Mixed martial arts is still a boy’s sport, but Victoria is Sarah Kaufman’s town.
Kaufman outclassed Japanese fighter Megumi Yabushita in the 135-pound category at AFC 5: Judgment Day, Saturday night at Bear Mountain Arena.
The entrance by Kaufman, two-time Strikeforce world champion, was the loudest of the evening and perhaps of any AFC fighter in the organization’s brief history, as fans rose to their feet and shared in an exhilarating energy.
Perhaps a little shell shocked at the response, or out of noblesse oblige for the AFC crowd and for her opponent, Kaufman waited until the last 90 seconds of the third and final round to attack Yabushita, forcing the referee to stop the fight.
Despite Yabushita’s willingness to continue the fight, the 39-year-old wrestling specialist was clearly in trouble from the outset.
Yabushita made a choice to stand and exchange strikes from the start, playing to Kaufman’s strength.
Moments after her defeat, Yabushita, who falls to 19 wins and 18 losses in her MMA career, told the crowd through a translator she was impressed and overwhelmed.
That Yabushita’s elementary defence tactics were enough to draw the fight out to 13 of a possible 15 minutes made it a decent showing for the visitor against the best-striking female MMA fighter, pound-for-pound, in the world.
Though Kaufman ended the match unscathed, like a true champion she showed her respect to Yabushita and offered to meet and greet with fans, who lined up by the dozen, immediately after the fight.
“Every win is important. I’m honoured (Yabushita) came all the way here to fight and I’m honoured to be able to fight in Victoria,” Kaufman said.
Results from the AFC 5 fight card are here.