Josefine Modig talks pro MMA debut: “I really f**king love to fight”

Josefine Modig won her pro debut at FCR 17. Photo: Patrick Persson

Swedish MMA strawweight and grappling ace Josefine Modig won her professional MMA debut in dominant fashion at this past Saturday’s FCR 17.

Just minutes into the first round, Modig was able to secure a super tight rear-naked-choke that finished Nina Back.

In an exclusive interview with Frontkick, the strawweight prospect opens up on her pro debut.

“It felt so good, but I was also very nervous, especially facing Nina who’s so skilled,” Modig says. “I have not been fighting in the cage for so long, so I was like ‘MMA, do I even know how to do it?’. But I got it in black and white that I still have MMA skills. That was the best thing with the fight.”

Did turning pro live up to your expectations?

“It wasn’t really any real difference to any other MMA fight, I was just as nervous. I can enter a BJJ contest in some small village and be super nervous. In fact, I feel less pressure competing in MMA than grappling,” Modig says with a laugh. “It was great to step into the cage and feel like ‘I really fucking love to fight’.”

Photo: Patrick Persson

Josefine Modig will focus on grappling

The former IMMAF World Champion has been busy competing in grappling during the past year. In fact, she has not fought in MMA since September last year.

“The weird thing about the fight is that it went exactly like my gameplan. That never seems to happen,” Modig laughs. “I knew that I had to find angels in my boxing instead of standing in front of her, which I was able to do. I thought that if she kicks a lot I will run her down and take her down, and if I end up on top she will be stressed and turn her back to me. That was the scenario I thought of.”

In two days Josefine Modig will go to Poland to compete at ADCC, before going back to Sweden to participate in the Swedish BJJ Championships in Malmö. The busy year will end with the European BJJ No-GI Championships and World Championships.

At the moment there she has no immediate plans to return to the cage.

“I want a serious camp for my next MMA fight. There is too much going on right now to be able to compete in MMA during 2023.”

Read more: Noche UFC with Josefine Knutsson – Fight Card, Start Time and How to Watch

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