Vanessa Porto Expects Well-Rounded Fight vs. Liz Carmouche at Bellator 256

Considered one of the pioneers of MMA in Brazil, former Invicta flyweight champion Vanessa Porto is looking forward to making her promotional debut against Liz Carmouche at Bellator 256.

“I’ve been fighting MMA since 2005. It’s amazing to be able to be so motivated now as I was 16 years ago. Nothing better than a great card and a great opponent to make my Bellator debut,” Porto told Sherdog.com.

With the experience of having clashed with two of the most feared women in MMA history, Amanda Nunes and Cristiane Justinoat Brazilian Vale Tudo events, Porto refuses to see her fight against Carmouche as a classical striker vs. grappler match.

"Many people don’t know, but I already fought many times in wrestling competitions in Brazil. We are both 37 years old competing for more than a decade in the most complete combat sport on earth. Of course we train everything,” Porto says. “Besides that we are both very explosive girls, so definitely that´s a fight that fans can expect pretty much everything.”

Though the winner could be in line for a 125-pound title shot, Porto doesn’t want to look too far beyond her April 9 bout with Carmouche.

"I have signed a four-fight contract, and I am facing a very tough opponent. I am in not rush, my main focus now is to have a great fight against Carmouche and conquer my division step step by step. After that fight I'm planning to stay in United States, living and training hard, so whenever [Bellator president] Scott Coker needs me he knows that he can count on me right away.”