However, it has been eight months since the Victoria, British Columbia, native last stepped into the cage. After watching her bout with Takayo Hashi (12-1-0) for the Strikeforce Women’s 135-pound title bounce from November to January and eventually land in San Jose, Kaufman is ready for the waiting to be over this Friday night.

The bout will be the main event for the Strikeforce Challengers series on Showtime.

The “Bitch” Phase

“It’s been a long haul and it’s been frustrating having the fight been pushed and started and pushed and started,” says Kaufman, sitting in the reception area of Zugec Ultimate Martial Arts (ZUMA) between teaching classes. “It’s hard on training camps too, because you can only peak as a fighter so many times in a year. I’ve started to get ready to peak for this fight four times now.”

“She’s in her bitch phase,” jokes coach Adam Zugec, quickly adding that the grumpy state of Kaufman during a recent training session is exactly where she needs to be heading into this fight.

With women’s MMA gaining more attention with each fight, adding a title for a second weight class into the conversation is the next logical step and one Kaufman thinks will help show that Cris Cyborg isn’t the only talented female on the Strikeforce roster.

“I think that the belt at 135 is a big step in moving it away from that singular focus,” Kaufman said. “I think Strikeforce is starting to get that. They’re starting to really develop the 135 division, which does have all of those fighters constantly coming into it. Hopefully, that will change the whole “Will I go up and fight Cyborg?” question.”

The organization announced Tuesday that the undefeated Kaufman and Hashi was being moved up to the main event, something many fans and media members thought was overdue. Even before that announcement at the time of this interview, Kaufman remained focused on the task at hand.

“I’ve just been waiting for so long that at this point I just want the fight,” she offered. “Whatever their reason is, hopefully they’ll sort it out in time and I’m really not that worried. I’m worried about the fight and they can put me where they put me.”

The Opponent

Where they have put the top-ranked Canadian is across from Hashi, a veteran of the Smackgirl promotion who enters this fight on an eight-fight winning streak. In a recent interview with MMA Weekly, Hashi stated “If she has got a pride in her striking ability, then I would like to crush that pride by striking against her.”

This is a plan of attack Kaufman surely welcomes. After earning finishes in her first eight professional fights, the former dancer who spent two years at the University of Victoria, has gone the distance in her last two bouts with wins over Miesha Tate and Shayna Baszler. Ever the realist, Kaufman knows it’s nothing to worry about.

“Sometimes it’s just hard to finish fights for whatever reason. If someone isn’t standing right in front of you and they’re moving away a lot, you can only chase so far before you risk putting yourself in a bad position as well,” she explained.

Time is also a factor. As this is a title fight and under the new 5-minute rounds the women now enjoy, Kaufman will have a full 25 minutes at her disposal to compete for the title. She doesn’t plan on needing it.

“With the Miesha Tate fight, it was a great fight, but it was only three minute rounds. Personally, I love the five minute rounds because it allows me to push the pace of the fight and tire people out that way as well. Who knows if that fight would have ended differently with that extra six minutes of fighting?,” she said.

“I want to finish this one.”

Friday night marks the end of eight long months of waiting for Sarah Kaufman. It could also mark the beginning of her reign as Strikeforce Women’s 135-Pound Champion.

Tara LaRosa talks with MMAMadness.com

This was the status update on Facebook from highly regarded, but under-promoted women’s MMA fighter Tara LaRosa. LaRosa is currently the No. 1 ranked female Bantamweight fighter according to WAMMA. With a 17-1 record and unbeaten since 2003 it is easy to see why she deserves that ranking. What is interesting is that many of her wins come from common opponents with the likes of Gina Carano, who is wildly regarded as the face of women’s MMA.

Tara LaRosa has never missed weight.

LaRosa has always been athletic. She grew up playing field hockey, basketball, and softball. While she was in college she joined the judo club. Field hockey came and went, but the judo evolved into no gi grappling, Brazilian ju-jitsu and Muay Thai. She started fighting in MMA in 2001.

LaRosa is a Bodog Champion and has fought in Hook and Shoot, SmackGirl, XFO, and recently, Extreme Challenge. She is a Jersey girl at heart, but now lives and trains in Philadelphia at the Fight Factory. Under the guidance of Steve Haigh, Ricky Lee, Zach Makovsky and Michael Rankin, LaRosa cross-trains in all disciplines as well as strength and conditioning. She is a complete mixed martial artist who has nine submission wins and three more by way of KO.

