JOSEPH DUFFY MADE a spectacular start to his UFC career earlier this month, so fans will be keen to see the Donegal native back in the octagon as soon as possible.
However, patience might be required before that happens, as Duffy gives further thought to a move down to the featherweight division.
As first reported by The42, Duffy has been considering joining fellow Irishman and former opponent Conor McGregor in the 145lbs weight-class since linking up with the Tristar team in Montreal in February.
Duffy brushed aside Jake Lindsey in a lightweight bout at UFC 185 in Dallas just over a fortnight ago, but he’ll now turn his attentions to exploring if he can safely cut the additional 10lbs required to compete as a featherweight — a process which may keep him sidelined until late summer.
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Duffy is due to return to Canada in April, when he’ll have further discussions about the switch in divisions with his team, including George Lockhart, an ex-professional fighter who’s a nutrition consultant for several of the UFC’s top athletes.
“We’ve had a chat about it. I’m going to head back out to Tristar in a couple of weeks and we’ll have a more in-depth discussion about it then,” Duffy told The42.
“I think we’ll probably do a trial cut and go from there. Even if the next fight isn’t going to be at 145, it could be something that we’re playing around with for a bit of time until we get comfortable with the idea.”
Duffy also confirmed that he’ll eventually relocate to Montreal on a full-time basis, having finalised preparations for his UFC debut in the Canadian city. The 27-year-old is currently back in London but will become a permanent member of Tristar later this year, joining the likes of Georges St Pierre and Rory MacDonald.
Joseph Duffy en route to victory over Jake Lindsey at UFC 185.
Duffy, who’ll be in Dublin tomorrow for the UFC 189 media tour, said: “Moving over to Montreal is the plan. I suppose it’ll be a transition over a few months. I’ll go out there for another few weeks first and then I’ll look at going over full-time.
“I just want to get back over to Tristar, concentrate on improving and keep getting better. Whenever I get the shout for that next fight I’ll feel like I’m a different fighter going in there.”
Reflecting on his successful recent UFC debut in Texas, Duffy admitted that the most challenging aspect of the whole experience was the post-event press conference.
“That was definitely surreal, sitting next to Johny Hendricks and all these other stars. I was more nervous about the press conference than I was about the fight. I just sat there hoping that nobody would ask me a question.
“But it’s all good. It’s another thing that takes me out of my comfort zone. Now that I’ve experienced it won’t be such a big deal if it happens again.”
It looks like we'll have to wait to see Joseph Duffy back in UFC action
JOSEPH DUFFY MADE a spectacular start to his UFC career earlier this month, so fans will be keen to see the Donegal native back in the octagon as soon as possible.
However, patience might be required before that happens, as Duffy gives further thought to a move down to the featherweight division.
As first reported by The42, Duffy has been considering joining fellow Irishman and former opponent Conor McGregor in the 145lbs weight-class since linking up with the Tristar team in Montreal in February.
Duffy brushed aside Jake Lindsey in a lightweight bout at UFC 185 in Dallas just over a fortnight ago, but he’ll now turn his attentions to exploring if he can safely cut the additional 10lbs required to compete as a featherweight — a process which may keep him sidelined until late summer.
Duffy is due to return to Canada in April, when he’ll have further discussions about the switch in divisions with his team, including George Lockhart, an ex-professional fighter who’s a nutrition consultant for several of the UFC’s top athletes.
“We’ve had a chat about it. I’m going to head back out to Tristar in a couple of weeks and we’ll have a more in-depth discussion about it then,” Duffy told The42.
“I think we’ll probably do a trial cut and go from there. Even if the next fight isn’t going to be at 145, it could be something that we’re playing around with for a bit of time until we get comfortable with the idea.”
Duffy also confirmed that he’ll eventually relocate to Montreal on a full-time basis, having finalised preparations for his UFC debut in the Canadian city. The 27-year-old is currently back in London but will become a permanent member of Tristar later this year, joining the likes of Georges St Pierre and Rory MacDonald.
Duffy, who’ll be in Dublin tomorrow for the UFC 189 media tour, said: “Moving over to Montreal is the plan. I suppose it’ll be a transition over a few months. I’ll go out there for another few weeks first and then I’ll look at going over full-time.
“I just want to get back over to Tristar, concentrate on improving and keep getting better. Whenever I get the shout for that next fight I’ll feel like I’m a different fighter going in there.”
Reflecting on his successful recent UFC debut in Texas, Duffy admitted that the most challenging aspect of the whole experience was the post-event press conference.
“That was definitely surreal, sitting next to Johny Hendricks and all these other stars. I was more nervous about the press conference than I was about the fight. I just sat there hoping that nobody would ask me a question.
“But it’s all good. It’s another thing that takes me out of my comfort zone. Now that I’ve experienced it won’t be such a big deal if it happens again.”
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