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Irish UFC lightweight Joseph Duffy. Tommy Lakes

Contract impasse leaves Duffy on course to miss UFC Belfast and test free agency

The Donegal man has one fight left on his contract and negotiations about a renewal have reached a standstill.

THERE’S UNCERTAINTY OVER Joseph Duffy’s future on the UFC roster after the Irish lightweight revealed that negotiations regarding a new contract haven’t gone according to plan.

Duffy, who moved to the UFC from Cage Warriors in January 2015, has one fight remaining on a five-fight deal. The 28-year-old has been offered a new contract to extend his stay with the organisation, but the terms aren’t what he was hoping for.

Duffy also told The42 that he has been offered a bout on UFC Fight Night 99, which takes place in Belfast on 19 November. However, that has so far been rejected as Duffy believes a win over the proposed opponent — whose name he didn’t reveal — will do little to advance his career.

“Of course I’d be very disappointed to miss the Belfast card but I just feel that the fight I was offered didn’t make sense,” said Duffy, who was born in Donegal and is currently based at the Tristar camp in Montreal. “There was no real upside to the fight for me. With it being the last fight on my contract, I feel there’s no benefit for me in taking it.

“This is the fight game and at this level every fight I take has to mean something to me in more ways than one. I’m training hard and I feel great. I’ve never been more focused than I am right now so I guess it’s just a matter of waiting for the right fight for me.

“I want names that mean something and I’m ready to start my training camp as soon as that happens. If it’s Belfast then it’s Belfast, if not then so be it.”

inpho_00916541 Duffy was snapped up by the UFC after a 5-1 Cage Warriors run which began with a win over Conor McGregor. INPHO / Cathal Noonan INPHO / Cathal Noonan / Cathal Noonan

Duffy’s professional record reads 16-2, with his four fights in the UFC to date yielding three first-round victories. The only setback was a decision loss at UFC 195 back in January when he faced Dustin Poirier, who’s now ranked seventh in the lightweight division and headlines this weekend’s UFC Fight Night 94 card against Michael Johnson.

The Burtonport native bounced back in emphatic fashion in July, when he needed just 25 seconds to dispose of Mitch Clarke. Duffy is adamant that he’s ready for another tilt at a ranked opponent, having learned a great deal from his defeat to Poirier — a bout which was originally due to headline UFC Fight Night 76 in Dublin last October, until Duffy was removed from the card after sustaining a concussion in training.

“In this game it’s all about the right fights at the right time. I’m still on my first contract so we’re not exactly making enough money to set ourselves up for life, and in this game one injury could end your career in an instant,” explained Duffy, who earned a disclosed $20,000 for his clash with Poirier, while his opponent picked up $84,000.

“I believe there are a lot of guys in the top 10 who I match up well against and obviously my competitive side wants all top 10 guys. But the reality is that I’m not getting paid top 10 salaries and that’s where we’re at right now.”

Talks between the UFC and Duffy over a new contract have reached an impasse for now, and he admits there’s a strong chance that he’ll add to the growing trend of UFC athletes testing free agency after he fights out the last bout on his current contract.

Duffy’s team-mate, former UFC welterweight title challenger Rory MacDonald, recently became the latest high-profile departure when he took up a contract offer from rival promotion Bellator instead of accepting what was on the table from the UFC.

download Duffy submits Mitch Clarke at UFC Fight Night 90. Tommy Lakes Tommy Lakes

With Cathal Pendred and Paddy Holohan retiring in 2015, and Paul Redmond and Norman Parke both being released by the UFC, losing a fighter of Duffy’s calibre and popularity would be a significant blow to the UFC in Ireland.

“No, I’m not close at all [to signing a new deal]. I have been offered a new contract to sign but I don’t feel like I’m valued. The negotiation seems to be a case of take it or leave it,” Duffy explained.

“I’m not asking for a massive increase, just what I believe I’m worth as a professional mixed martial artist. It’s definitely looking like I will be testing free agency, but not by choice.” 

Duffy added: “I feel that I’ve done what’s been asked of me from the UFC by putting on exciting fights and always going for the finish. I feel the fans appreciate that also.

“No matter who you’re fighting in the UFC, you’re up against the best in the world. Three of my opponents didn’t get out of the first round. I’ve had one decision loss against a ranked opponent and three first-round finishes, so I’m happy with how I’ve performed in the UFC.” 

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8 Comments
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    Mute Sam Harms
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    May 14th 2018, 8:47 AM

    Really going to miss Isa, always gave 110% and was such a lovely guy, going to be big shoes to fill.

