Duffee to Fight Hague, Not Russow

Well, every once in a while the first announcement is wrong. MMAJunkie is reporting that UFC newcomer Todd Duffee (4-0 MMA) will still be making his debut in the Octagon at UFC 102, but will be making his debut against Canadian true heavyweight Tim “The Thrashing Machine” Hague (10-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC).

Duffee, who has posted four wins by KO or TKO in his professional career including a victory over UFC veteran Assuerio Silva (14-7-0-1 MMA, 0-3 UFC) in the Brazilian promotion Jungle Fight last September (it was Duffee’s most recent professional victory), was originally alleged to be fighting fellow UFC newcomer Mike Russow (11-1-0-1 MMA), a Pride veteran on a seven fight win streak with seven straigh finishes. Duffee vs. Russow was regarded, initially, as a matchup between two considerable prospects, given that Duffee is undefeated and Russow’s only loss came at Pride 33 at the hands of well respected Russian fighter Sergei Kharitonov, and Russow hasn’t gone to a decision since his first bout (a fight at Jeet Kune Do challenge in 1998, which was followed by an 8 year hiatus from professional fighting).

Tim Hague is an equally respectable opponent and will provide a serious test for Duffee. Hague made his UFC debut at UFC 98, where he submitted kickboxer veteran and well regarded UFC heavyweight prospect Pat Barry (4-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) with a guillotine choke at 1:42 of the first round. At 6’4 and 265 pounds, Hague will present a serious test for the only slightly smaller, but significantly less experienced Duffee. It should be a phenomenal undercard bout and another small step towards bringing new, young blood into the UFC heavyweight division.