Chris Duncan has admitted that his upcoming UFC clash with Bolaji Oki this Saturday is a pivotal moment in his career. The 31-year-old fighter, boasting 11 career wins, will step into the Accor Arena in Paris to face a 28-year-old opponent who is currently on a hot streak with nine consecutive victories in the UFC.
Duncan expressed his fear of falling into a losing streak, admitting that back-to-back defeats can put a fighter's career in immediate jeopardy. He views this Saturday's bout as the most significant challenge he has ever faced, arguing that the sport requires this kind of high-stakes mentality to be worthwhile. According to Duncan, he manages his pressure by staying focused on the immediate battle.
Drawing inspiration from one of his idols, Duncan explained that he avoids planning for the future until the fight is over, dedicating every ounce of energy to the actual combat. He also touched upon his recovery process after losing to Manuel Torres, mentioning a period of financial instability. While in Mexico, he found himself struggling to pay for his support team's food and hotels, having counted on funds that didn't materialize as expected.
He noted that the financial hit would have been irrelevant had he won, as the victory payout would have more than compensated for the loss. However, losing the fight left him with only half of the expected money. Despite these hurdles, Duncan insists that these trials have helped him grow and revealed who his true friends are. He claims to be in the best shape of his life, with his only remaining frustration being the loss itself.
Teddy Atlas suggests that Jake Paul could find himself in serious trouble during the opening rounds of his November fight against Mike Tyson. Tyson is returning to the professional ring for the first time since 2005, and Atlas warns that Paul will be facing a man who once defined the heavyweight division with an unmatched blend of explosive power and speed. Those first few minutes could be the most perilous part of the fight for Paul.
Atlas believes that the early stages could be 'hairy' for the younger fighter. However, he notes that if Tyson fails to land a decisive blow or hurt Paul early on, his stamina will likely fade. In a prolonged battle, the youth and conditioning of Paul would give him a clear advantage, regardless of his lack of professional experience compared to the legend.
In other news, Derek Chisora suggests that Oleksandr Usyk should consider retirement if he manages to beat Tyson Fury for a second time this December. With three world titles on the line, a victory for Usyk would cement his dominance over the heavyweight elite, adding Fury to a list of conquests that already includes Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois. Usyk previously cleaned out the cruiserweight division before moving up to claim the heavyweight crown in 2021.
Having lost to Usyk back in 2020, Chisora argues that the Ukrainian has reached the summit and has nothing left to prove. While Usyk hasn't officially discussed his future, Chisora told Talksport that he expects a retirement announcement after December. In his view, once you've collected all the belts and beaten every top contender, the only thing left is to retire undefeated and spend time with family or return to the struggles of his homeland.