Joe Duffy must be getting antsy.
The Donegal lightweight has seen his fight time over the past 12 months reduced to just 25 seconds of Octagon experience but he has finally had his next opponent confirmed.
‘Irish Joe’, as suspected, is set to meet Swedish 155lber Reza Madadi on the UFC’s return to London on Paddy’s weekend.
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March 18 will see Duffy, who has remained committed to training at Tristar for the past two years, attempt to push his UFC record to 4-1 in what could well be his final fight under the promotional banner.
Duffy has made no secret of the fact that he intends to go down the route that so many curious and unhappy fighters are nowadays in testing free agency, with the Madadi fight the final one on his UFC contract.
Last year, Duffy took to the MMA Hour, where he admitted to feeling undervalued by his employer and, having witnessed the money that certain fighters are earning nowadays, expressed an interest in entertaining offers from rival organisations.
“I don’t feel I’m a greedy person, but I know to secure my future, and I’m putting my body on the line and my health on the line,” Duffy told host Ariel Helwani.
“One shot and it could all be over, so I need to get to the point where I can start moving forward and my future isn’t a worry.”
The 28-year-old last competed last July, when he recorded a submission victory over Mitch Clarke in less than half a minute as he registered his third win in the UFC.
The only blot on Duffy’s UFC copybook came with his decision defeat to perennial top contender Dustin Poirier last January.
The former professional boxer will be monitored closely by all rival promotions, with talk of a return to Cage Warriors as well as a move to Bellator understood to be on the cards.
