Strikeforce officials confirmed the bout last night during the Showtime airing of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine.

After losing the first bout of her professional career and her Strikeforce title to Marloes Coenen, Kaufman has bounced back with two straight victories over Megumi Yabushita and Liz Carmouche. The Canada native won the first 12 fights of her career, including victories over current champion Tate, Shayna Baszler, and Roxanne Modafferi. She also holds a 2007 TKO win over Davis, who she rematches in March.

Davis will not only be looking to add to her three fight win streak, but she’ll also try to avenge that 2007 loss, which was her first bout as a pro, when she meets Kaufman in the Strikeforce cage. Davis has knocked off Tonya Evinger, Julie Kedzie, and Amanda Nunes during her winning streak.

The March 3 Strikeforce event takes place at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Also on the card is a lightweight showdown between former champion Josh Thomson and K.J. Noons.

News of the likely pairing was first reported by MMAFighting. Five Ounces of Pain has since confirmed with a source close to the situation that bout agreements have been signed and an official announcement should be coming soon.

Carmouche was last seen pounding on current 135-pound champion Marloes Coenen for the bulk of their bout this past March before succumbing to a Triangle Choke early in the fourth round. The defeat marked the first of the former Marine’s professional career after racking up five straight victories including a TKO of Jan Finney at Strikeforce Challengers 12.

Like Carmouche, the only stumble Kaufman has experienced in the ring came by way of submission to Coenen when the two fought last October. Prior to the loss the 13-1 Canadian had beaten a number of notable opponents including current top contender Miesha Tate, as well as Shayna Baszler and Roxanne Modafferi.

Strikeforce Challengers 17 will be headlined by the tie-breaking bout between Bobby Voelker and Roger Bowling after splitting their first two fights, and is a landmark event in the sense it involves the first time Strikeforce has held a show in Sin City.

PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Yabushita, a grappler by nature with ten submission wins to her credit, had little answer for Kaufman’s stand-up from beginning to end with the finish ultimately coming after what appeared to be a slip gave way to her Canadian adversary taking advantage with a barrage of punches from the top. The loss was only the second by way of TKO in thirty-seven professional fights.

The in-ring success improved Kaufman’s record to 13-1 and was the tenth TKO of her career. It also marked her first outing since losing the Strikeforce belt to current title-holder Marloes Coenen via submission this past October. Prior to the lone stumble of her career Kaufman had notched victories over a number of notable peers including Shayna Baszler, Roxanne Modafferi, and Miesha Tate.

PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Opening up the event on Showtime, BJJ ace Andre Galvao and talented grappler Tyron Woodley both acknowledged the opportunity at hand when they lock horns. “Tyron is a tough fighter, a top wrestling guy who has fought three times on Strikeforce,” said Galvao of his undefeated opponent. “I am excited and have a good game plan. I’m ready to go.”

Woodley, on the other hand, stated he wasn’t as concerned with Galvao’s strategy against him so much as the chance to work his way towards a shot at welterweight gold. “I can’t concern myself on what an opponent my do. It’s up to me to turn my weaknesses into strengths,” he began. “This fight means a ton to me. I fought through the Strikeforce Challengers series. Fans got to learn my story as a fighter, they got to see me develop and get better each fight. They got to submit guys fast. They got to see me go through wars. This is definitely a step forward towards my dream to be a champion. We’ll get those fireworks going on Saturday.”

While both 170-pounders were well-behaved, Josh Thomson took time to talk trash in relation to his bout against Strikeforce newcomer JZ Cavalcante, though the smack was curiously directed at a lightweight peer rather than his Brazilian opponent and actually used in a complimentary fashion rather than a derogatory one.

“JZ is a savage and a beast and I think it’s a joke that you guys have a guy like Ben Henderson ranked above a guy like him,” said Thomson of Cavalcante and WEC’s lightweight champ. “I could go out there and fight the fight of my life and still lose. I have to beat him everywhere; there is no way I am going to win this fight doing one thing. JZ has fought some good ones all over the world. He is probably bigger and hits harder so I know I have to lay it on the line and see what happens.”

