous fighters for Invicta.”
With that in mind, is an eventual return to the UFC the goal? “I’m not really thinking that far ahead, I’m just thinking of where I can get fights” she replied. “I’d love the opportunity to fight in January, maybe fight one more time, get the Invicta title. There’s a lot of options for me.”
“That being said,” she added, “they are on the smaller end, the UFC is still paying more. They’re able to.” Kaufman recognizes, however, the pay is an issue everywhere — in fact, it’s a topic we’ll return to later in the conversation. “At the end of the day, if I’m fighting on a regular basis, and I am in this sport for money, I would like to see everyone in every promotion getting paid more than they are.”
“This year I fought for free, not by choice but I did fight for free. If I’d been told that I would get to fight but not get paid, I don’t know…” she paused, considering. “It’s just a hard thing, because I’m really happy that I fought this year even though I didn’t get paid.”
Beyond money, has there been any talk of title shots in her discussions with Invicta? After all, Sarah Kaufman almost immediately becomes one of Invicta FC’s biggest names.
“No, we haven’t specifically talked about that at all” she admitted. Nor is that a bad thing. “I’d be happy to have two or three fights and then fight for the title. I think more realistically I’m in the upper end, and I’m one of the best bantamweights in the world. So I could see myself getting a title shot sooner rather than later. I know they are always looking for contenders, and building up their champion. But no specific talks have been had.”
Everyone, when they fight me, they fight me at their best. So I have to make sure that I’m better than their best at all times.
Instead, she told us, “I’m focused on January 13, because Pannie’s a great opponent. I have all the skills, I’m planing on having a really good win, and with that emphatic win, I don’t where that will lead me, but I do know that that’s my focus right now.”
What does Pannie bring to the table? Kaufman was clear that “I haven’t seen all that much of her.” Still, she said, “I’ve watched her live, I’ve went over one or two of her fights. But it’s been a little bit of time since she had those fights, and people evolve and grow.” Which could make for an interesting night. “I’m anticipating she’s going to come in with her striking, which she really likes, and that makes it exciting for me. It’s always nice to have an opponent who is willing to exchange and engage and give me an opportunity to work both my standup as well as my full game. She’ll tie up, clinch, she’ll go for takedowns, she’ll scramble on the ground, and I think I have the skills in every area to be one step ahead.”
In the past, Kianzad has referred to herself as part of a new generation of female MMA fighters. Kaufman, meanwhile, is very much a trailblazer. She doesn’t feel it, however.
“To me I’m always improving and getting better at everything that I can, every day. I’m working on my full game. I don’t feel like I’ve been in this sport as long as I have” she said of her time in the sport. “I feel like I have so much more to prove, so much more to show, and so much more to kind of let loose with. I don’t think of it as ‘oh I’m a veteran of the sport’ – its like ‘oh I’ve had a couple fights.’ Time has gone by and I haven’t even noticed.”
When it comes to the ‘old guard vs. new guard’ story line, Kaufman said that “it doesn’t matter to me whether she’s had forty fights or she’s had two fights. Everyone, when they fight me, they fight me at their best. So I have to make sure that I’m better than their best at all times.”
On the final page, Sarah Kaufman explains why she doesn’t think women would be in the UFC if she had defeated Ronda Rousey back in Strikeforce, fighter pay, and teaching kids who have grown up to be her training partners!
