Joe Duffy, the other Irish fighter on the UFC's roster, has revealed that he has signed a deal with management company MMA Dominance.
MMA Dominance is home to big name fighters such as Khabib Nurmagomedov, Frankie Edgar and Cody Garbrandt, so this move should be a positive one for Duffy, whose career has stuttered since he signed for the company in January 2015. The lightweight is 4-2 in the company, having lost by TKO to James Vicks on November 4th of last year.
It’s a great pleasure to announce I have signed with @dominancemma_ I am very excited for the future ahead. Thanks for the hospitality @aliabdelaziz000 pic.twitter.com/nf96fEKgj3
— Joe Duffy (@Duffy_MMA) March 8, 2018
Just a quick reminder cage warriors 39 Irish @duffymma joeDuffy vs Conor McGregor @thenotoriousmma . Here we go just want to refresh everyone’s memory who’s the best Irish fighter in the UFC today by results pic.twitter.com/56GgC9vk7p
— Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00) March 8, 2018
Though the deal is a good move for Duffy, the agency he is signing to is not without its detractors. President and founder of MMA Dominance, Ali Abdelaziz, is a highly controversial figure in the American MMA scene, despite his status as one of the biggest agents in the sport.
Abdelaziz, originally from Egypt, had a lot of legal issues in the US in the early 2000s, which included a conviction for the felony misuse of a social security number, for which he served time in prison. He also faced a number of other serious charges which were dropped as part of a plea deal, according to MMA journalist Mike Russell, who has been uncovering the story in the States.
Fans of Duffy expressed their concerns over the fighter joining up with Abdelaziz:
Wow what a waste of good ink
— Kyle Gavin (@kylegavin23) March 8, 2018
This is a shame.
— Jon (@LWOS_Jon) March 8, 2018
I wish you all the best because you are an irish man but that man is a snake
— Shay McStravick (@McStravick1) March 8, 2018
Ah Joe, that lads a disgrace.
— Anthony Kennedy (@Anto_K7) March 8, 2018
WHY JOE WHYYYY
— Nik (@nikthen85) March 8, 2018
Really Joe
— Anthony (@Anthony93Cox) March 8, 2018
My god what are u doing signing with that twat?
— Chris Keenan (@Chriskee3) March 8, 2018
