A third different opponent has been found for Sarah Kaufman, after both Shayna Baszler and Amanda Nunes were forced to drop out against her do to injury. The UFC has signed Invicta FC fighter Leslie Smith to step in as the exceptionally short notice replacement for the bout set to go down on the TUF: Nations Finale.
UFC officials confirmed the bout earlier today.
Sarah Kaufman (16-2, 1 N/C) is a former Strikeforce Women’s Champion, and has one of the best overall records of any woman currently in the UFC, with wins over the likes of Alexis Davis, Liz Carmouche, and her latest opponent, Leslie Smith. Last seen losing a contentious split decision to Jessica Eye at UFC 166 – which was later overturned due to Eye testing positive for marijuana metabolites – Kaufman has been preparing for her first bout on home soil since 2011. Will she be able to gain a second, definitive victory over “The Peacemaker?”
Leslie “The Peacemaker” Smith (6-4-1) has been garnering fans with her gutsy fighting style and no-BS attitude since she started fighting as an amateur in 2008. Since turning pro in 2009, she’s garnered wins over fighters like Raquel Pennington and Kaitlyn Young, but has lost to more elite competition such as Barb Honchak and her next foe, Kaufman. The result the last time Smith took on the former Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion was contentious split decision, so the Cesar Gracie Fight Team member will be looking to even the score here. Will she be able to beat the “Octagon Jitters” and do just that?
The TUF: Nations Finale goes down on April 16th from the Pepsi Centre in Quebec City, QC. The main event features quick-witted former sniper Tim Kennedy taking on the brash Brit Michael Bisping in a middleweight contest. Stay tuned to MMASucka for more on this and other events.
