While his name is now etched into the UFC history books, (temporarily, at least) undefeated heavyweight prospect Todd Duffee doesn’t plan on taking an easy road to the top. Nor does he feel like taking the time to relish the memory of what was surely the most important moment of his young professional career.

 

When asked about the hype that preceded his debut last month at UFC 102, Duffee was surprisingly modest for such a young, inexperienced competitor. He claims the hype was all a result of his being labeled a “gym hero” while training at one of the world’s premier destinations for top level mixed martial arts, American Top Team.

 

While Duffee understands why thousands of MMA fans around the world have jumped onto his bandwagon - after a record-setting seven second knockout of Tim Hague - and while he appreciates the commercial success all the attention has given him at only 23 years of age, it doesn’t mean he has to like it.

 

“I don’t really like the hype,” Duffee said in an exclusive interview with CONCEDE MMA this week. “It’s kind of frustrating in some ways.”

 

With a handful of fast-rising prospects like Shane Carwin, Cain Valasquez, and Junior Dos Santos making waves in recent months, the UFC’s heavyweight division seems to be building steam towards a complete revitalization, making Duffee’s position all the more intriguing. While many undefeated and over-hyped prospects debut in the world’s top MMA organization with unspectacular, albeit solid performances, Duffee, a complete unknown prior to his second round knockout of Assuerio Silva in September of 2008, did the unthinkable. He shattered the already-steep expectations set for him in only his fifth professional fight.

 

Adding to his growing reputation, Duffee went on to request that UFC President Dana White not “feed” him easy opposition, following his demolition of Hague. Speaking further on the matter, Duffee said, “As far as jumping into the deep end, I wouldn’t have signed with the UFC if I thought there was a guy in there I couldn’t give a good fight to.”

 

When asked about the prospect of facing goliaths such as UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar or top contender Shane Carwin, Duffee was confident without seeming brash. “I think I’m capable of beating anybody on any given night … There are a bunch of fights where I would consider myself the underdog, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think I can win.”

 

While he doesn’t have an extensive collegiate wrestling background to draw from - as Lesnar, Valasquez, and some of the other top UFC heavyweights do - Duffee was unperturbed at the prospect of locking up with accomplished wrestlers. “I think I could deal with the wrestling,” he said. “Wrestling is actually the thing that came more naturally to me than anything else … Georges St-Pierre didn’t have a wrestling background, so I don’t see that being a giant concern of mine.”

 

Perhaps the most intriguing discovery a lengthy conversation with Duffee can reveal, however, is the mental aspect of his game. At 23 years old, 6’3” and close to the heavyweight limit of 265 lbs., Duffee is in the infancy of his body’s athletic potential, making a number of runs at a UFC title not only possible, but - according to training partners and coaches - a near certainty.

 

Bring any of this up to Todd, and he will politely rebuke you for putting the word title in the same sentence as his name, never mind that of anybody else. “In this sport I think it’s not really about your record and I think people need to get away from that. It’s about match-ups … it’s about putting on good fights. Who cares about a title?”

 

Opinionated, confident, hard working, and undoubtedly passionate about the sport, Duffee should be a fighter who gains a lot of attention - unwanted or not - throughout his career, no matter how many world champions he defeats. Don’t think he has what it takes?

 

“I know that I still have a lot to prove,” said Duffee, addressing his doubters. “I know the hype is a bunch of bullshit and I’m not a part of that hype.”

 

He isn’t worried.