Roxanne Modafferi is the third-ranked bantamweight fighter in the world, and throughout 2007 and 2008, she didn't lose a single match, going on a six-fight winning streak. On Jan. 30, she defeated Molly Helsel by rear-naked choke to win "King of the Cage: Dragon Gate" in Japan. Not bad for a language teacher, right?

Modafferi studied Japanese Language and Literature at the University of Massachusetts, and then moved to Japan in 2005 to pursue a career in teaching. Last year, she made her Strikeforce debut on the promotion's "Fedor vs. Rogers" card in a rematch with Marloes Coenen.

With a 14-5 record, and the introduction of a ladies 135-lbs. tournament to Strikeforce, Modafferi is looking to cement her name in the world of women's MMA.

FiveKnuckles.com caught up with the jiu-jitsu specialist to talk about Mark DellaGrotte, Matt Serra, Dragonball Z, and women's MMA.

FiveKnuckles.com: When you saw the UFC for the first time, you were 18, and said that it was too violent. Do you remember what event it was and who you saw fight?

Roxanne Modafferi: I don't remember if it was the very first one or if it was just one of the first ones. But I think I remember seeing Caol Uno fight, so it was one of those early ones. A lot of blood and smashing.

FiveKnuckles.com: What made you change your mind and give it a shot? Was it the Power Rangers, like you wrote on your Twitter page?

Roxanne Modafferi: Yeah, that was the original thing that started me training, but later I was really more motivated by Dragonball Z. It was really an inspiration to me, actually, just to get stronger and train. But back to your question, the guys at my gym started ‘closing the distance' drills - like jabs, hooks, clinching and then going for the take downs. And then we worked at the ground and pound, and started doing stuff like that. I started getting into that. Everyone was doing it already, and I didn't want to be left out. And I ended up loving it.

FiveKnuckles.com: And now you're 14-5 as a pro, and you just won King of the Cage: Dragon Gate. Congratulations!

Roxanne Modafferi: Thank you very much!

FiveKnuckles.com: How did that feel?

Roxanne Modafferi: It feels great! Because after my previous loss, I was really bound and determined to win this fight. I got to do a few things I was working on, like the back fist and the Superman punch, so I was psyched about that.

FiveKnuckles.com: Like you said, you were coming off your Strikeforce debut with a loss against Marloes Coenen. But you had beat her two and half years ago by split decision. What had changed between the first fight with her and the second?

Roxanne Modafferi: I'm not really sure. She had said that she wasn't feeling well at the time. I don't know. It could be a number of things, of course, but maybe I just got caught. That's how I prefer to think of. Stuff happens in a fight, you never know what's gonna happen. I got the better the last fight; she got the better this fight. So I don't know if anything really happened. It's just the way it is...

FiveKnuckles.com: Would you be looking for a third fight...