Joe Duffy’s gutsy move will make or break his UFC career

'Irish' Joe Duffy will have a whole heap of Irish support at London's O2 Arena on March 18 next year.

The Donegal fighter has signed a bout agreement for a lightweight clash with Reza Madadi at a UFC Fight Night event in London. Duffy has not signed a contract extension with the promotion so it is potentially his final UFC fight. The 16-2 lightweight was on a roll in the UFC until he lost to Dustin Porier at Fight Night 95 in January of this year. He returned to the Octagon in July and defeated Mitch Clarke in comprehensive fashion. Since then, Duffy was offered a bout at UFC Belfast but turned it down as he felt the money he was being offered was derisory. Earlier this year, Duffy told The MMA Hour why he was content to run down his UFC contract and test the free agency market. He said:

"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. 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."

Duffy would attract interest from rival promotions, such as Bellator, but has also stated that he would consider getting into the construction industry in Montreal [his father runs a successful construction company]. Running down a contract is a risk/reward strategy in the UFC. Chris Weidman did it in the past and became UFC middleweight champion in the final fight on his contract. Eddie Alvarez was thought to have done similar before UFC 205 but his comprehensive loss to Conor McGregor has damaged his prospects of a lucrative, new deal.