Paddy Holohan can’t understand why Dustin Poirier wouldn’t accept a new opponent

Joe Duffy was forced to pull out of his fight with Dustin Poirier after suffering concussion just five days after the bout between Ben Rothwell and Stipe Miocic was cancelled after Miocic withdrew with an injury.

With the shuffled line-up, the lightweight contest between TUF Smashes victor Norman Parke and Sweden-based fighter Reza Madadi was moved into the co-main event. This isn’t, ‘poke somebody and start a street fight.’ I was contracted to fight a guy who I prepared for, and it didn’t happen.

Daly missed out on the Dublin UFC card a year ago and while several commentators feel she deserves a berth on the main card, the established fighter feels that the opportunity to fight this time is a privilege. It turns out, however, that Norman Parke offered to fight Poirier.

Several other fighters also offered to step in and replace Duffy against Poirier, including two of Paddy Holohan’s Straight Blast Gym team-mates – UFC interim featherweight champion Conor McGregor and current TUF 22 contestant Artem Lobov.

Cariaso went on to a UFC 178 title fight against Demetrious Johnson. I was like “there’s no way we’re main event now, there’s no way”.

“They said it was up to me, and I talked to my coaches and we made a business decision, really”. I picked up from him things like when it’s time to rest and let my body recover and when it’s time to push my body to the limit.

“So sad to announce that I won’t be fighting on Saturday” said Duffy. While he packs a good overall game and wins over Phil Harris and Chris Beal were solid, he seemed to be a step behind the much younger and faster Smolka in his last fight. I’m a professional, and I’m going to the top and I’m going to do it right.

Duffy-Poirier had the makings of being a pretty sweet fight, so hopefully it gets rebooked soon.

This will be the first UFC main event for both Smolka and Holohan, but the Hawaiian based flyweight is already embracing his role as the ambassador to sell the show to fans and viewers across the world.