I had the distinct pleasure of asking Roxanne Modafferi a couple questions after she got home to Japan following her 2nd fight with Marloes Coenen at Strikeforce: Fedor vs Rogers. Modafferi was born in Wilmington Delaware and spent some time in the Philadelphia suburbs before moving to Boston. Roxy began her pro fight career in Japan as a junior in college going 3-0 for the Smackgirl promotion and is still the only fighter to defeat Jennifer Howe (13-2). Despite training continually and calling out fighters on message boards and in video blogs, Roxy took a 6 fight win streak into a one year hiatus. She put the winning streak on the line a couple weeks ago against Marloes Coenen. A fight Coenen won in the first round via submission.

The following interview was conducted via email with Roxanne back in Japan where she trains and works as an English teacher.

Lets start with some of the more obvious questions. You came in as a late replacement to fight Marloes Coenen for Strikeforce. Coenen got the win to even your series with her at 1 fight each. What are your thoughts on a rubber match?

RM: Coenen mentioned that when we first fought, she was sick. So she didn’t perform to her full potential. This time, I didn’t perform to my satisfaction. So I wouldn’t be satisfied unless I had a rubber match someday. However, she is in the weight-class above me, so for now, I would like to focus on the 135 lb division and call it even, at least for the time being. Someday before we retire I want to face her again.

You’ve already called out Laura D’Auguste and Shayna Baszler. Have you thought about who you want next?

RM: I want everyone. Personally, I want to avenge my losses first, so that means Shayna, Laura, and Tara. But I want to fight everybody.

Before you moved to Tokyo, you spent some time with Mark DellaGrotte and New England BJJ. Who are you training with now?

RM: I really enjoyed my time at Sityodtong with Mark- he runs a fantastic camp, and the guys at New England BJJ (associated with the Brazilian Top team Now) have top-level BJJ. Then I trained for 4 years at Wajyutsu Keisyukai, but I recently went freelance. I’m training in various places, sometimes K-taro Dojo, sometimes the AACC with Hiroyuki Abe and Megumi Fuji. Also Kunioku Kiuma helps me out as a personal trainer.

Everyone who followed the pre-fight press for the Strikeforce fight couldn’t help but see how excited you were to be involved in the whole thing. And from what I’ve seen, that’s just your personality. There’s really no question in there. I just appreciate someone who can smile about the whole thing, and doesn’t have a problem asking the girl they’re getting paid to fight for an autograph.

RM: I’d been trying literally years to fight for Strikeforce. I cried nights because I trained every day and could not get any fight whatsoever in any country. So to finally have this big chance filled me with such joy you can not imagine. Well maybe you can! (laugh) Plus I always try to be positive- that’s what I’m known for to the people around me.

Back to Japan. Being an old school nerd myself, I’ve known a lot of people who wanted to study Japanese so they could watch anime or read manga in the original language. But for you, what was it that made you want to emerse yourself in Japanese culture?

RM: I did start out by watching anime and reading manga! It was the language itself that I really liked. It’s hard to explain why you just like something, but I could study it for hours and not get tired. The culture just came naturally, and I found it suited me, for the most part. Certain things drive me insane, though.

I am still an undercover anime & video game nerd. And in one of your last video updates you were geeking out over your new DBZ & Twisted Metal games. Personally, I’ve been rocking Super Mario Bros and RC Pro/AM 2 on this NES emulator. What else have you been playing or watching?

RM: I’m not sure it’s wellknown, but the anime Airmaster is a REALLY cool fighting anime about this high school girl is a famous streetfighter, who does it for various reasons, and she gets involved in stuff. It’s funny- her father is a pro MMA fighter, and in the show, he fights HER and puts her in a double arm-lock from guard, and she has to tap out with her feet. It’s one of those anime aimed toward boys rather than girls, btw, and Hideki Kadowaki (Former Shooto champ) actually told me to go watch it.

As for video games, I also love Spyro the Dragon and Tomb Raider.

We keep hearing about life sized Gigantor and Gundams in Japan. Are the Japanese preparing for something that we, in the Western World are unaware of?

RM: Sorry, that’s top secret information….himitsu desu kara, oshieraremasen ne.

Gina and Jens Pulver have been in video games now. If you had your pick, what game would you want to be in?

RM: I’m not sure, I never played the games with them in it. How about Twisted Metal? I could drive one of those messed up cars through a devestated world of road rage, and my special could be the Energy Choker- kind of like Twisted Metal 2 and 4′s Meter Maid, but instead of sapping the energy, I’d just rope you in from a distance, hold you tight for 10 seconds and your life would slowly drain away. Then you’d go flying away with an ‘energy punch.’ What do you think?

I’m pitching the game to Rockstar right now. But, here’s a hypothetical. We’re battling on some Tekken, and I decide to break out my Eddie Gordo (because I button mash like a champ). Who do you counter with? or do you just choke me out right there at the arcade cabinet?

RM: No need. Because I can button mash better than you! You think I memorized all those Tekken button combos? lol

Last question. 63fight.com, and who else do you want to send love to?

RM: Fight Linker! Those guys are my biggest fans, until someone else drives 20 hours from a foreign country to see me fight one night, and helps me produce T shirts and ship them. Also MMA.tv and the Underground guys, for being awesome, MMArising, fightergirls.com, my coach Kirik, and all my fans on myspace (roxyfighter) and facebook. And you! Thank you! Oh and my mommy. A girl’s gotta thank her mother.

Roxy hasn’t announced her next fight. But with Strikeforce’s ever expanding 135 womens division, it would be hard to believe we’ll have to wait until next November to see her in the cage again. Until then, here’s a video from Roxy’s YouTube channel.

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