Joseph Duffy

Joseph Duffy (born 18 February 1988) is an Irish retired mixed martial artist who competed in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2008, he has formerly competed for Cage Warriors and was a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck. He is also a former professional boxer. He holds a notable victory over the former UFC lightweight and featherweight double-champion, Conor McGregor.

Early life Duffy is from Meenbanad, Burtonport, County Donegal. His family emigrated when he was young to the industrial town of Ebbw Vale in Wales, from where they travelled back and forth to Burtonport regularly.

Duffy is an avid rugby fan, and growing up he says "I would always have made it known I wasn’t from Wales", which made his support for Ireland during the Six Nations a bit difficult sometimes. He claimed "if Ireland lost in the rugby, I would try to skip the next day at school, just to avoid the hassle it would bring". Duffy also played the sport through his youth, and despite captaining his school’s rugby team, it was martial arts that always occupied the majority of Duffy’s time. He started with taekwon-do before progressing to traditional jiu-jitsu, a foundation that eventually led him to a career in professional MMA.

Boxing career Despite knowing from an early age that he wanted to be a MMA fighter, Duffy said "I always wondered how I would get on in boxing". He continued "it was never something I thought about pursuing. I had never boxed, even at amateur, until a few years ago". Duffy cited "the opportunity to work with one of the best coaches in the boxing world" as the main reason for his switch, and the chance "to spar with some of the best fighters in the world; James DeGale, Andy Lee, George Groves, Chris Eubank, Jr.", something he deemed "priceless". The decision was then made even easier, with Duffy explaining "I was fortunate enough to have sponsors to back me as well. That took care of the financial worries".

When reflecting on the experience, he stated "More than anything, I’m a person who doesn’t want to have any regrets. When I’m old I want to be able to say that I gave it a go. That’s what it was. I got to fight professionally and I got to spar with some of the best fighters in the world".

Mixed martial arts career Duffy started his career as a welterweight, fighting in various regional promotions across the UK and Ireland. Duffy defeated the former UFC two-division champion, Conor McGregor, and Northern Irishman Norman Parke, who later went on to the join the UFC. It was after this fight that Duffy signed with Cage Warriors, the biggest MMA promotion in Europe.

The Ultimate Fighter In February 2010, Duffy was announced as a cast member of The Ultimate Fighter 12 where he competed as a lightweight. In his first fight, Duffy lost to Kyle Watson via rear-naked choke in the first round, and was subsequently eliminated from the show.

Cage Warriors Fighting Championship Duffy made his name and rose to prominence while fighting under the CWFC banner. In his first bout with the promotion, Duffy submitted Conor McGregor, another Irish fighter who went on to UFC stardom.

In 2011, Duffy earned a Cage Warriors title shot against Ivan Musardo. Duffy lost the fight, breaking his hand in the third round, and being subsequently submitted in the fourth.

Following his recovery, Duffy switched his attention to pro boxing. He amassed a 7–0 record before returning to Cage Warriors in 2014. Duffy's first fight back was against Frenchman, Damien Lapilus. Duffy won via rear-naked choke, 2 minutes and 18 seconds into the third round.

Three months later he defeated another Frenchman, Julien Boussuge. This time detecting his opponent's intention for a takedown, and connecting a clean knee to the head when Boussuge changed levels. It was an instant knockout.

Ultimate Fighting Championship In January 2015, the UFC announced they had signed Duffy.

Duffy was expected to make his promotional debut against Vagner Rocha on 14 March 2015 at UFC 185. However, Rocha pulled out of the bout in early February citing injury and was replaced by Jake Lindsey. Duffy won the fight via TKO in the first round after wobbling his opponent with a head kick and then dropping Lindsey with a body shot, forcing the stoppage.

Duffy faced Ivan Jorge on 18 July 2015 at UFC Fight Night 72. He won the fight via submission in the first round. He also earned a Performance of the Night bonus.