However, American Top Team’s Cavalcante avoided posturing of any sort, opting instead to address his recent injury problems and excitement about fighting the former 155-pound champ in front of an American crowd. “I was off a long time because of my injuries but I’ve seen a lot by working with teammates and other guys that have helped me stay involved in the game…but there is nothing like a real fight,” said the 27-year old. “This will be an excellent fight and I’m really looking forward to it and fighting for Strikeforce. I like being part of a fight fans want to see and are talking about. This is my chance to make a name for myself in America.”

All four participants slated for the evening’s title-bouts also had a chance to address their opponents and offer a take on the event as a whole. Female welterweight champ Sarah Kaufman expressed her appreciation for defending her belt on a major card, saying, “This is definitely a big deal for the 135-pound division and a big push forward for it. The more attention and exposure we get, the more the fan base will grow. There’s already a good fan base for the Strikeforce women at 145 pounds, so this is a great opportunity for us and the division.”

Her adversary on Saturday, Marloes Coenen, stated dropping down a division to face Kaufman hadn’t hurt her power, and said the chance to hoist Strikeforce gold above her head meant a tremendous amount to her. “This fight means the world to me. I won a world tournament in Japan ten years ago and here I am again, ten years later, with another opportunity to win another potentially life-changing event. A victory means I can stay and have a career in America. I would love that to happen very much,” said the Dutch submission specialist.

Closing the press conference out, headlining rivals Diaz and Noons maintained civility while discussing their long-awaited rematch rather than resorting to behavior similar to that bringing about a post-fight melee in their EliteXC days.

“I have respect for Nick as a fighter. His style works for him and I like to watch him fight,” said Noons of the welterweight champion. “The first fight I worked on going forward against Nick because Nick never fights going backward, but I’ve been working on all aspects of the game. I’m sure at some point he’s going to try and take me down but I am ready for anything.”

Diaz keep things professional as well. “I feel good and weight-wise I am almost perfect. I was angry for a long time (about the first fight). I was real upset that it ended the way it did because it wasn’t like I was hurt. Then I kind of dropped the idea of ever fighting a rematch because he got out of MMA. I never considered the first fight as a loss. I just always looked at it as a fight that was stopped (too soon),” replied Diaz when asked about his initial scrap with part-time pro boxer Noons and the bout’s stoppage for cuts.

However, the Stockton native closed things out by making sure fans understood he won’t be entering the ring on Saturday with personal feelings getting in the way of his ultimate goal of retaining his strap.

“I don’t feel that this fight is about revenge…but I’m happy now that he took the fight.”

“Strikeforce – Diaz vs. Noons II” takes place in Strikeforce’s home-base of San Jose and will be available for viewing this Saturday night on Showtime beginning at 9:00 PM ET (delayed on the West Coast).

PHOTO CREDIT – Esther Lin / STRIKEFORCE

In addition to being Kaufman’s second defense of the Strikeforce welterweight strap, the bout also represents her first appearance for the company on a non-Challengers card – an opportunity that doesn’t escape the Canadian (who actually turned 25 today, September 20th).

Kaufman recently took time to speak with media about her upcoming match-up with Coenen, as well as her appreciation for the involvement of a female title-fight on the main card of a major event.

When asked about the increased spotlight the show, headlined by a rematch between Nick Diaz and KJ Noons with Diaz’s welterweight belt on the line, will bring to her pairing with the Dutch submission specialist, Kaufman replied, “It’s definitely where the title fight should be. And I feel that both Marloes and I are at a level that we should be getting this slot and we are going to be putting on a great show and I think people deserve to see it on a bigger stage. I am very happy to be fighting where we are on a bigger card for Strikeforce on Showtime and I think the fans will definitely enjoy the fight and I am not going to let them down.”

