St. Catharines, ON — Sarah Kaufman returned to the cage at Saturday’s BTC 13, a full two years removed from her last fight.
The former Invicta FC and Strikeforce bantamweight champion had last competed under the PFL banner, only to be eliminated during the league’s 2019 post-season. In the ensuing years, the veteran had struggled to find a fight, and told Cageside Press ahead of her return that she would have considered retiring had she not been able to fight by year’s end.
As luck would have it, BTC offered her to opportunity to throw down with Bellator MMA veteran Jessy Miele, in a featherweight fight topping the BTC 13 card at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines.
Come Saturday’s main event, Miele had the noticeable size advantage — not surprising, as a natural featherweight to Kaufman’s bantamweight frame. Kaufman, however, dictated much of the early going, working short combos, mixing in kicks, and setting the pace. Then, late in the opening round, Kaufman scored a knockdown, and jumped on Miele’s back almost instantly. She had one arm under the chin, but Miele fought the other hand, then rolled, looking to get Kaufman off her any way she could. Kaufman, mounted on the back, began dropping heavy ground n’ pound, and Miele had no answer.
Within moments, the ref moved in to wave it off! In her first fight in over two years, Sarah Kaufman got the job done in under a round. Following the bout, she expressed a desire to return to the big stage — and interest in a fight with UFC double champ Amanda Nunes.
Official Result: Sarah Kaufman def. Jessy Miele by TKO, Round 1, 3:56
