THE CANADIAN PRESS
Despite her two wins in Strikeforce, Canadian Alexis Davis has largely flown under the radar.
But the 27-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., can change that in a hurry with a win over fellow Canadian Sarah Kaufman on Saturday night in Columbus, Ohio.
Their fight will decide who gets the next Strikeforce bantamweight title shot against either current champion Miesha (Takedown) Tate or challenger (Rowdy) Ronda Rousey.
Davis (11-4) and Kaufman (14-1) will decide who’s in the bantamweight on-deck circle when they face off on Saturday’s undercard at Nationwide Arena.
Tate (13-2) and former Olympic judo bronze medallist Rousey (4-0) square off in a much-ballyhooed main event that has made plenty of the fighters’ looks.
Kaufman, a former 135-pound title-holder, believes she should be fighting for the title Saturday instead of Rousey.
Davis, who has won four out of her last five, is happy to just fight for a chance at the title but concedes that she has been overlooked in some circles.
"I’m working my way kind of there," she said with a laugh. "And I think this fight’s going to help with exposure for my career.
"I’m usually the underdog and I don’t think many people know me but it’s going to change soon."
Dave Dayboll, who has coached Davis since Day 1 at Dayboll Jiu-Jitsu, says the fighter is not one who does her talking on Twitter.
"She’s just a very humble person," he said. "She just likes to train and compete."
Dayboll also says Davis has small-town values.
Davis is picking Tate to win Saturday, pointing to Rousey’s lack of experience. Rousey’s four fights have lasted a total of two minutes 18 seconds, thanks to her ability to execute a vicious armbar.
Davis understands why Strikeforce is using everything in its arsenal to promote the main event but is disappointed that she and Kaufman were dropped from the main card to a supporting role.
If nothing else, a main event showcase would have helped promote the next title fight, she argues.
The five-foot-five Davis started kick-boxing with a friend, then made the move to jiu-jitsu at 18.
"I just kind of fell in love with it … it’s an amazing martial art," she said. "I can face someone who could be twice my size and still come out on top."
"She was just a natural," said Dayboll. "I don’t ever remember her losing one match at a tournament and she’s been in tons. She’s just very gifted at knowing how to finish matches."
Davis progressed to MMA after watching someone else in her gym training.
Davis trains back home and with Dayboll at his gym in Jensen Beach, Fla., (he has three back in Ontario in Port Colborne, Fort Erie and Dunnville). While in Florida, she also trains with Pablo Popovitch at BJJC of Fort Lauderdale and at The Armory in Jupiter.
"She looks stronger than ever and her jiu-jitsu is just phenomenal right now," Dayboll said. "I do know Sarah Kaufman doesn’t want to go to the ground with Davis. She will lose.
"I expect Sarah to really keep it standing."
Dayboll says Davis, who has a black belt in Japanese jiu-jitsu and a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, has worked hard at her standup.
"We just keep picking away at it, learning more and making it better with footwork, foot position, hips, angles."
Davis made her pro debut in April 2007, losing by third-round TKO to Victoria’s Kaufman (who was in her fourth pro fight).
"It was so long ago," said Davis. "So much has changed since then."
Davis says she only remembers bits and pieces about the Winnipeg bout. She’s not even sure how much she made — maybe "a couple hundred."
Back in Port Colborne, the Davis family will be gathering to watch Saturday’s fight.
"My whole family has been really supportive with everything’s I’ve done. Mind you, my mom and my aunts are completely terrified when I do it but they’re supportive.
"My mom’s watching my fight peering between her hands."
