Music: {allcanada} CANADIAN SARAH KAUFMAN LOSES STRIKEFORCE TITLE TO COENEN

Saturday, October 9, 2010

{allcanada} CANADIAN SARAH KAUFMAN LOSES STRIKEFORCE TITLE TO COENEN

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Dutch veteran Marloes Coenen upset Canadian Sarah Kaufman to win the Strikeforce women's welterweight title Saturday night.

Coenen (18-4) submitted the 25-year-old from Victoria with an armbar at one minute 39 seconds of the third round.

Kaufman (12-1) lost the 135-pound title in her second championship defence.

Coenen, who was almost a 3-1 underdog going into the fight, apologized after the bout for holding onto the submission, saying the referee was slow in separating the two after Kaufman tapped.

The fight was the co-main event on the HP Pavilion card headlined by the rematch of Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz and K.J. Noons.

The taller Coenen, who has 13 submission wins, stayed on her feet on the first round and did well against the Canadian who is known for her striking. The 5-9 Coenen was busy with her fists, using her reach and four-inch height advantage, and probably had the edge in the round.

The second round was closer, with Kaufman reversing a takedown and then fighting off an armbar attempt in the dying seconds.

Kaufman reversed another takedown early in the third and was doing damage from on top when Coenen wrapped her legs around her and slapped on the armbar.

In her first title defence in July, Kaufman slammed Roxanne Modafferi to the canvas in spectacular fashion to win by third-round TKO.

Next up for Coenen is Miesha (Takedown) Tate, who earned her title shot by winning a tournament in August.

"Let's get it on," said Coenen.

The 29-year-old Coenen, beaten by Strikeforce middleweight champion Cris (Cyborg) Santos last time out in January, moved down from 145 pounds to challenge Kaufman at 135.

Earlier, welterweight Tyron (T-Wood) Woodley (8-0) used his striking superiority to stop Andre Galvao (5-2) at 1:48 of the first round. Galvao failed in three takedowns and was hurt by Woodley's fists from the get-go.