'Irish Joe' feels the UFC had valid reasons for bumping his fight down the running order.
October 2015 was shaping up to be the crowning glory of a remarkable year.
Joe Duffy was slated to headline UFC Fight Night Dublin, against Dustin Poirier. If he won, he would finish his debut year as 3-0 in the promotion and set himself up for Top 10 fights in 2016.
Instead, the Donegal native was concussed in one of his final training sessions and had to withdraw. Word then came of the bout being included on the UFC 195 card - on January 2 - and all seemed right with the world.
Until, that is, Duffy vs. Poirier was listed as a prelim. Not just a FOX Sports prelim but a Fight Pass prelim.
Duffy fans hit the roof.
However, the lightweight feels there were a couple of good reasons why he is down the order. He certainly appears to bear no ill will towards his employers.
Duffy told
MMA Fighting, "The UFC told me the reasons behind it. They said they wanted to push the fight and they wanted a decent time for the European fans, which made perfect sense.
"Especially after Dublin falling through, putting it on Fight Pass made perfect sense."
"A lot of fans were in uproar," he added, "but I said the reasons behind it to a few of them so they [would understand]. For me, I don't mind. I'm on the scales a little earlier and done and dusted earlier... It doesn't change [my pay] or anything. We just get to get it on earlier."
https://youtu.be/ntIYKUkVVik?t=8m4s
