Latest news with #ChrisDuncan
Daily Record
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Stirling UFC fighter aims to make mark on sport's elite after Auld Enemy win
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.'
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chris Duncan all about that Dustin Poirier 'jumpin' gilly' love after UFC London sub of Jordan Vucenic
LONDON – Chris Duncan beat Jordan Vucenic with a second-round submission Saturday on the main card at UFC Fight Night 255 at The O2 in London. Take a look inside the fight with Duncan, who despite being one of only four finishers in 13 fights, was the only one who was denied a post-fight bonus. It went to a Kevin Holland decision win, instead. Result: Chris Duncan def. Jordan Vucenic via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 3:42 Updated records: Duncan (13-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC), Vucenic (13-4 MMA, 0-2 UFC) Key stats: Duncan landed four of five takedowns on his way to the upset as a +225 underdog. "I love this. I'm built for this. All the haters online, I love load the messages. Some guys message me on Twitter, Instagram, call me names saying I was going to get smoked. Everybody thought this guy was going to be levels above me, and as you can see, he certainly was not. I train at the best gym in the world, American Top Team. I have the best coaches – Mike Brown, Thiago Alves and Robert Whiteford. We work tiredlessly. These guys in the gym, they're having to pull me back – I'm doing too much. I'm under the best guidance. So these guys are fine-tuning me, whether it be rest recovery or push harder. I'm on a different wave." THE PROBLEM GETS THE TAP 🏴 #UFCLondon Chris Duncan spoils the party in London! — UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) March 22, 2025 "Dustin was the guy who fine-tuned my guillotine with the grips that we use at American Top Team. The grips that I use are far tighter. The only issue with the grip that I take, it can slow down the chain of submissions or the chain of attack. But that one specifically is the tightest one and when I locked it up, he was tapping for ages, but the ref wasn't wasn't close by. So I've just got to keep holding on and wait for the ref to come. That's not my job." THE PROBLEM GETS THE TAP 🏴 #UFCLondon Chris Duncan spoils the party in London! — UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) March 22, 2025 "Terence McKinney will be next. He's next in line. Much respect for him. ... (A previous booking with McKinney falling out) was nothing to do with anything in my power. I had visa complications. Obviously, it's a great matchup. Terrence is super exciting. He's a southpaw, and I know Dustin's coming back for his last fight. I'd love to help him prepare, maybe help him depending on who he's matched up with. Maybe me and him could be training partners for each other. The stars are aligning with that stuff." Tweets by theproblem155 To hear more from Duncan, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above. For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC Fight Night 255. Chris Duncan def. Jordan Vucenic at UFC Fight Night 255: Best photos UFC Fight Night 255: Official scorecards from London This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Chris Duncan all about that Dustin Poirier 'jumpin' gilly' love after UFC London sub of Jordan Vucenic
USA Today
23-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Chris Duncan all about that Dustin Poirier 'jumpin' gilly' love after UFC London sub of Jordan Vucenic
LONDON – Chris Duncan beat Jordan Vucenic with a second-round submission Saturday on the main card at UFC Fight Night 255 at The O2 in London. Take a look inside the fight with Duncan, who despite being one of only four finishers in 13 fights, was the only one who was denied a post-fight bonus. It went to a Kevin Holland decision win, instead. Chris Duncan def. Jordan Vucenic Result: Chris Duncan def. Jordan Vucenic via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 3:42 Updated records: Duncan (13-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC), Vucenic (13-4 MMA, 0-2 UFC) Key stats: Duncan landed four of five takedowns on his way to the upset as a +225 underdog. Duncan on the fight's key moment 'I love this. I'm built for this. All the haters online, I love load the messages. Some guys message me on Twitter, Instagram, call me names saying I was going to get smoked. Everybody thought this guy was going to be levels above me, and as you can see, he certainly was not. I train at the best gym in the world, American Top Team. I have the best coaches – Mike Brown, Thiago Alves and Robert Whiteford. We work tiredlessly. These guys in the gym, they're having to pull me back – I'm doing too much. I'm under the best guidance. So these guys are fine-tuning me, whether it be rest recovery or push harder. I'm on a different wave.' THE PROBLEM GETS THE TAP 🏴 #UFCLondon Chris Duncan spoils the party in London! — UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) March 22, 2025 Duncan on teammate Dustin Poirier's compliment on his guillotine 'Dustin was the guy who fine-tuned my guillotine with the grips that we use at American Top Team. The grips that I use are far tighter. The only issue with the grip that I take, it can slow down the chain of submissions or the chain of attack. But that one specifically is the