Donegal's UFC lightweight Joe Duffy has admitted that his future in the UFC is currently up in the air, and that he will likely find himself testing free agency when his current deal expires.
Speaking to Paul Dollery of The42.ie, the 28-year-old Donegal man revealed that negotiations with the UFC about a new deal have not gone according to plan, and how his next fight for the organisation - the last on his current deal - could transpire to be his last UFC fight overall:
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,
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.
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.
Duffy earned $20,000 for the biggest fight of his career to date - a defeat to Lightweight #7-ranked Dustin Poirier. His Tristar Montreal teammate Rory MacDonald, too, found himself testing free agency in recent months after his own negotiations with the UFC broke down. MacDonald subsequently moved to rival promotion Bellator where he will receive a significant pay increase.
For Duffy's full interview with Paul Dollery of The42, where he also explains why he turned down a fight on the upcoming UFC Belfast card, head over here.
