This Tuesday, August 2nd, 2022, Chris Duncan will take another shot on ‘Dana White’s Contender Series, facing American Charlie “The Cannibal” Campbell.
“The Problem” first appeared on ‘DWCS’ on October 12th, 2021, when he faced Viacheslav Borshchev.
Duncan only started training in MMA 8 years ago at age 21 in Strathyre, Scotland, at MXP Fitness, after his mother would sneak him into boxing classes when he was younger against his grandparents’ wishes. However, his mum spotted early on that her son had a talent for fighting and went all the way out to support him.
Fast forward eight years, the now 29-year-old athlete always knew that his first-ever job would have instilled a good work ethic within him.
Working as a Shepard in Glen Lochay, Killin, back in 2013, Duncan’s week would revolve around working almost non-stop for six days, getting drunk on a Saturday night, feeling rough on a Sunday and then beginning the cycle again. Finally, feeling he was going down a slippery slope, Duncan decided to get fully involved with MMA, much to his mother’s joy, who was his biggest fan and cheerleader.
Speaking with BBC Scotland sport, Duncan said, “When I didn’t have MMA, I needed to find something as I tended to find myself in bad situations; I would be fighting, drinking, doing stupid stuff and putting myself in stupid situations.”
Duncan’s first amateur fight was booked for April 20th, 2014, for promotion, Scottish Fight Challenge; however, Duncan was informed that his mother Elaine had been murdered on the day of the weigh-in.
Duncan had just heard the most soul-destroying words to come out of someone’s mouth, let alone try to comprehend what they meant to him. But, instead of reacting with grief and fear, Duncan knew he had to carry on with the MMA event for the memory of his mum.
Stating that he had an epiphany about his mother’s death and how friends and relatives would say his mother would want him to keep going, he decided there and then to pursue MMA full time.
With fire in his soul, Duncan won his fight in 56 seconds of round 1 via ground & pound.
From this point on, something changed inside Duncan. “The Problem” had arrived.
Building up an amateur career of 8-1, Duncan chose to go into the paid ranks in 2018.
“Since I started MMA, I have never been in trouble with the police and not even got a speeding fine,” Duncan stated to BBC Scotland Sport.
“This isn’t just for money; this keeps me driven.”
This drive has taken Duncan to become one of Scotland’s top MMA athletes.
Going 3-0 on Scotland’s local circuit, Duncan got the chance to showcase his skills on a much bigger platform. Bellator 217 Dublin. Facing Irish prospect Sam Slater, Duncan got to work early and finished in 3 minutes, coming by TKO/KO.
In 2020, with a record of 4-0 and all those wins coming by way of finishes, it was only time Duncan was sought after by promotion Bellator and officially signed a contract with them.
After going 2-0 with Bellator and taking his overall record to 6-0, Duncan and Bellator partied ways amicably due to being unable to secure any fights; after all, we lived in the harshest conditions, and COVID-19 hit the world hard.
Although we were living in a new restrictive world, that didn’t bother Duncan as coming from a tough background, having grit, determination and going through the most challenging thing a person could ever go through, Duncan’s hard work shone through. He got a call to go to Las Vegas and try out for Dana White’s Contender Series.
Originally scheduled to compete on September 28th, that bout was cancelled, and Duncan was left waiting for a new opponent. Having had two false starts on DWCS and making weight twice that same week, Duncan finally had an opponent and again made weight for the third time in a week and faced Viacheslav Borshchev on October 12th.
The then 7-0 prospect Chris Duncan was highly favoured against the 4-1 Team Alpha Male, Borshchev.
Despite a very competitive first round with both athletes having their fair share of the action, at 28 seconds of round two, Borshchev landed a clean left hook which laid Duncan flat out on the canvas.
And in turn, he handed Duncan his first professional loss and lost out on a lucrative contract with the UFC.
Not one to dwell on the past, the resilient and driven Chris Duncan made his way back home to Scotland to his girlfriend Laura and baby daughter Summer.
Not having to wait long before a new contract was offered to him with European promotion Cage Warriors on November 10th, Duncan didn’t hesitate to sign the contract.
However, Duncan never managed to put on the famous yellow gloves as he received a contract to appear in Dana White’s Contender Series.
Everything happens for a reason. It’s a time-old saying that “The Problem” has been dealt with in his life thus far, knowing that his mum is always with him on fight week, carrying a pendant on a chain with her fingerprint and wedding ring.
Chris Duncan, now 8-1, is looking forward to showing the world the fighter he can be by firmly cementing his name on Dana White’s lips.
Look out for Chris Duncan’s headlined bout tonight (02/08/22) on UFC Fight pass.
Five Rounds with Emma 