tightest one and when I locked it up, he was tapping for ages, but the ref wasn't wasn't close by. So I've just got to keep holding on and wait for the ref to come. That's not my job.' THE PROBLEM GETS THE TAP 🏴 #UFCLondon Chris Duncan spoils the party in London! — UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) March 22, 2025 Duncan on what he wants next 'Terence McKinney will be next. He's next in line. Much respect for him. … (A previous booking with McKinney falling out) was nothing to do with anything in my power. I had visa complications. Obviously, it's a great matchup. Terrence is super exciting. He's a southpaw, and I know Dustin's coming back for his last fight. I'd love to help him prepare, maybe help him depending on who he's matched up with. Maybe me and him could be training partners for each other. The stars are aligning with that stuff.' 'I manhandled him in there.' Chris Duncan (@theproblem155) credits Dustin Poirier for sharing tips and techniques that helped him finish Jordan Vucenic via guillotine choke at #UFCLondon. Results, Interviews & More ➡️ — UFC News (@UFCNews) March 22, 2025 To hear more from Duncan, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above. For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC Fight Night 255. Gallery Chris Duncan def. Jordan Vucenic at UFC Fight Night 255: Best photos View 43 photos
USA Today
23-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC Fight Night 255 bonuses go to the only four finishers in London
The UFC handed out four bonuses after Saturday's card – one to each fighter who got a stoppage win. After UFC Fight Night 255, four fighters picked up an extra $50,000 for their performances in London. Check out the winners below. Performance of the Night: Shauna Bannon Shauna Bannon def. Puja Tomar via submission (armbar) – Round 2, 3:22 Shauna Bannon (7-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) pulled off a stunning finish when she forced Puja Tomar (9-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) to tap to an armbar in the second round. It came not long after Tomar landed a huge head kick that sat Bannon down and nearly had her finished. But the Irish prospect rallied and lit up The O2. Gallery Shauna Bannon def. Puja Tomar at UFC Fight Night 255: Best photos View 37 photos Performance of the Night: Chris Duncan Chris Duncan def. Jordan Vucenic via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 3:42 Chris Duncan (13-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) didn't care about the odds when he stepped into the cage against 3-1 favorite Jordan Vucenic (13-4 MMA, 0-2 UFC). The Scotsman tapped him with a brilliant second-round guillotine choke, then called out Terrence McKinney for a fight at UFC 314. Gallery Chris Duncan def. Jordan Vucenic at UFC Fight Night 255: Best photos View 43 photos Performance of the Night: Alexia Thainara Alexia Thainara def. Molly McCann via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:32 Alexia Thainara (12-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) took her UFC debut against Molly McCann (14-8 MMA, 7-7 UFC) on just 10 days' notice. Then she made a noteworthy and lengthy cage entrance that was longer than it took for her to submit McCann in front of her home British fans. McCann announced her retirement after the loss. Gallery Alexia Thainara def. Molly McCann at UFC Fight Night 255: Best photos View 35 photos Performance of the Night: Sean Brady Sean Brady def. Leon Edwards via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 4, 1:39 Sean Brady (18-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) left virtually no doubt he has the chops to challenge for a UFC title when he dominated former welterweight champion Leon Edwards (22-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC). Brady made easy work of Edwards with his wrestling for the first 15 minutes, then masterfully choked him out in the fourth. Gallery Sean Brady def. Leon Edwards at UFC Fight Night 255: Best photos View 45 photos For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC Fight Night 255.
USA Today
22-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC Fight Night 255 video: Chris Duncan submits Jordan Vucenic, calls out Terrance McKinney for UFC 314
LONDON – Make that two straight guillotines in the UFC for Chris Duncan. Duncan (13-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) showed off his striking in Round 1 by dropping Jordan Vucenic (13-4 MMA, 0-2 UFC) with a superman punch, then used his grappling to submit him at the 3:42 mark of Round 2 in their lightweight main card bout at UFC Fight Night 255 on Saturday at The O2 in London. Check out the replay of Duncan's finish below (via X): THE PROBLEM GETS THE TAP 🏴 #UFCLondon Chris Duncan spoils the party in London! — UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) March 22, 2025 Duncan has now won six of his past seven fights. The American Top Team fighter proceeded to call out Terrance McKinney for a UFC 314 showdown April 12 in Miami. It didn't take long for Duncan to get a response from McKinney, who's happy to oblige. 'Let's get it congrats on the win.' Let's get it 😤😤😤😤 congrats on the win — Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) March 22, 2025 Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 255 results include: For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC Fight Night 255.
