After making her professional debut in September of 2014, Katharina Lehner has made strides in her MMA career in short order. With a 1-0 record, she fought for her first championship title, and in her fifth fight defeated Judith Ruis for her second belt, this time under the Respect FC banner.
This got the attention of the crew over at Invicta FC, and her US debut ended with what was her first career TKO victory. She returned to Germany to pick up another win and now faces pioneer and Strikeforce/UFC vet Sarah Kaufman in early May for the Invicta bantamweight title.
Lehner was kind enough to answer some e-mail questions regarding this move and her career in general, as well as her status with Invicta and some of the more risqué elements of her social media presence.
Victor Rodriguez: How did you get started in MMA training, and what led you to starting as a professional?
Katharina Lehner: I started boxing while I was studying in Munich. So when I moved to Cologne I was looking for a new gym and found a place where I tried MMA. After a few years of MMA training, I wanted to compete in an amateur MMA fight. But there weren’t any opponents in Germany. So my team decided we start with a pro fight.
VR: What was the most difficult aspect about fighting on the European scene for women’s MMA, and what would you like to see improve?
KL: The scene is very small in Europe. We know each other pretty well. I hope there will be few more women someday who compete in martial arts.
VR: Is your contract with Invicta exclusive, or are you also still allowed to continue fighting for other organizations if you were to win the belt?
KL: The contract with Invicta FC is not exclusive.
VR: What about your upcoming opponent Sarah Kaufman do you see as most challenging?
KL: I’m very excited for this fight. And I’m really happy to get the opportunity to fight a UFC and Strikeforce veteran. She has a lot more fights than me, more experience, and she is a well-rounded fighter as well.
VR: What advantages do you feel you have in this fight against Kaufmann?
KL: I’m hungry!
VR: You have made some waves with photoshoots including nude men as your servants. How did this begin and what led to this?
KL: I think it’s not all about fighting. Sportsmen should entertain their fans. Not only with a good performance, but also on social media, and this is my way.
VR: How do you think American fans have perceived you? Have you found them to be more welcoming and supportive than you expected?
KL: When I came to America, everyone was really nice to me. I think they appreciate fighters much more than in my home country.
VR: What food do you miss most during your training camp/weight cut, and why?
KL: Germany has the best bread in the world. And I eat bread with everything, every time, but I cut it out 8-12 weeks before a fight. And I love donuts!
Katharina Lehner faces the biggest challenge of her career against 19-4 Sarah Kaufman at Invicta FC 29, scheduled for May 4th. The event will stream live as per usual via UFC Fight Pass.
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