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    Mute grandslamkbo
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    May 14th 2018, 10:47 AM

    @Sam Harms: Always enjoyed watching him during those Magners League/Pro 12 games during the international break. Nacewa would regularly find himseld at 15 with 2 young wingers either side of him. He’d guide them though the game, defensively. Where to stand, how far from the centre, when to push in, when to push up etc That’s why I was really hoping he’d stay around and do some coaching. He looks like a coach already.

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    May 14th 2018, 8:57 AM

    Leo didn’t exactly give a vote of confidence to Carbery on Saturday, Sexton was goosed, couldn’t kick and could barely run, Nacewa had taken over kicking duties and yet he still kept him on the bench. A move away is badly needed for him. I wouldn’t expect Sexton to be fit for this weekend so it’ll be telling to see who Cullen goes for.
    On another note I really enjoyed the game on Saturday. Real tough game and Leinster ground out the result. I was delighted for them.

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    May 14th 2018, 8:59 AM

    @Jim Demps: there was no way anyone was coming on to replace Sexton, unless he literally couldnt walk, when it was that close

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    Mute Fred McHugh
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    May 14th 2018, 9:23 AM

    @Sam Harms: yeh good point Sam,I’m sure he kept him on for a potential drop goal! he was limping and still made the one against France.

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    May 14th 2018, 9:44 AM

    @Sam Harms: yeah you’re prob right but he should have come off. He was obviously struggling. It worked out though thankfully.

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    May 14th 2018, 10:09 AM

    @Sam Harms: without getting too tribal and with my Irish hat on, Carbery can’t afford to have another season like he has just had if he has any aspirations on playing in the ten jersey for Ireland. I take your point on learning from Sexton but he also needs game time at club level, be it with Ulster or munster.

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    May 14th 2018, 10:14 AM

    @Jim Demps: look at it this way, would Munster take Murray off in that situation unless they 100% had to?

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    May 14th 2018, 10:25 AM

    @Jim Demps: Or Leinster.

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    Mute grandslamkbo
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    May 14th 2018, 10:43 AM

    @Sam Harms: Ireland wouldn’t take off Murray either. He’s absolutely vital, like Sexton.

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    May 14th 2018, 11:03 AM

    @Sam Harms: I’m not criticizing the decision. I’m saying that Carbery needs to get game time in meaningful games, at ten , before the World Cup.

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    May 14th 2018, 12:14 PM

    @Jim Demps: which he can, at Leinster. Munster have 3 flyhalfs already so if he does have to go anywhere it should be Ulster.

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    Mute baw baw
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    May 14th 2018, 12:30 PM

    @Sam Harms: I get your point of view but neither Duncan Williams or James hart aren’t the back up 9 in the Irish squad so it’s not like for like –
    If carbery is back up ten for his country he needs minutes or to be trusted as deputy for the club when the first choice is struggling , although I take no part in the debate as it’s a tricky situation , the Murrays value to Munster comparison just doesnt work

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    May 14th 2018, 12:56 PM

    @Sam Harms: I think it’s all been decided anyway Sam. Once the season is over we will find out what the story with Carbery is. If I had to bet I’d say a season long loan to Ulster. If I had to decide myself I’d say a permanent switch to munster with Keatley going to Ulster.

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    EK
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    May 14th 2018, 11:09 AM

    While the game wasn’t the prettiest, it was an important win for Leinster in the grand scheme of things.

    Something that popped into my head after the game was the 2011 World Cup final that New Zealand won 8-7 against France. New Zealand were obviously a quality team but hadn’t won in so long, much like Leinster. Much like Leinster, there was an argument for the French team outperforming their counterparts despite the odds.

    For sure, this game was not a classic for the purists but in the grand scheme of things with an eye to future finals, I think Leinster will be happy to get the pressure of winning it again off their backs and play better as a result in the future.

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    Mute Conor Paddington
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    May 14th 2018, 12:17 PM

    @EK: totally agree. It should also be boted that while the highlights reel of their campaign won’t feature much more from Saturday’s match than the relief of a missed drop goal, it will still be a pretty glorious highlights reel featuring great attacking play against exclusively top class teams. The final itself was ground out, but it was raining and there were two teams with incredible defensive systems and a pernickety ref. We don’t have to worry about the quality of rugby Leinster are able to play.

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    Mute Limón Madrugada
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    May 14th 2018, 2:24 PM

    @Conor Paddington: that’s very true Conor the official highlights vid is a joke , just the place kicks , not even how they happened . Nothing about possible yellows etc . I was at the game and Barnes was very frustrating , slow at blowing the whistle , lenient for card situations .. but he at least didn’t have any game changing errors . I’ll have to watch the game in full a couple of times on YouTube now . Overall Leinster looked quite comfortable and I was always confident they’d get the chances near the end . Let not forget Tales was dropping for a draw, I think Leinster would have had too much for Racing if it had gone into extra time

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