Representing her adopted home of Japan, Roxanne Modafferi will look to get back on the winning track when she faces Molly “The Maulinator” Helsel at King of the Cage: “Toryumon” on January 30, 2010 in Okinawa, Japan. The fight will be one of many “Japan vs USA” bouts on the impressive card and is expected to be contested at 135 pounds.

Modafferi most recently moved up in weight on very short notice to face old rival Marloes Coenen at Strikeforce: “Fedor vs Rogers” in November, while the battle-tested Helsel has won four of her last six fights.

Modafferi (13-5-0) had won six fights in a row before the loss to Coenen and became K-GRACE Tournament Champion at Coenen’s expense when the pair first met in 2007. The Delaware native resides and works in Kanagawa, Japan and will represent “The Land of the Rising Sun” in the card’s lone women’s bout when she squares off with her American counterpart.

Known primarily for her ground skills, Modafferi has worked diligently on her striking over the past two years and there was noticeable improvement in the brief but action-filled rematch with Coenen. This time out, it will be Modafferi who holds a size advantage, as the shorter Helsel has recently competed between 125 and 130 pounds.

Helsel (8-8-1) is one of the true veterans of women’s MMA and has battled many of the best female fighters in the world during her near-seven year career. Her lone defeats in recent bouts have come against Canadians Sarah Kaufman and Alexis Davis. Both fights were championship bouts and Helsel, as expected, put on a solid showing in each.

Not one to shy away from a brawl, Helsel has garnered a reputation as one of the toughest female fighters in the sport and the fight with Kaufman was the first and only time that Helsel had ever been stopped with strikes. The 2005 HOOKnSHOOT Women’s Grand Prix finalist will look to pick up the biggest win of her career when she takes on the equally experienced Modafferi.

In other action on the card, a King of the Cage World Junior Flyweight Champion will be crowned when Shooto ace Mamoru Yamaguchi battles undefeated American Frank Baca. In lightweight action, Kotetsu Boku faces Tony “Lionheart” Hervey, while Kiichi “Strasser” Kunimoto meets 2009’s submission king Toby Imada.

KOTC: “Toryumon” takes place on January 30, 2010 at the Okinawa Convention Center in Okinawa, Japan. More bouts are expected to be announced for the card in the coming weeks.

(Photo Credit: Sherdog.com)