Ariel Helwani from MMA Fighting is reporting that Strikeforce women's Bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey will make her first title defense against Sarah Kaufman in August. No date or location has yet been announced for the event but it is expected to air on Showtime.
The 25-year-old Rousey (5-0, 5 submissions) took the title from Miesha Tate at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey in March. Former champ Kaufman (15-1, 10 KO's) beat fellow Canadian Alexis Davis on that same card by majority decision. Kaufman has won three straight since losing the belt to Marloes Coenen in October, 2010.
The build up to Tate vs. Rousey featured a lot of trash talk from the then-champion to the effect that Rousey was being rushed into a title shot she didn't deserve. Her ligament-snapping performance against Tate should silence that line of attack.
Rousey vs Kaufman promises to be a classic grappler vs. striker confrontation that could test Rousey's chin if the former Team USA Judo Olympian is unable to impose her ground game on Kaufman early.