Wexford’s Adam Duffy targets World Gold at IMMAF Youth Championships

Gorey mixed martial arts prospect Adam Duffy is preparing for one of the biggest challenges of his young career as he gets ready to represent Ireland at the IMMAF Youth Championships in Dubai this August…

The talented teenager, who trains out of Richie Ivory’s gym in Gorey, will compete against the world’s top youth MMA athletes in what is widely regarded as the premier international competition for aspiring fighters.

“The highest level competition is the IMMAF… They have connections to even the UFC and it is recognised as the biggest youth MMA competition,” Duffy told Wexford Weekly.

After narrowly missing out on gold last year, Duffy is determined to return stronger and finish the job.

“Preparation is great, diet is great, I’m healthy and in shape,” he said. “I feel very sharp and ready to get what was rightfully mine last year.”

The championships will see competitors from across the globe descend on Dubai, with athletes representing nations including Ireland, the United States, Tajikistan, Angola, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, England, Russia, Mongolia, Ukraine, Romania, Mexico, Pakistan, Lebanon and Austria to name just a few.

While Duffy already knows several of the competitors in his division, the draw for his opening contest will not be confirmed until fight week.

“I do know some opponents in the bracket right now but I will not know who I’ll be facing first until the week of the fight,” he explained. “I’ll be hoping to face the Tajikistan guy from last year who robbed me of my gold, but we will see. The opponent does not matter—we are taking that gold home, trust me on that.”

One of the unique challenges of the tournament is its demanding format, with fighters potentially required to compete multiple times in a single day.

“I will be fighting six times in one singular day,” Duffy said. “You have to do whatever it takes to become the world’s best,” he said.

Despite competing on one of amateur MMA’s biggest stages, Duffy says financial support remains one of the sport’s biggest obstacles.

“Funding is definitely an issue,” he said. “There are many expenses when it comes to fighting such as supplements, dieting, training, travel, accommodation and registration fees. I need to reach €5,000 to get to Abu Dhabi and represent our country. It’s crazy, and us MMA athletes don’t receive any funding from our government here in Ireland.”

There will be multiple fundraisers coming up around County Wexford in the lead up to help get Adam to Dubai. One such fundraiser will take place at One For The Road in Ballycanew on 18 July. It is also hoped that some local businesses will jump on board to help with the financial burden. It’s an opportunity to support a local athlete on the biggest stages.

Backed by his coaches, training partners and the local community in Gorey, Duffy remains confident that all of the hard work will pay off when he steps into the cage.

“In my mind I am the best in the world already,” he said. “Now it’s time to go make it official. I’m proud to represent my country and my people, and proud to be bringing the gold home in August.”

As the countdown continues, the Gorey native will be hoping to make both his town and his country proud by returning from Dubai with a world title.