Off Guard: After UFC 246, coach sees Roxanne Modafferi giving a lot of flyweights problems

LAS VEGAS – At UFC 246, Roxanne Modafferi cashed in as a massive underdog once again when she upset highly-touted and previously undefeated prospect Maycee Barber to earn a lopsided unanimous decision win.

It was the second time Modafferi took the zero from an undefeated fighter’s record following her previous win over Antonina Shevchenko last April in Russia.

But while Modafferi’s wins over more fancied opposition have come as a surprise to some, one person who wasn’t shocked is her head coach. Syndicate MMA’s John Wood knew Modafferi would get the job done and said he thinks the 37-year-old is only just starting to hit her stride.

“She did exactly what she was supposed to do, what we planned to do,” Wood told MMA Junkie. “It was one of those rare occasions where everything you think was going to happen, happened, and the game plan didn’t have to deviate at all. She went out there and performed perfectly. She looked sharp, I think she looked the fastest, most balanced that she’s ever looked, and I think she’s going to continue to keep getting better, better, and better, and this one is going to take her up to the next level,and she’s going to give a lot of girls in the division a problem.”

Modafferi (24-16 MMA, 3-4 UFC) has alternated wins and losses in her last seven bouts, but Wood chalks up her recent losses to the circumstances not being in Modafferi’s favor.

“Roxanne’s always the underdog, and every fight she ever has she’s a massive underdog,” Wood said. “The only fights that she’s really lost in the UFC, one was the title fight with Nicco Montano, which was on less than 24-hour notice (against) a lefty. We switched it all up, and she still went all five rounds. And then two opponents, which both missed weight. With bigger opponents she’s had struggles and things with that. But with the people who come in on weight, I really think that Roxanne, she shows up no matter what.”

The win over Barber was a big one for Modafferi, and Wood thinks the veteran flyweight is starting to put things together and still has a long career ahead of her.

“People don’t realize, she looks awkward and goofy and stuff, but when she gets in there, she’s gameday,” Wood said. “Her ground is phenomenal, and now I really think her striking is going to hit that next level.”

He continrued, “I think this fight is going to set the tone for a lot of other fights coming up. I think she has stepped up, figured out how to make her striking work even that much more, the strength and conditioning is great, everything is kind of working together. We have a really good combination, she is learning and getting better all the time, so I think she’s got a long road ahead of her. As far as fighting, I don’t see any end to her career anytime soon.”