“I think it’s important for fighters to stand up for what they deserve, but you also don’t want to make your organization look bad,” she continued in reference to a post-fight, public request for upgraded event status on the heels of a memorable knockout slam of Roxanne Modafferi last July. “But I am happy to have said what I said, and my fight backed that up. Whether it was me talking, my fighting, or the fans, it all worked together in helping push the division in having the title on the main card.”

As far as her “challenger” in three weeks, the female welterweight champ expressed no issue with Coenen’s shot at the belt after losing at 145-pounds against explosive champion Cris “Cyborg” Santos in her previous fight.

“I am here to fight, and I think having a tough opponent in front of you is the most important thing,” explained Kaufman. “It doesn’t matter who they fought before, and where they just came from…and I thought Marloes looked really good in the fight with Cyborg. Who knows how the different weight classes are going to affect how she fights. Maybe she is more aggressive. Maybe she is less aggressive. We will just need to see what happens. My training hasn’t been any different even though she is coming down from a heavier weight where she hasn’t fought before. My training has been just as intense and I am expecting just as tough of a fight as I’ve ever had.”

However, while she was open to discussing Coenen, Kaufman avoided making a prediction or even stating ultimate confidence in her retention of the belt based on her 17-4 adversary’s skill set.

“Everything is going really well for this fight. This is another tough fight – Strikeforce has been putting together these really tough fights. I fought Shayna (Baszler) and I fought Takayo (Hashi)…Roxanne was really tough, and now I fighting Marloes. She is another really tough opponent. So once this fight is over and if I am able to defend this title again, it will be good to have a break after that.”

Kaufman is 12-0 with nine knockouts and three decisions in her career. She is 4-0 in Strikeforce, including a decision win over top contender Miesha Tate in May 2009.

On top of her bout against Coenen, and the previously mentioned main event between Diaz/Noons, the October 9th show is also scheduled to feature a much-anticipated clash between former Strikeforce lightweight champ Josh Thomson and newcomer Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante, as well as 185-pound action when 7-1 prospect Luke Rockhold faces seasoned veteran Matt Lindland.

Diaz will face an opponent to be named in the coming week while Kaufman will defend her title against Dutch superstar Marloes Coenen.

Also on the explosive card, emerging star from the “Strikeforce Challengers” series Luke Rockhold will risk his six-fight win streak against MMA superstar and former Olympic wrestling silver medalist Matt “The Law” Lindland in a featured middleweight (185 pounds) contest.

The 27-year-old Diaz (22-7), a Cesar Gracie BJJ blackbelt and native of Stockton, has won seven consecutive fights since his last loss in 2007. He is coming off a first round submission victory (armbar) over fellow superstar Hayato “Mach” Sakurai last May at DREAM 14 in Japan. Prior to that, Diaz won the Strikeforce title with a late, third-round TKO (punches) of Marius “The Whitemare” Žaromskis at “Strikeforce – Miami” last January.

The undefeated Kaufman (12-0), a former ballet dancer who hails from British Columbia, Canada, is fresh off the first defense of her title, an explosive body slam knockout of Roxanne Modafferi at “Strikeforce Challengers” in Everett, Wash., this past July 23rd. The 24-year-old Kaufman, who has won nine of her fights by KO, will face Coenen (17-4), a submission specialist and the number one contender to the Strikeforce women’s welterweight belt.

The 29-year-old Coenen (17-4) will fight for the first time since a third-round TKO loss to Cris Cyborg for the Strikeforce Women’s Middleweight (145 pounds) Championship at “Strikeforce – Miami”. Coenen, a member of Holland’s Team Golden Glory and mixed martial artist since the age of 14, will be moving down in weight to challenge at 135 pounds. Kaufman and Coenen have both defeated Modafferi, with Coenen avenging a 2007 loss via first round armbar in her Strikeforce debut on November 7th, 2009.

Rockhold (7-1), who could prove to be one of Strikeforce’s next great middleweight superstars, has won six of his seven fights via submission. The 25-year-old member of Team AKA is coming off a first-round TKO (knees to body) of Paul Bradley last February at a “Strikeforce Challengers” event in San Jose. The impressive win was the first KO victory of the Santa Cruz, Calif., native’s professional career. Prior to his latest conquest, Rockhold had won five straight fights by way of submission.