Before a fight, fighters backstage will sleep, grapple or hit pads. LaRosa’s ritual is a bit different. “It seems to be a ritual for me to get really incredibly nervous before a fight,” LaRosa said. “It starts about 7-10 days out from a fight, then in the locker room before a fight… I can’t stop straightening things up. I also listen to music a lot to calm my nerves… and after I warm up, until I am called to the ring… I dance. I’m the only one that can hear the music from my ipod, but I’m just dancing away like I’m in a club. I’m fairly certain that anyone who has seen this is convinced that I’m a nut case! It helps me keep the nerves under control.”

LaRosa doesn’t have one specific influence that brought her into fighting, but she appreciates the work ethic of wrestlers. She cites Randy Couture and Jens Pulver as fighters she has looked up to. She is also a fan of the “little guy divisions” and enjoys the fighting skills of Miguel Torres, Zach Makovsky, Nat McIntyre, Uriah Faber, and some of the 155ers: Eddie Alvarez, Joachim Hansen, Frankie Edgar, Clay Guida, and Diego Sanchez.

When asked what she thinks of the current state of Women’s MMA she responds, “I don’t really know what to think …We finally have internationally recognized rankings through WAMMA for the four largest women’s weight classes (115, 125, 135, and 145), and there are again opportunities for women to get television exposure again from Strike Force, and Bellator. So, I guess it’s moving forward again, from where we seemed to have stalled with the demise of EliteXC and BodogFIGHT.”

The trick for promoters outside of the UFC is to stay in business long enough to expose and promote women’s MMA to the general public. Often, like the men’s lighter weight classes, female MMA matches are fast paced with a greater emphasis on technique. Gina Carono’s fights are often Fight of the Night candidates.

Does the UFC need to add a women’s division for women’s MMA to thrive? LaRosa doesn’t think so. “I think it just needs to be marketed correctly, and in the right places to gain exposure,” LaRosa said. “The UFC would be nice though. I would imagine that the WEC would pick up a women’s division since it kind of fits there pretty well.”

The WEC is creating a home for lighter-weight fighters, and perhaps women will find a home there as well. If female fighters are going to be taken seriously, just like any fighter, they need to treat the sport with respect and professionalism. This is where some think a few of the highly promoted females have fallen short. Carano has repeatedly missed weight and recently Chris Cyborg missed by several pounds. As two of the top female draws, this is completely unprofessional. Both Carano and Cyborg are fighting much lighter fighters.

Josh Barnet has some strong feelings on Cyborg’s weight issues . “Her (Cyborg) victory is hollow and her turning a blind eye to her lack of professionalism is deplorable,” Barnet said. “Never once was an apology uttered. Never once did I see one act of accountability. I don’t know how to say it in Portuguese, but Cyborg is deserving of no respect and no praise. If you were ever a fan, I’d find someone of better character and better heart.”

That person is Tara LaRosa.

LaRosa takes the sport very seriously. “Missing weight is a cardinal sin,” LaRosa said. “When you neglect to make weight, it shows a lack of professionalism, lack of dedication, and a huge lack of respect for your opponent, the promotion, and the sport and everyone in it… especially, when it is a highly publicized event.”

But is it actually harder for women to make weight? Not according to LaRosa. “No, it is not that hard for a woman to make weight… regardless of wherever you may happen to be during your menstrual cycle. I’ve had 18 fights over seven years, and I have never missed weight. Sometimes the cut has been easy, and sometimes it has been really tough… it tests your resolve. To me, training and making weight for a fight is the most tedious and grueling part of the whole sport… the actual fight itself is easy! So, I’m very disappointed with this epidemic of persons both male and female that are missing weight.”

The promoters have been smart so far in the building of Cyborg and Carano. They are often fighting women who are moving up in weight just to fight them. This gives them the illusion of dominance. When compared pound-for-pound, LaRosa thinks there is more talent out there that isn’t being pushed. According to LaRosa there are a lot of tough and complete female fighters out there, likeMegumi Fuji, Rosi Sexton, Michelle Tavares, and Roxanne Modafferi.

“These women have more complete skill sets in MMA, and much more experience,” LaRosa said.

Would LaRosa want to fight Carano or Cyborg? “I’d be interested in fighting Gina or Cyborg, but something would have to be worked out since they are two weight classes higher than what I am fighting at currently,” LaRosa said.

LaRosa doesn’t want to compromise her career as a top fighter at 135 lbs. for the lure of being an overnight sensation at a higher weight class. She feels that being lured to fight in higher weight classes can often be a taking a fight your set up to lose.

She is currently in negations with Strikeforce, and hopefully the 135 lb. talent-rich women’s division will begin to get the promotion and exposure it needs. Women’s MMA needs professionals to advance the sport, and one of the most talented is waiting for her shot.