Vanessa Porto wants another chance to fight for the Invicta FC title, but she has to get past Roxanne Modafferi first.
Porto and Modafferi were originally set to battle at Invicta FC 10 in December, but visa issues kept Porto in Brazil. The flyweight veterans will finally meet at Friday’s card at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, and the Brazilian wants revenge.
“It’s going to sound as an excuse, but I wasn’t ready at all for that fight,” Porto said of her third-round TKO loss to Modafferi in 2008. “She was better than me that time and won. That’s it. But it’s going to be different this time. I’m focused and I had a great training camp. I will bring the victory to Brazil, no doubt about it.”
Porto keeps her strategy as a secret, but her next step is pretty clear.
“Roxanne is a well-rounded fighter, a great athlete,” she said. “It’s not an easy fight. I want the win and I want a title shot, so I’m hungry to get in there. We both want that. I trained hard and I’m confident. It’s going to be a fun fight.”
On April 5, 2013, Porto fought Barb Honchak for the vacant Invicta FC flyweight title, but lost via unanimous decision. Honchak defended her belt twice, and the Brazilian veteran wants to be the next in line.
“This is the fight of my life,” Porto said. “I want the title. I’ve fought for the title once and lost, but I want another chance. This time, I will win the gold.”
Porto, who missed weight for her rematch with Modafferi, doesn’t rule out a return to the bantamweight division in the future, especially if an offer to fight in the UFC is on the table, but likes her performances better at 125 pounds.
“I always felt well at 135 pounds, but I feel better at 125,” she said. “We fight better when we go down in weight. I’m faster now, and I have more cardio and strength. But I’ve always felt well in every division.”
“I will see what happens,” she continued. “If I’m coming up or down, it’s the UFC is opening the flyweight division… It’s up to the UFC and Invicta. I love fighting for Invicta, and I have a three-year contract with them.”