Todd Duffee not done in UFC despite neurological disorder that impairs motor skills

Todd Duffee is 28 years old and has fought underneath the banner of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) three times.

His most recent showing was at UFC 155 in a technical knockout victory over Phillip De Fries, but since that outing, Duffee has been on the shelf due to a rare neurological disorder.

The 8-2 American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) product was diagnosed with Parsonage-Turner Syndrome (PTS) -- also known as idiopathic brachial plexopathy or neuralgic amyotrophy -- a little over four months ago and according to a report from UFC Tonight, the heavyweight slugger isn't throwing in the towel on his mixed martial arts (MMA) career just yet.

The condition, which disrupts the motor skills of those who are impaired, can take as long as two years to fully recover from.

This is not discouraging Duffee, however, who tells Ariel Helwani that while he is taking his recovery slow, he hopes to potentially make a return to the Octagon this fall.

"I am doing my own rehab, sadly. So, there is no telling. I am trying to be smart. I have successfully grappled and sparred. I am nowhere near where I need to be. I will hopefully know more in two months. If things progress, I will ask for a fight with a four-month camp, looking at a September or October time frame."

This is already a tad bit sooner than Duffee originally said last November (details here).

An interesting aspect to this story is the fact that Duffee is taking care of his rehabilitation on his own, possibly implying that needed medical procedures that could improve his recovery are not at his fingertips.

Here's to a speedy recovery for the man who has one of the fastest knockouts in UFC history under his belt and if a return to the Octagon is in fact in the cards, no recurring symptoms.

Stay tuned.