Originally, Sarah Kaufman was set to meet Shayna Baszler at “The Ultimate Fighter: Nations” finale in a rematch of a 2009 Strikeforce bout which Kaufman won via unanimous decision.
However, due to an undisclosed injury that forced Baszler out of the bout, Amanda Nunes will step in to take on fifth ranked Kaufman.
Nunes was originally booked to take on Alexis Dufresne at UFC on FOX 11 later this month, but Dufresne was forced to pull herself from the bout with a rib injury.
Nunes currently holds a 2-0 UFC record, with two brutal first round TKO victories over Sheila Gaff and Germaine de Randamie. Like Kaufman, Nunes is also ranked in the top 10 of the division, ranked eighth at Women’s Bantamweight according to the UFC’s rankings.
As for the former Strikeforce champion Kaufman, she has yet to her first win inside the UFC octagon. Kaufman met Jessica Eye in her UFC debut last October and lost by a controversial split decision, however, the fight would later be ruled a no contest due to Eye’s failed drug test.
A win for either woman on April 16th would be a huge feat, putting the winner one step closer for the chance to compete for the UFC gold.