Duncan in 'all-time great' claim as he eyes UFC progress
Chris Duncan is aiming to keep silencing the online critics who are saying he has "become lucky" by continuing his quest to force his way into the top 15 of the UFC lightweight division.The 31-year-old Scot is looking to add to his growing reputation when he takes on England's Jordan Vucenic at Saturday's UFC fight night in London.Duncan defeated Bolaji Oki via a first-round stoppage in his last outing to take his professional mixed martial arts record to 12 wins and two defeats."I have a lot of people say I have become lucky in the opponents I have had and that last submission, some people online are saying it was lucky," he told BBC Scotland.
"But people who train with me, who are in my small circle, know how hard I work and know my greatest qualities when it comes to submissions, my attacks and my defence, so those people know how good I am."Duncan is hoping for up to three fights this year."And then my next goal and dream will be to start hitting that top 15, top 10," he said. "That is where the all-time greats have been in the mix and I class myself as one of them."I train at the best gym, American Top Team, I train with the best guys in the world, I think five of them are in the top 15 in that gym, so I know how good I am and they know how good I am, so that is the next goal for me."That win over Oki in Paris meant 'The Problem' earned the performance of the night accolade – and the "life changing" $50,000 prize that came with it.It also took his UFC record to three wins from his four outings so far in the promotion."When I speak to people, I am very tough on myself and people are like 'mate you have done so well, you are three and one in the UFC, many people don't even get to that stage, they end up having two or three fights and then they are cut'," he said."I am very proud of what I have done. It is hard to see through the fog sometimes because I am so dedicated to the sport itself."His next opponent, Vucenic, boasts a record of 13 wins and three defeats from his 16 professional fights."He seems to be pretty well rounded, but there are definitely areas that he doesn't do as well in and I think I can exploit them," Duncan added. "He is coming up from featherweight to go into lightweight, if anything he will be the smaller guy."
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