Kaufman Slam KO’s Modafferi

The unbeaten Sarah Kaufman retained her Strikeforce women’s welterweight (135 pounds) championship at Strikeforce Challengers 9 on Friday, as she knocked out Roxanne Modafferi with a third-round slam at the Comcast Arena in Everett, Wash.

The dramatic finish came 4:45 into round three, as the champion made Modafferi pay for an attempted armbar. It halted the challenger’s two-fight winning streak, leaving her flat on her back after her head bounced violently off the canvas. Modafferi had never before been knocked out.

Perfect in 12 professional appearances, Kaufman has made no bones about her desire to graduate from the Challengers circuit.

“I think I deserve it,” she said.

A Japan-based Delaware native, Modafferi held her own early in the match. She scored with a takedown 90 seconds into the fight but was given precious little time with which to work. The referee moved in for a quick restart, placing Modafferi, a decorated ground fighter, at a disadvantage.

Kaufman pelted her foe with combinations throughout the second round and slowly took hold of the bout.

The Canadian weathered another takedown and some grazing standing-to-ground punches from Modafferi in round three, returned to her feet and put the challenger on the defensive. Modafferi pulled guard late in the round and reached for an armbar, only to have her title bid thwarted by the slam.

“I think it was a close fight,” said Kaufman, who spent much of the match struggling to free herself from Modafferi’s clinch. “There was a lot of battling going on against the cage.”

In the Strikeforce Challengers 9 headliner, unbeaten heavyweight prospect Shane del Rosario kept his perfect record intact with a first-round technical knockout against Lolohea Mahe. Del Rosario punctuated the victory with a series of brutal knees and punches from the clinch 3:48 into round one.

Del Rosario softened Mahe with leg kicks and knees to the body from the outset. A straight left hand sent the Hawaiian-based heavyweight reeling backwards, as Del Rosario followed him to the cage. There a knee to the head, two more to the body and some follow-up punches brought an end to the bout.

“I’m training really hard,” Del Rosario said. “It’s paying off. I’m ready to move on.”

Afterward, the Colin Oyama protégé discussed a potential matchup with former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski.

“That’d be the ultimate test for me,” he said. “I’m down for it.”

Finally, King of the Cage light heavyweight champion Mike Kyle submitted Ron Humphrey with a second-round rear-naked choke in a featured matchup at 205 pounds. Humphrey met his demise 3:28 into round two.

Humphrey scored with a pair of first-round takedowns and moved out to an early lead, only to fail to maintain his momentum.

Anchored at the American Kickboxing Academy, Kyle delivered a takedown of his own in the second period, seized back control and ultimately moved to mount. Warned for strikes to the back of the head once Humphrey surrendered his back again, Kyle transitioned to a rear-naked choke for the tapout. It was the first traditional submission victory of the 30-year-old’s career.

Other Bouts
Bobby Voelker def. Cory Devela -- Split Decision
Caros Fodor def. Ousmane Thomas Diagne -- Unanimous Decision
Brent Knopp def. Ryan Hayes -- TKO (Punches) 0:55 R2
C.J. Marsh def. Taurean Washington -- Unanimous Decision
Drew Brokenshire def. Jordan Macklin -- Submission (Guillotine Choke) 2:26 R1
Scott McDonald def. Doug Kay -- Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) 2:09 R1
Chris Inman def. Quincy Spruill -- Submission (Kimura) 3:54 R1
Jamen Olney def. Jordan Currie -- Unanimous Decision
John Elam def. Frankie Orr -- Split Decision
Wendel Horton def. Keith Mortuiccio -- TKO (Punches) R1