“The Happy Warrior” isn’t known for her trash talking. But Roxanne Modafferi gave it her best heading into her UFC Vegas 10 bout with Andrea “KGB” Lee this weekend.
Yesssssss I get to see her reaction!! @jamiekilstein https://t.co/dlwvut3hAp
— Roxanne Modafferi (@Roxyfighter) September 6, 2020
Okay. So Roxy’s not the greatest at smack talk. “I really suck in trash talking or anything like that. So I just kind of do it to amuse myself,” she admitted at the UFC Vegas 10 media day this week. That, and for the hilarious spot above, that even Lee couldn’t help but chuckle at.
There’s something to be said for friendly competition, however. Mean mugging before every fight gets old quick. Modafferi’s approach will at least put a smile on your face.
Ahead of what is a rematch with Lee, however, there’s still business to take care of. Both fighters are looking to work their way to a title shot in the flyweight division dominated by Valentina Shevchenko.
“I’m trying not to worry too much about the rankings,” said Modafferi, despite knowing that they do, ultimately, matter. “I know it’s an important part of our careers and contributes to who we’re matched up against next, but I really just want to go out there and smash Andrea and get the win. So whatever it takes to do that, I’m going to do it.”
Modafferi sees a different fighter in Lee than the one she faced in Invicta FC back in 2014. Modafferi won a split decision that night. Now, she sees Lee as having improved “all around. But I have as well, you know, I think I’ve added a lot more things to my arsenal. So I’m looking forward to seeing how this fight is gonna play out.”
Modafferi herself has been a constant in MMA for over a decade now, but what has kept her relevant, she believes, is change. Evolution, as a fighter. “I think that evolution is the key to me staying in the top 10, and I’m seeing that with other veterans like [Alistair] Overeem, for example, or other fighters who’ve been fighting for a really long time. They are evolving,” she explained. “They’ve moved camps to a new place where they can be pushed. They’re trying to grow and change. Me too. My personality and my belief to be a martial artist first has helped me embrace and pursue learning and evolution so that I’m able to keep growing and keep improving and keep staying in the top 10.”
UFC Vegas 10 takes place this Saturday, September 12 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card airs live on ESPN+ (TSN in Canada).
