Strikeforce Challengers Hits San Jose On February 26‏

[NWOWolfpack]

Sarah Kaufman To Battle Takayo Hashi For First STRIKEFORCE Women's 135 Pound Title

World championship mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion STRIKEFORCE will return to its roots when it brings its Challengers fight series to The Civic Auditorium in San Jose, California on Friday, February 26. Topping the card will be a middleweight (185 pounds) contest between wrestling powerhouse Trevor Prangley (22-5) and Karl Amoussou (11-2-1).

Undefeated power puncher Sarah Kaufman (10-0) will challenge Japan's Takayo Hashi (12-1) in the first STRIKEFORCE women's world bantamweight (135 pounds) championship matchup in history while Luke Rockhold (6-1), one of MMA's brightest up and comers, will take on Paul Bradley (12-1) at middleweight.

Since 1993 when STRIKEFORCE was founded as a kickboxing series, The San Jose Civic Auditorium has played host to numerous events produced by the organization that more recently emerged a leading promoter of MMA contests.

Prangley, a former national wrestling champion for South Africa who ventured to The United States years ago in order to further his wrestling career, will put on the line a five fight win streak that began with his unanimous judges' decision victory over Anthony Ruiz during STRIKEFORCE's event at the world famous Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills, California on September 20, 2008. The 37-year-old also finished as runner up in STRIKEFORCE's four man tournament, the first sanctioned single elimination MMA event in California state history, on November 16, 2007.

The 24-year-old Amoussou, known for his devastating knockout power and unorthodox fighting style, hails from France and is an expert in Judo as well as Savate. He brings a three fight win streak with him to the STRIKEFORCE cage.

Kaufman is a 24-year-old former professional ballet dancer who stumbled upon MMA after a martial arts school opened underneath her dance studio in Victoria, Canada. Her mellow demeanor outside the cage is a stark contrast to her ferocity inside it, which has helped her knock out 8 of her 10 opponents.

In her last effort, Kaufman earned a unanimous judges' decision over Shayna "The Queen of Spades" Baszler during the STRIKEFORCE Challengers event at Kent Washington's ShoWare Center on June 19, 2009.

The 32 year old Hashi of Honbu, Tokyo is a former champion of Japan's Smackgirl MMA promotion.

Since suffering the only defeat of her career to Hitomi Akano on August 17, 2005, Hashi has reeled off eight straight victories, including a revenge win over Akano on September 6, 2007.

In other action, James Terry (7-1) of San Jose will square off with Tarec Saffiedine (7-2) of Temecula, California in a welterweight (170 pounds) bout while Raul Castillo (6-0) of Half Moon Bay, California will face fellow unbeaten middleweight Yancy Medeiros (4-0) of Waianae, Hawaii.

[broncofan]

Prangley should be on a main showtime card not challengers.