Todd Duffee, a former competitor in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) heavyweight division, re-emerged in the mixed martial arts (MMA) scene for the first time since 2019 on the night of February 25th, 2023. This transpired within the confines of the Home Credit Arena located in Liberec, Czech Republic, where the KSW 79 event was taking place. Duffee’s return, however, proved to be a brief one as he was quickly defeated by the reigning KSW heavyweight champion, Phil De Fries, who earned a first-round TKO victory.
Given Duffee’s prolonged hiatus from the sport, it was crucial for De Fries to initiate the confrontation rapidly and place the heavyweight fighter in a state of discomfort. De Fries executed this strategy effectively, securing control of Duffee while they were both grounded. From that point onwards, De Fries pummeled Duffee with powerful ground-and-pound strikes that coerced the former UFC competitor to adopt a defensive stance. Despite the referee allowing ample time for Duffee to recuperate, he was ultimately unable to muster a response, signifying his defeat.
Phil De Fries, who is 36 years old, has won his 11th consecutive fight and has defended his KSW heavyweight title for the eighth time. This is a noteworthy achievement and one of the key reasons why many expected De Fries to triumph against Todd Duffee, who was making a comeback after a prolonged absence from MMA.
Watch the highlights below:
WOW!! Domination!!! 🤯
🇬🇧 @phildefriesmma finishes 🇺🇸 Todd Duffee in the first round!! #KSW79 pic.twitter.com/RFLaPOO2B0
— KSW (@KSW_MMA) February 25, 2023
