Chris Duncan: Scotland’s next UFC star?

Chris Duncan, 28, will get the chance to become Scotland’s sixth ever UFC fighter as he fights for a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series against Manuel Gaxhja next week in Las Vegas.

 The premise of the show gives some of MMA’s brightest prospects the chance to impress the UFC President first-hand, who will award contracts to those who do so. Its alumni includes Sean O’Malley and Alex Perez, who have gone on to become one of the most popular fighters on the roster and fight for a UFC title respectively.

 Hailing from Stirling, Duncan boasts an unblemished, perfect professional record of 7-0, with all of his wins coming via stoppage – six of which have been knockouts. He is on a 14-fight winning streak stretching back to his amateur career, which was aided by training partner and Scotland’s first UFC fighter, Robert Whiteford.

 Previously signed to Bellator MMA, Duncan’s last outing was a second-round knockout of Lamik Furtado in October last year. The global pandemic’s hindrance on travel meant Duncan was unable to secure another fight with the promotion and was consequently granted his release.

 Duncan is now just one fight away from competing on the world stage under MMA’s premier organisation, and he’ll end an almost year-long layoff this coming Tuesday night on UFC Fight Pass.