Daiana Torquato knows she’s in for a battle when her and Karina Rodriguez clash for the top spot at women’s flyweight.
Torquato (10-3) meets Rodriguez (8-4) for the vacant 125-pound title in the main event of Invicta on AXS TV on Friday, which takes place at the Police Athletic League in Kansas City, Kan.
Rodriguez is coming off a loss to the promotion’s last titleholder Vanessa Porto, but notched back-to-back wins over veterans Milana Dudieva and DeAnna Bennett prior to that.
“I know Karina Rodriguez is very tough,” Torquato told MMA Junkie. “She’s a long-time veteran. It gives me extra motivation. It’s going to be a great fight. I will look for ways to win at every moment. I’m ready for us to go to war.”
She continued, “I’m getting ready in the best possible way. My head coach, Marcio Malko, has customized training sessions with me in mind. We train in strategy, physical conditioning, as well as mental and technical aspects. I’m getting ready to have my best possible performance on fight night.”
Torquato has faced an array of experienced opponents herself, having competed against several current UFC fighters. Her first stint with Invicta took place in September 2019, when she participated in the promotion’s one-night tournament at Phoenix Series 2. After edging out Dudieva in her opening bout, she was submitted by Bennett in her second fight.
However, the exhibition bouts were not counted on her record, which means the Brazilian is currently riding a six-fight winning streak heading into Friday. Torquato is coming off a split decision win over ex-UFC flyweight Sarah Frota in October and she hopes the caliber of opponents she’s faced throughout the years will help propel her to the top.
“Early on, I faced opponents like Taila Santos and Ariane Lipski,” Torquato said. “I’m happy to see them in the world’s top MMA promotion. They’re very tough. Over the last two and a half years, my coach has molded me into a more complete fighter. Most recently, I beat UFC veteran Sarah Frota. I was able to showcase the work I’ve been putting in. Every time I step into the cage, I want to show a better version of Daiana. I want to face the best fighters in the world, in the best promotions.”