JOSEPH DUFFY WILL have his long-awaited first UFC fight this Saturday night when he goes up against Jake Lindsey at UFC 185 in Dallas.
It’s a highly-anticipated bout, and here are some of the reasons why…
1. He’s the latest UFC fighter flying the Irish flag
The eighth fighter from Ireland to debut in the UFC since December 2012, Duffy has lived in Wales for most of his 27 years but actually hails from Donegal. And as he told The42 earlier this week, there should be no uncertainty about which nation he represents: “I was born in Donegal, I’m proud to be Irish and I’ve never looked at myself as anything else.”
2. He made the cut for The Ultimate Fighter when he was a novice
At the age of 21, with just six professional bouts under his belt, Duffy put himself on the UFC’s radar by making it through the auditions for their popular reality TV show. Duffy was eliminated in the opening round by Kyle Watson, but it was an experience he learned plenty from, and five years later he’s on a different level: “I didn’t know much about weight-cutting at the time and I hadn’t experienced fighting in a big cage either. I let all that come into my mind and I think I beat myself before I went in there. Technically I’m a totally different fighter now as well. I didn’t even know how to sprawl back then!”
3. He rarely leaves his fights in the hands of the judges
In his 12 professional victories, Duffy has only gone to a decision once. He has also taken 10 of his wins inside the very first round, including his most recent against Julien Boussuge back in November. In total, Duffy’s record boasts eight submissions, three (T)KOs and one decision.
4. He’s already beaten some of the best in the business
Conor McGregor and Norman Parke have been leading the charge for UFC fighters from this small island, but Duffy was the last man to beat both of them before they got there. He submitted Parke in the first round of their bout in March 2010, and did the same when he clashed with McGregor eight months later. Five years on, those wins count for little, but they are an indication of the kind of potential Duffy possesses.
5. He was an undefeated professional boxer
Duffy took a break from MMA in 2013 to pursue a boxing career and accumulated a 7-0 record. During that time, he regularly sparred with the likes of James DeGale, George Groves and Chris Eubank Jnr. When Duffy returned to MMA last year, the subsequent improvements to his striking were clearly evident.
6. He’s training with some of the UFC’s top fighters
Tristar Gym in Montreal, Canada, welcomed Duffy to their impressive team last month, and that’s where he’ll be based from now on. It’s home to legendary ex-UFC champion Georges St Pierre, welterweight title challenger Rory MacDonald and myriad others, including John Makdessi, Chad Laprise and Robbie Peralta. Duffy is sure to get even better as a result. “From all we’ve seen of Joe, he can take it to the top,” said Tristar coach Eric O’Keefe. “I think he’ll be a force to be reckoned with in the UFC. The sky is the limit.”
7. His opponent’s style should guarantee an exciting fight
Jake Lindsey was undefeated before he moved to the UFC last year, but coming into this bout on the back of two consecutive defeats, the 28-year-old Kansas native is fighting for his career. His ground-game and wrestling are not exceptional, so Lindsey will want to keep this one standing. He uses his range well via jabs, leg-kicks and front-kicks, but he can also close the distance and is very aggressive in the clinch. The well-rounded Duffy will be comfortable no matter where the fight ends up. An assessment of the attributes of both fighters leads us to believe that it’s hard to see this lightweight bout being anything other than entertaining.
8. He believes he can become a UFC champion
Duffy isn’t going in there just to cross something off his bucket list and say he fought in the UFC once upon a time. He’s aiming to go right to the top: “Touch wood, people will remember me with the UFC gold around my waist rather than anything else. It’s up to me now to prove how good I am. I want to be the best in the world and anything less than that is failure.”
9. And he’s capable of highlight-reel finishes likes this…
