Roxanne Modafferi will attempt to continue her career resurgence next month.
The women’s MMA legend meets Vanessa Porto in the co-main event of Invicta FC 12 on April 24 in Kansas City, the promotion announced Monday. Also added to the card were two other bouts: Amanda Bell vs. Faith Van Duin and Peggy Morgan vs. Latoya Walker.
Modafferi (17-11) has won two in a row since coming to Invicta off her run on The Ultimate Fighter 18. Before the current streak, the flyweight fighter had lost six straight. But the 32-year-old has moved back to the United States from Japan, where she was a teacher, to train full time at Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas. The change has helped allow her to beat Tara LaRosa and prospect Andrea Lee by decision. Modafferi bested Lee by split decision at Invicta FC 10 in December.
Porto (17-6), a former Invicta flyweight No. 1 contender, has also won two straight, but has not competed in a year. Porto, 31, defeated Zoila Frausto by unanimous decision at Invicta FC 7 in December 2013 and then returned to her native Brazil to beat Ana Maria at Fatality Arena 6 in March 2014. In all, she has won seven of her last nine fights and is one of the top 125-pound women in the world.
Bell (3-2), a featherweight, is coming off two straight first-round knockouts, one against Marina Shafir, the best friend of Ronda Rousey. Van Duin (4-1), a New Zealand native, will make her Invicta debut after her bout with Charmaine Tweet was canceled at the last minute in December due to Tweet’s inconclusive medical tests.
Morgan (3-2), another former TUF 18 competitor, is coming off a win over Andria Wawro in December after falling in her first two Invicta bouts. Walker (4-0) is making her Invicta debut after winning her first four fights, including two by first-round knockout.
Invicta FC 12 will be headlined by a women’s strawweight title fight between champion Katja Kankaanpaa and Livia Renata Souza. It will take place at Invicta’s regular home site of Municipal Auditorium after three straight events away. Invicta 12 airs live on UFC Fight Pass.