BREAKING NEWS: Joe Duffy suffered a concussion in training and has been scratched from the main event. Read full details here.
Joseph Duffy is quickly establishing himself as a legit threat in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight division.
With two straight wins -- both first-round finishes -- in his first couple of tries inside the Octagon, "Irish Joe" has also gotten the attention of promotion president Dana White, who labeled the Irishman a "badass" with perfect striking.
"I don't even point to Duffy beating Conor because they fought a long time ago when they were younger," White told UFC's The Download. "I look at Duffy now. Duffy today is a well-rounded, explosive finisher. A guy whose stand up is literally perfect."
Up next for Duffy is his first-ever headlining act, as he is set to take on Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC Fight Night 76 on Sat., Oct. 24, 2015 in Dublin, Ireland.
"This is a really good test for Duffy because Dustin Poirier looks great at 155," White said. "He said he feels stronger, healthier, and he's been on a tear at 155. It's a big fight for both guys."
As it stands, Duffy is not a top 15-ranked fighter, as Poirier currently sits comfortably at the No. 13 spot (see the list here).
A win over "The Diamond," however, could change all of that for "Irish Joe," who isn't short on confidence going into this weekend's event.