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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Todd Duffee made his return to the Octagon after a near two-year layoff in December, knocking out Anthony Hamilton for his third straight win overall. The 29-year-old heavyweight wants to make a legitimate run up the ranks in the heavyweight division, but with a number of the top names already booked up, Duffee thinks there's just one name that makes sense.
"I thought I was gonna get [Matt] Mitrione, but he got [Ben] Rothwell, and they've slowly matched up everyone in the top 15, it looks like, except one guy – so I've got to call him out," Duffee said in an interview with MMAJunkie.com. "It's not a grudge match – nothing like that. I have a lot of respect for the guy. But he's No. 11 [in the UFC rankings], and with the new Reebok deal coming in, I've definitely got to beat those upper-echelon guys. I'm about to be 30 [years old]. I've had a lot of time off in my career. I'd like to have a legend fight, and I'm looking at Frank Mir at No. 11."
Duffee understands that there's been some semblance of hope for Brock Lesnar to return, at which time Mir could be a top pick for Lesnar's return fight. However, he doesn't expect it to happen, and thinks the Mir fight makes sense for himself.
"I'm just looking to get a fight," Duffee said. "Everyone's getting matched up, and I don't want to get left off. I don't think Brock's coming back... I'm cordial – I think [Mir is] a legend. It's nothing personal. It's a business decision for me."
"Aren't you guys kind of tired of watching me fight guys you know the outcome to? Wouldn't you like to see a challenge for me, maybe? Longer than a minute and a half?"
Penick's Analysis: If Lesnar doesn't come back, a fight between Duffee and Mir would be more beneficial than, say, a third fight between Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. For Duffee, it would mean a ranked opponent when he hasn't yet faced one. For Mir, it would be a chance to stay relevant after finally getting back in the win column, and could move him on the path to getting back in the mix. It's a sensible matchup, so don't be surprised if it gets put together here for later in the year.
[Frank Mir art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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