BELLATOR PRESIDENT SCOTT Coker has confirmed that the organisation would be interested in signing Joseph Duffy if his contract dispute with the UFC isn’t resolved.
Duffy revealed to The42 last month that he has one fight remaining on his current deal with the UFC. However, the Donegal native is unhappy with the terms being offered to him to extend his stay with the organisation.
In a subsequent interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Duffy said that he’ll be forced to enter free agency after completing the last bout on his contract if the UFC doesn’t improve its offer.
Should Duffy become unattached, he would be a prime candidate to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Benson Henderson, Chael Sonnen and his Tristar team-mate Rory MacDonald, all of whom left the UFC this year to join Bellator.
“If a free agent of that calibre becomes available, we’ll want to have a conversation with him,” Coker told The42. “Obviously we can’t have a conversation until they are free, so we haven’t had a conversation with him. But that’s how we got Rory MacDonald. That’s how we got Benson Henderson. That’s how we got Chael Sonnen.”
Duffy (16-2) signed with the UFC in January 2015 and has competed four times for the organisation. Three first-round wins and a decision loss to Dustin Poirier have left him with a 3-1 ledger in the octagon since his move from Cage Warriors.
Coker, who is hoping to bring Bellator to Ireland before the end of 2016, confirmed that although he has yet to see Duffy in action, his matchmakers are well aware of what the 28-year-old lightweight is capable of. However, he reiterated that they won’t make a move until Duffy is officially on the free market.
“I haven’t seen him fight but I hear his name being bounced around a lot and our guys have been mentioning him to me,” Coker said. “We’ll definitely take a look but it’s tough because we might take a hard look at him and he may end up resolving his dispute, so let’s see how that goes.”
Agree 100%, McGrath and Hendrick may be a bit too attack minded but there isn’t a box to box alternative unfortunately. Hopefully Omobamidele is fit for continuity, it could be argued that Collins is a better overall defender so should he able cover if not.
@TheCraftyCulchie: I think Omobamidele is a bit of a goal threat too. Big bonus.
@Vonvonic: I thinks he’s injured
@Ríain HenC: Bad news
6 goals in 54 senior appearances for Adam Idah. 11 for Ireland with no goals. While I like his enthusiasm and energy I don’t think he’s the future. We desperately need to find a goalscorer.
@Shameless McFly: Club appearances isn’t a great metric to use when he only gets on the pitch for a few minutes and it counts as as appearance
According to Transfermarkt he’s got 8 premier league appearances this season for a total of 49 minutes
@Shameless McFly: Georgie Kelly
@Shameless McFly: Give him a chance. He holds the ball up really well, which is important with the wing back system. Hopefully he’ll get a manager who fancies him at Norwich. Lampard could be good for him.
@Shameless McFly: 100% agreed.. Has shown very little threat at this level a s needs way more club game time and possibly a loan move
@Vonvonic: he doesn’t hold it up really well.. Thats the thing here.. Not sure what he’s currently bringing to the table
@Shameless McFly: Johnny Kenny coming through-serious prospect, give him another year.
McClean arguably our most in form player. Has to start over Doherty
@Stanley:
Yep. That’s the team I’d pick.
Stephens did amazing in the wing back position last time. He’s good in defence and crossing the ball. Far better option on the left than Doherty I think.
Outside of the 11, there’s a strong argument for Coventry and Kilkenny to be there instead of Browne and Molumby based on minutes and form. Browne has experience which gives him an edge but the argument is there to be had.
@Christopher O’Brien: Browne has a lot more minutes on the pitch than Coventry. Coventry needs more time to settle. Kilkenny is a definite option but gaining more experience is also necessary. The changes cant be constant, the team needs stability.
I agree with the team but from what Kenny is saying it looks like he will rotate Doherty and Coleman for the 2 games over fitness concerns. Wouldn’t be surprised if he did the same on the other side with Mclean and Stevens
Even if I don’t agree he don’t want to change the team anyhow.
How Jeff hendrick is still robbing a wage as a footballer is beyond me
@dave Carwood: if he plays like he did last game, he’ll be robbing Portugal of a win
@john Kelly! Seriously??? You must be joking!!!
I don’t think that Idah has done enough in green to justify a starting spot. Otherwise I’d go with that team
@Gerry McCaughey: his physical presence was unsettling for Portugal the last day.
@Frainc Ó Broin: Absolutely. Hé had a great battle with Diaz all game. Unsettled him until the very end.