The main event of Invicta FC 29 features a bout between Sarah Kaufman and Katharina Lehner. On Friday night it will be a clash between an accomplished veteran and an up-and-coming prospect for the Invicta Bantamweight title.

Invicta FC 29: Sarah Kaufman vs. Katharina Lehner Fight Preview

Sarah Kaufman

Age: 32

MMA Record: 19-4-0, 1 NC

Invicta Record: 2-0-0

Last Fight: Unanimous decision win against Pannie Kianzad

Fighter skills and tendencies: Sarah Kaufman is a veteran of mixed martial arts, her greatest achievement thus far was winning the Strikeforce bantamweight championship. A four-fight stint in the UFC held mixed results for Kaufman.

She has a very well-rounded skill set but mostly fights at range and in the clinch. When she is at distance, she uses a technical striking approach that relies on her effective boxing technique. Kaufman uses forward pressure while striking to push her opponent against the cage and that is where she employs her impressive clinch game.

While in the clinch, she uses a variety of elbows and knees to wear down her opponent until she decides to disengage and return to distance striking. She also has excellent cardio and seems to increase her work rate as the fight progresses into the later rounds.

Katharina Lehner

Age: 28

MMA Record: 7-0-0

Invicta Record: 1-0-0

Last Fight: Unanimous decision win against Gemma Pike

Fighter skills and tendencies: Katharina Lehner is a German prospect young in her mixed martial arts career. Most of her fights have taken place at the regional level with the exception of her fight against Alexa Conners at Invicta FC 25, where she won by 1st round TKO.

Lehner reminds me of a greener version of Kaufman, she also uses forward pressure to employ her boxing but she is not as technical in her execution. She also mixes in clinch work to keep her opponent off balance in terms of how to defend her attacks. Lehner’s cardio has held up in three-round bouts, but she does slow down in the later rounds so there is certainly a concern of fatigue.

Fight Breakdown

This fight is too big of a step up for Lehner at this point in her career. Kaufman is too experienced and a bit better than Lehner in every aspect of mixed martial arts. Lehner is tough and likely to survive the first couple of rounds but I believe Kaufman’s pace and cardio will be too much for Lehner. Sarah Kaufman should be able to overwhelm Lehner and find an opportunity to finish.

Prediction: Kaufman via 3rd Round KO/TKO

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