Women’s MMA trailblazer Roxanne Modafferi hung up her gloves at UFC 271 after 19 years as a professional fighter. Modafferi ended her career with a record of 25-20 and that didn’t include her record of 3-2 in exhibition fights on the Ultimate Fighter which adds up to a stunning 50 fights in her career. Modafferi had the whole crowd roaring and applauding when former UFC Champion Daniel Cormier Interviewed her after her final performance in the UFC Octagon.
Modafferi was born on September 24, 1982 in Wilmington, Delaware. The Happy Warrior got her start in Taekwondo. Modafferi would then quickly move on to study Kenpo Karate. She’d then start training in Judo where she holds a Brown Belt. Modaferri would also earn a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Mike Pyle and Evan Dunham. She’d move to Japan and it was here that she’d start looking seriously at competing in both Jiu Jitsu and MMA.
Modafferi would make her MMA debut in November of 2003 when she’d face off against Hikaru Shinohara in the Smackgirl promotion. She’d win by Submission (Armbar.) In her pre UFC career she’d win the IFC women’s Middleweight Title. She’d then win the FFF Lightweight title. She’d also Fight for The Strikeforce Bantamweight title. She’d eventually get the call to go on the Ultimate Fighter. She’d be on the eighteenth season of the Show which was coached by Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate. She’d lose on the show but would still get a shot on the Finale.
Modafferi would make her UFC debut against Raquel Pennington on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate Finale, unfortunately for her it would be a loss. She’d then Fight for Invicta before getting the call to fight on The Ultimate Fighter: A New World Champion which introduced the Flyweight division to the UFC. Modafferi would lose on the show but she’d end up in a title fight for the Inaugural UFC Flyweight title. This would be a loss for Modafferi but she had found her MMA forever home and would fight her last fight with the promotion five years later.
We wish Modafferi the best in retirement as she is a true trailblazer In the sport of MMA. The happy warrior gets to walk into the sunset as a UFC fighter, an amazing feat considering Women weren’t in the UFC.
MMA Aficionado 