UFC Lightweight Joel Alvarez was victorious in his outing against veteran UFC staple Joseph Duffy at UFC Fight Night 2. The bout took place on the preliminary section of the fight card in the company’s sixth appearance in Abu Dhabi. The organization’s stint at Yas Fight Island has been a massive overall success with back-to-back events.

The finish came early in the first round as Alvarez secured a brisk reversal on a takedown from the Irishman, as reported by ESPN MMA. Duffy found himself caught in a deep Guillotine choke without a positional reversal in sight. Moreover, he appeared to attempt the standard hitch-hikers escape, however; the finish was inevitable.

UFC lightweight showdown: A look back

‘Irish Joe’ Duffy has been with the organization since 2015, undergoing mixed success in the promotion going 4-4. His stint in UFC came after spending the earlier stages of his career building his resume in cage warriors. Additionally, he holds a submission win over ‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor, which certainly remains a career highlight for any athlete.

He entered into the fight off the back of a long lay-off, and it was telling in his less than ideal response time. Chiefly, he is now on a three-fight skid and will be contemplating his next step in the organization going forward.

His opponent, Joel Alvarez, is proving himself to be a surging prospect in the 155-pound division. ‘El Fenomeno’ picked up his first big name to his resume going 2-1 in his short UFC tenure to date. Moreover, he has shown promise of incredible prowess on the ground, racking up 6 straight submission victories before entering the UFC. He has secured an array of submissions including D’arce, Anaconda, Armbar, and Triangle chokes.

The UFC Lightweight division is arguably the most cut-throat weight class on the UFC roster today. An inclusion of yet another dangerous prospect adds a layer of complexity to the weight class. Alvarez will be looking to build off his impressive performance at the Flash Forum in Abu Dhabi.