Duffy was expected to face Dustin Poirier on 24 October 2015 at UFC Fight Night 76. However, Duffy pulled out of the fight on 21 October citing a concussion he incurred during a sparring session. In turn, the pairing was rescheduled, and took place on 2 January 2016 at UFC 195. Duffy lost the fight by unanimous decision (30–26, 30–27, 30–27).

Duffy next faced Mitch Clarke on 7 July 2016 at UFC Fight Night 90. He won the fight via submission in the opening minute of the first round.

Duffy faced Reza Madadi on 18 March 2017 at UFC Fight Night 107. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

On 13 July 2017, Duffy's manager Graham Boylan revealed Duffy had signed a new seven-fight contract with UFC.

Duffy faced James Vick on 4 November 2017 at UFC 217. He lost the fight via TKO in the second round.

Duffy was expected to face Ross Pearson on 2 December 2018 at UFC Fight Night 142. However, Pearson announced on 7 November that he was out of the bout due to a broken nose and subsequent surgery to correct the injury. and he was replaced by newcomer M-1 Global Lightweight Champion Damir Ismagulov. In turn Duffy pulled out from the event, citing a rib injury.

Duffy faced Marc Diakiese on 16 March 2019 at UFC Fight Night 147. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Duffy faced Joel Álvarez on 19 July 2020 at UFC Fight Night 172. He lost the fight via a guillotine choke in round one. After the fight, Duffy announced his retirement from MMA competition.

Championships and accomplishments Ultimate Fighting Championship Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Ivan Jorge UFC.com Awards 2015: Ranked #4 Newcomer of the Year & Ranked #7 Submission of the Year

MMA Junkie Submission of the Month - July 2015 vs. Ivan Jorge

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Joel Álvarez Submission (guillotine choke) UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Loss

Marc Diakiese Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Till vs. Masvidal

London, England Loss

James Vick TKO (punches) UFC 217

New York City, New York, United States Win

Reza Madadi Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Manuwa vs. Anderson

London, England Win

Mitch Clarke Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Alvarez

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Dustin Poirier Decision (unanimous) UFC 195

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Ivan Jorge Submission (triangle choke) UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Leites

Glasgow, Scotland Win

Jake Lindsey TKO (head kick and body punch) UFC 185

Dallas, Texas, United States Win

Julien Boussuge KO (knee) CWFC 74

London, England Win

Damien Lapilus Submission (rear-naked choke) CWFC 70

Dublin, Ireland Loss

Ivan Musardo Submission (guillotine choke) Cage Warriors 44

Kentish Town, England Win

Francis Heagney Decision (unanimous) Cage Warriors 43

Kentish Town, England Win

Oriol Gaset TKO (punches) Cage Warriors 42

Cork City, Ireland Win

Tom Maguire Submission (triangle choke) Cage Warriors 40

Kentish Town, England Win

Conor McGregor Submission (arm-triangle choke) Cage Warriors 39

Cork City, Ireland Win

Norman Parke Submission (rear-naked choke) Spartan Fight Challenge 3

Newport, Wales Win

Sebastien Grandin Submission (triangle choke) KnuckleUp MMA 3

Newport, Wales Win

Marius Buzinskas Submission (rear-naked choke) Spartan Fight Challenge 1

Somerset, England Win

James Bryan Submission (rear-naked choke) KnuckleUp MMA 1

Somerset, England Win

Ciaran Fry Submission (triangle choke) Angrrr Management 18: Holly Brawl

Weston-super-Mare, England Win

Mick Broster TKO (doctor stoppage) Angrrr Management 15: The Octagon Club

Kidderminster, England Mixed martial arts exhibition and amateur record Loss

Kyle Watson Submission (rear-naked choke) The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck (air date)

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Adam Stanton Submission (triangle choke) Angrrr Management 9: Southern Agrrression 4

Weston Super Mare, England Win

Tim Newman Submission (triangle choke) Grapple & Strike 9

Ebbw Vale, Wales Professional boxing record Result Record Opponent Method Round, time Date Location