Vanessa Porto seeks Jennifer Maia trilogy after Invicta FC 23 headliner vs. Agnieszka Niedzwiedz

Vanessa Porto is focused on Saturday’s Invicta FC 23 main-event showdown with Agnieszka Niedzwiedz. However, Porto would be lying if she said there weren’t goals in mind beyond the Saturday fight.

Porto (18-7) enters the event, which takes place at Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo., and streams on UFC Fight Pass, coming off a unanimous-decision loss to Invicta FC flyweight champ Jennifer Maia (14-4-1) at Invicta FC 16 in March of last year. The fight marked a rematch of an October 2011 fight in Brazil, which Porto won by submission.

Although it was a competitive and exciting second fight, Porto feels she should be 2-0 against Maia. That’s not the case, though, which doesn’t sit well with Porto. She thinks a third fight is necessary but is aware enough to realize the chances aren’t good unless she can get past Niedzwiedz (9-0).

“When I last faced Jennifer Maia, we both had our moments,” Porto told MMAjunkie. “I think the judges messed up. But who knows? Maybe in the future we can fight again. In my opinion I won that fight. But I’m a fighter, not a judge. So who knows? In the future I can avenge that loss.

“My plan is to keep fighting, showing my work. Of course, I’d love to rematch Maia. But I accept whoever they put in front of me. Right now, I just want a victory over Agnieszka. In the future, I’d like to fight for the belt again.”

If Porto, 33, wants another opportunity to fight Maia for the Invicta FC title, she must get some momentum back on her side. She hasn’t competed in more than 14 months since that fight, but she said that’s not through any fault of her own.

According to Porto, she has been healthy, willing and able to compete. However, the limited number of Invicta FC cards has apparently been the primary preventative factor in getting Porto back in the cage.

“The reason for the delay was that I was waiting for new cards to get booked, and for opponents,” Porto said. “I was waiting for Invicta to call. They eventually booked me a little over a year after my last bout. I’ve been under contract with them for a long time now. I kept on training. I haven’t had any injuries, thankfully. I’m always training. I never sit idle. I just stay ready for when they call me up to fight.”

Porto wasn’t placed in a cupcake fight for her comeback, either. Niedzwiedz is undefeated and ranked as one of the top female fighters from Poland, alongside the likes of UFC strawweight champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk and top contender Karolina Kowalkiewicz. There’s some hype behind Niedzwiedz, but to this point she does not carry the same experience as Porto. The Brazilian said that will be just one of her advantages on fight night.

“I believe that before a fight we have to be ready for everything – both standing and on the mat,” Porto said. “She moves very well on the feet and is a good grappler. I’m confident. Since my last fight, I am focused; I have a new outlook. I’m happy Invicta called me back. It’s going to be another victory for Brazil. We’ll put on a show for everyone.”

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