Miesha Tate vs Sarah Kaufman — Fight recap

Sarah Kaufman defeated Miesha Tate via unanimous decision after three rounds on May 15, 2009, in a striking-dominated performance that showcased Kaufman's superior accuracy and volume. Kaufman landed 90 significant strikes at a 53% clip compared to Tate's 26 significant strikes at just 28%, controlling the striking exchanges throughout the contest.

Tate attempted to close the gap with takedowns, landing 2 of 9 attempts (22%), but couldn't establish sustained grappling control to offset Kaufman's striking advantage. Kaufman's precision was evident in her head strike output, connecting on 78 of 156 attempts while maintaining her range and distance management.

The unanimous decision victory demonstrated Kaufman's technical striking superiority and marked an early setback for Tate in her bantamweight career.