Lindland (22-7), who won the silver medal in Olympic Greco-Roman Wrestling at the 2000 Olympic Games, scored a third-round TKO victory over “King” Kevin Casey this past May on a “Strikeforce Challengers” card in his hometown of Portland. A former UFC star who has been competing professionally in MMA since 1997, Lindland, 40, is also a former All-American wrestler for University of Nebraska and the 1993 NCAA Big Eight conference champion. During his stellar career, Lindland has triumphed over a number of all-time greats including former UFC champions Pat Miletich and Carlos Newton.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com learned of the news after speaking with PFC owner and promoter Christian Printup.

Kaufman, a Canadian, is 7-0 in her professional mixed martial arts career with all seven of her wins coming via TKO. Her record and the manner in which she has recorded her victories have earned her a reputation of being one of the heaviest hitting females on the planet.

Kaufman’s last two fights took place for the now-defunct Hardcore Championship Fighting where she recorded second round TKOs over veteran Molly Helsel and Josh Barnett-protege Ginele Marquez.

She had been scheduled to fight Kaitlin Young during an EliteXC event that had been planned for November 8 in Reno, Nevada but was cancelled due ProElite’s financial issues.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com learned of the signings after speaking with EliteXC head of Fighter Operations Jeremy Lappen on Friday afternoon.

Debut dates for the fighters are not yet known but if they can’t be scheduled for a card by the end of the year, all are expected to have made their debut for the promotion by early-2009.

Coenen is a Dutch fighter who at one time was considered by some pundits as the top pound-for-pound female in the world. While her stature has decreased slightly in recent years, she is still recognized as a top ten by many in the industry.

A talented striker who has improved her submission game, Coenen is 15-2, according to Sherdog’s fight finder, with her only losses coming to Roxanne Modaferri and Erin Toughill. She has recorded notable wins over Yoko Takahasi, Keiko Tamai, Megumi Yabushita, and Yuuki Kondo.

Competing in the same division as top fighters such as Cris Cyborg, Gina Carano, Shayna Baszler, and Kaitlin Young, Coenen could get a chance to prove she’s number one again but this time in front of a much larger audience.

Kaufman, a Canadian, is 7-0 in her professional mixed martial arts career with all seven of her wins coming via TKO. Her record and the manner in which she has recorded her victories have earned her a reputation of being one of the heaviest hitting females on the planet.

Kaufman’s last two fights took place for the now-defunct Hardcore Championship Fighting where she recorded second round TKOs over veteran Molly Helsel and Josh Barnett-protege Ginele Marquez.

Hashi has competed primarily in Japan for the Smackgirl and DEEP promotions. She improved her record to 11-1 after recording a unanimous decision victory over Amanda Buckner during a Fatal Femmes Fighting show in Los Angeles this past April.

(Pictured: Sarah Kaufman)

The team-based league is taking a break from its usual format and will crown individual champions for the first time in the lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight divisions. The winners of all tonight’s semifinal bouts will advance to the WGP finals on Dec. 29 in Connecticut, with the lone exception being the light heavyweight bout between Vladimir Matyushenko. Due to contract issues and injury, the league decided to trim the four-man field at 205 lbs. down to two and treat the fans of Chicago to the first-ever individual championship bout in IFL history.

Here’s a brief rundown of the matches scheduled to be shown on MyNetworkTV:

Lightweight Semifinal: Bart Palaszewski vs. Chris Horodecki -

Palaszewski fights for Pat Miletich’s IFL team but doesn’t train out of MFS. It’s ironic because Palaszewski is pretty much the prototypical lighter weight MFS fighter: well-rounded, fundamentally sound, good on the ground, and tough.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REMAINDER OF THIS ARTICLE ON SAM CAPLAN’S PROELITE.COM BLOG.