Joe Duffy Says He’ll Test Out Free Agency

In an interview with MMA Fighting, Joe Duffy says he plans on testing out free agency now that his deal with the UFC is up, but he would gladly re-sign with the company. Here are highlights:

On being a free agent: “I suppose we’ll have to wait and see now. I’ve come this far. I’m definitely going to test free agency. I’m going to see what offers come in. I believe there’s something like, maybe 90 days, before I can speak with other promotions or something. Obviously I know the UFC has a window now where they can make some offers, so who knows what offers they’ll make. So, I suppose I’m just going to wait and see. I’m going to look at my options. This sport is not a sport we’re in for the rest of our lives, so I’m definitely going to try to make the most of it in the short space of time we’re in it. It’s not like we’ve got a pension plan or anything else, so I’ve got to try and weigh out the options and go for the best option.”

On his pressure: “I think I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel the pressure. Certainly through camp, every session, it felt like it mattered a little bit more. Even fight week, it was slightly different. There was definitely a different feel to it. The pressure was there in the background. I felt maybe my mind would wander now and again, but I knew I had a very tough fight, and I think the fact it was (against) someone like Reza helped, because I had to really focus on the fight itself.”

On his future: “[My manager] kind of asked me the other day just after the fight, and truth is, I haven’t got a set figure. Especially with this fight, I felt like leading up to the fight, that was kinda of lingering in the background. When that was lingering in the background, I would have to push it away and I would have to concentrate on the fight. And because I was concentrating solely on the fight, I didn’t talk about anything after it. No aftermath. As far as I was concerned, my life stopped after the fight. Then, after, [my manager] said ‘what type of figures do you want to talk about?’ And the truth is, I’ve got no idea. I’ve got no idea. It’s not like I’ve got a set figure in my head. Obviously the purse should be different now to what it was before, because before I was 3-1 (in the UFC), now I’m 4-1. But, it’s not like I’ve got a figure in my head. At the minute, I’m still trying to get my head around just being a free agent, obviously the whole weekend, the whole experience. It’s only now I’m kinda settled.

“It’s not like I’ve gone to university or anything else. After this, I haven’t got a job waiting for me. Since I’ve been five years old, this is what I’ve done. This is my college, this is my university, and this is what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to get paid for those years now, so that’s what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to set myself up financially, and hopefully when that’s taken care of, I can relax a little bit more and just enjoy the fighting. But I would gladly sign with the UFC if we come to a good deal and everything. I’ve enjoyed every second of working with them so far. I said it all week, I’ve got a great relationship with most of the staff of the UFC, and I love the USADA program and this type of thing. So it’s not like it’s 100 percent done or anything else; I’m just open to all offers and I’m interested to see what offers are on the table.”