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MMA

07th Jan 2019

Manager gives timeframe for Joseph Duffy’s long-awaited UFC return

Donegal's Duffy was out of action for all of 2018

Darragh Murphy

Joseph Duffy has had some truly terrible luck with injuries.

It’s been almost four years since Duffy signed with the UFC but the Donegal man has only managed six fights in that time, with several training injuries forcing him out of scheduled bouts over the years.

The most recent case of misfortune came when a rib injury denied ‘Irish Joe’ the chance to compete on November’s Adelaide card.

With the turning of a new year, Duffy will hope to enjoy better luck over the next 12 months and the 30-year-old is targeting a March comeback, according to new manager Ali Abdelaziz.

Abdelaziz, who looks after a host of high-profile clients including Khabib Nurmagomedov, Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo, revealed the likely timeframe for Duffy during an interview with MMA Fighting on New Year’s Day.

“We’re probably going to see Joe Duffy around maybe March 9th or March 30th,” Abdelaziz said.

“I’m talking to Sean Shelby right now, the matchmaker, trying to get him booked back. I had the pleasure of talking to him in Vegas.

“He’s so talented but he’s been out for a long time, and he’s gotta come back and make a splash. He’s hungry, man. He’s hungry to get in there.”

Topics:

Joseph Duffy,UFC