One of the UFC’s rising lightweights aren’t eager to step in against a particular contender anytime soon.
UFC 323, set for this Saturday, features two reigning champions, several hungry challengers, and a number of ranked contenders all stepping into the Octagon.
The card wraps up with Merab Dvalishvili defending their bantamweight title against Petr Yan, while Alexandre Pantoja puts his flyweight belt on the line against Joshua Van.
Chris Duncan is one of those looking to seize the spotlight. The Scottish lightweight will open the main card when he takes on Drew Dober.
But just before fight night got underway in Las Vegas, Duncan made a comment that might not sit well with Dana White.
Chris Duncan has no plans to face fellow UFC 323 card member and teammate Grant Dawson
He’s got five wins from six fights, and Chris Duncan will go into UFC 323 in solid form. ‘The Problem’ trains at American Top Team, sharing mats with the likes of Dustin Poirier during his rise through the lightweight ranks.
Duncan earned a hard-fought decision win over Mateusz Rebecki last time out, picking up Fight of the Night honours and pushing closer to the top 15 in the process.
With Poirier now retired, a potential matchup between teammates is off the table. But it’s not just Poirier who shares that connection with Duncan in the division.
Grant Dawson, currently ranked No. 13, is another name within reach for Duncan. Dawson is also set to compete at UFC 323 against Manuel Torres.
If both men continue to rise through the rankings, it wouldn’t be surprising if they were matched up down the line. However, Duncan has made it clear he isn’t interested in that fight.
Chris Duncan takes the same position as Aspinall and White won’t like it
Duncan’s comments might not sit well with Dana White, who has previously expressed his frustration over teammates refusing to fight each other. He made those feelings clear before Tom Aspinall’s return in October.
The UFC heavyweight champion had stated he would never fight his training partner Ante Delija, even if it meant giving up his title. White called that stance “absolutely insane” during an interview with TNT Sports in Abu Dhabi.
“You know what I think about that before you ask me,” White said. “I hate that. “Many friends, relatives, name it, have all fought each other before. It doesn’t determine whether you are friends with somebody or you hate somebody.
“You’re competing against them to see who the best is,” he continued. “But that’s his decision, you know?
“To even think about vacating it because you don’t want to compete against somebody is absolutely insane, but he’s a grown man. That’s up to him.”
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