Stirling UFC fighter aims to make mark on sport's elite after Auld Enemy win

Daily Record

02-05-2025

Stirling's UFC fight star Chris Duncan carries the moniker of 'The Problem' as he battles in the Octagon — but he's hoping there are no hiccups on his journey towards the MMA elite.
The 31-year-old, originally from Strathyre, is still basking in the glow of a confident victory last time out at the O2 in London against Jordan Vucenic, which included battling a partisan atmosphere in favour of his English opponent.
But Duncan insisted that victory actually went more easily than he had anticipated and the hostility of the home crowd just fed into an intensity for the bout.
He said: 'Jordan was going to be home favourite just with the English connection; it was kind of my home crowd if I was fighting someone foreign.
'One of the media guys said it was the 'Calcutta Cup' of MMA, so I played into that and the pride I have in my Scottish heritage to motivate me during the fight.
'When you're in the Octagon, it didn't feel like anything specific, you can feel the vibrations, the atmosphere when you're in there and that can be motivating. You can take what you want from the crowd. I live for this and bred for it. Going into hostile territory is something I thrive with.
'I marched out there ready to do damage.
'The kick and punch I landed was drilled in camp and anybody who trains with me knows how strong I am with guillotines and headlock stuff. I didn't have to adapt too much.
'I didn't think I'd be able to manhandle him in quite the way I was able to, but I threw a bit like an empty tracksuit and that was good to achieve because I had went there expecting a war.'
Duncan is now recuperating back at home after his tough training camp in the prestigious America's Top Team gym in Florida in the build-up to the London fight, waiting for the call from the UFC about his next spot on a fight card and opponent.
But away from the cage, the fearless fighter knows why he's in the business - to support his family and one day provide them with the lifestyle he dreams of after he steps away from the sport.
'Florida is just a fight base for now. I'm trying to get my fiancée and my kids over there at some point, that's the end goal but I'm playing it by ear for now.
'It's a necessary evil and you have to sacrifice part of who you are to get where you want to be; I'm wanting to build an empire for myself and my family, to make money for all of us and one day we'll be able to have that celebration.
'Money makes the world go round, I know that and my family will be able to thrive from that.'
Duncan currently enjoys a record of 13 wins and two defeats from his full MMA career - with a 4-1 record since making the move into the top step of the UFC.
He bounced back from a defeat in February 2024 against home fighter Manuel Torres in Mexico City to record wins over Bolaji Oki in Paris in September and then the most recent win over Vucenic in March this year.
The next goal is to climb up the UFC rankings in a competitive division at lightweight, with huge names of the scene including Paddy Pimblett, Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier among those ranked.
Duncan continued: 'I'm looking to attack the top 15 in the next couple of fights. I don't think I'll get close to that until the next couple of fights and I always want to get my picture on the wall at the American Top Team gym.
'Once I get to that top 15, then I'll set myself new goals because we always have to make sure we're setting new targets and always moving forward.'