Hoping setbacks in past, UFC 209's Todd Duffee doesn't feel like a 31-year-old heavyweight

Being a fighter hasn’t always been the easiest road for Todd Duffee.

The UFC heavyweight became an instant prospect in 2009 when he knocked out Tim Hague in seven seconds at UFC 102. But a loss in his next fight had him chased from the promotion.

Two fights later, he was back – and back to his heavy-handed ways. But injuries and illness always have been the bane of Duffee’s UFC existence. After his return to the promotion for a bonus-winning knockout of Philip De Fries at UFC 155 in December 2012, it was almost two years before he fought again.

When he returned at UFC 181, he needed just 33 seconds to knock out Anthony Hamilton in December 2014. He was knocked out by Frank Mir in a 73-second slugfest of a main event in July 2015 – and when he returns in March at UFC 209, it will have been 20 months since he’s been in action, giving him another lengthy layoff.

But that might just work to his advantage, he told MMAjunkie Radio on Friday. After all, that means his body has less wear-and-tear than the average 31-year-old UFC heavyweight.

In his five fights in the UFC, he’s been in the cage for only 16:30 of actual octagon time. In his entire pro career, going back nearly 10 years – and only 12 pro fights – he’s had just 29 minutes of total cage time.

“I have a young body,” Duffee said. “I feel like I have five or six more years of this athletic ability. I don’t feel any slower. I don’t feel 31. I don’t even really feel like I look 31. I looked in the mirror when I turned 31 and I was like, ‘Damn! I kind of look young.’ People still think I’m in my 20s. I don’t feel like I have wear-and-tear. I feel pretty good. Most of my injuries, the nerve thing would be the only thing that would be considered a wear-and-tear type injury. I feel like I have five or six solid years left, easy.”

The “nerve thing” was Parsonage Turner Syndrome, a disroder that he was afflicted with after his win over De Fries. But ahead of UFC 209, which takes place March 4 at T-Mobile Arena, where Duffee (9-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) will fight fellow heavyweight Godbeer (11-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC), he believes he can be healthy, go on a run and compete for a title.

“I’m pretty much set up (to fight three times in 2017),” he said. “I’ve got this fight in March, and then I have a summer, fall and winter date going on. Get in and get busy, get paid – that’s the goal right now. That’s always the goal, to fight consistently. It’s not always as easy at heavyweight because there isn’t as many. So I’m sure it’s a matchmaker’s nightmare trying to keep these guys active and keep everybody matched up.

“I think I’m ready to compete for a world title my next fight … that’s where the money’s at, and that’s why we’re doing this at the end of the day. Once you’re in the UFC, you’re looking at the 30 best guys in the world in your weight division. They’re all tough. If you can give me a title fight tomorrow, I’d probably take it. … As soon as they’re ready to give it to me, I’ll take it.”

For more on UFC 209, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

MMAjunkie Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by “Gorgeous” George Garcia and producer Brian “Goze” Garcia. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.