JOE DUFFY’S future with the UFC franchise remains up in the air, but the Burtonport man has no intentions of quitting the sport.
Duffy, 3-1 as a UFC fighter, has one fight of a five-bout contract remaining, but with an impasse no closer to being resolved the 28-year-old is uncertain as to his future.
Duffy is 16-2 as a mixed martial artist, but has not fought since his first-round destruction of Mitch Clarke in Las Vegas in July.
Duffy was offered a place at UFC Fight Night 99 in Belfast, but turned down the chance as he was unhappy with the opponent that had been lined up.
“I would love to have been on the Belfast card but things didn’t work out the way I was hoping,” Duffy said in an interview with the42.ie.
“It’s a bit of a shame and obviously for the Irish fans I think it would have been nice for them to have had a few more Irish fighters on the card. But that’s business. That’s the way it works out.”
“There’s been no contact between my management and the UFC. We haven’t really heard anything from them since, so the plan is to stay ready over Christmas, get ready for a fight in the new year and fight out my contract. But for now there’s been no contact from the UFC whatsoever.”
Even if Duffy does sever ties with the UFC, he won’t be walking away from the octagon.
He said: “I don’t think it’ll get to the point that I end up quitting. It’s just that it’s a short career and you’ve got to start thinking now about what comes after it.
“When I went to the UFC Athlete Summit, I saw how many of those fighters left the sport with nothing. That’s what I’ve got to start thinking about now.
“I didn’t go to university. I spent my whole life doing this, working towards this. I’ve got to think about it now and I’m sure I’ll secure a deal that will be a lot better for my future.”
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