Very few teams in the MMA world have supplied stars like Dan Lambert’s American Top Team. Names like Dustin Poirier, Amanda Nunes, Kayla Harrison, and Jorge Masvidal, with whom Scottish fighter Chris Duncan has trained in the past, graduated from the Florida-based outlet. During an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, Duncan revealed the culture that ATT has developed, and how it startled him when he first joined the team.

Chris Duncan recently signed a 4-fight deal with the UFC, and he’ll be continuing his run in the promotion where he’s amassed five wins at the expense of one loss. As EssentiallySports’ Andrew Whitelaw sat down for a conversation with the Scotsman, the 14-2 fighter shared some interesting details about his time with American Top Team and how he found out that Dustin Poirier and Jorge Masvidal were not the kind of fighters he imagined they’d be.

Chris Duncan cherishes his time training ATT teammates Dustin Poirier and Jorge Masvidal

Who wouldn’t feel excited to train with legends like Dustin Poirier and Jorge Masvidal? Chris Duncan had a similar feeling when he joined the American Top Team, having watched Poirier and Masvidal achieve great things inside the Octagon on TV. For the Scotsman, these legends were legit superstars, but when he met them, the story was different.

Duncan claims he was surprised to see how normal and helpful the two former UFC fighters were in real life. “I’ve trained with them all. I have trained with Dustin [Poirier]. I have trained with Jorge Masvidal. And the big thing for me, when I’ve been in there, I just couldn’t believe how normal they were,” Duncan stated during the exclusive interview with EssentiallySports.

Duncan emphasized the genuine nature of Dustin Poirier and Jorge Masvidal, who may be brutal and dangerous inside the Octagon, but are down-to-earth outside of the cage. “They’re just good guys and offering me advice… You see them on TV and you put a massive stamp on them, say that these are superstars. But they’re just general day people,” he added. “I’ve trained with Dustin. [He’s] such a good guy, and [I’ve] learned so much from them. It’s a great feeling.”

Chris Duncan has always had a good relationship with Dustin Poirier. The former 3-time title challenger has even given the Scotsman’s perspective on life. One of the most impactful moments that Duncan talks about was listening to what Poirier had to say in his final Octagon interview.

Duncan recalls Poirier’s final Octagon interview

Be humble! That’s a saying that not many people abide by, but Dustin Poirier does. Chris Duncan mentioned UFC 318 and how that week the whole focus was on Poirier since it was his last fight week. Despite the loss to Max Holloway, ‘The Diamond’ received a grand reaction from the Louisiana collective. But what stuck with Duncan the most was Poirier’s humble demeanor during the Octagon interview with Joe Rogan, despite the hype and fanfare surrounding his “last dance.”

“I always remember Dustin. Joe Rogan came up to him with the microphone. He says, ‘Dustin, you are the man!’ And then he goes, ‘No, Joe. I’m just a man,'” Chris Duncan added. “That translates very well to me. Like, you’re just a man. Why can’t you be that type of person?” That’s not all, though! Apart from learning things on a personal note, Duncan has also learned the most popular move in Poirier’s skill set, the guillotine choke, which helped him earn a win over Jordan Vucenic.

“Well, Dustin, you know, was kind enough to show me some tips and tricks when it comes to finishing the guillotine and also the hand position. The position I had my hands in was the most tightest. It’s, like, game over,” Chris Duncan stated in March. “You know, it’s a little bit slower in the transitions if I’m moving onto other submissions, but, you know, it was Dustin that showed me the reverse handshake grip.”

Dustin Poirier is not just an invaluable part of the American Top Team and the UFC, but also in the lives of the people he’s built relationships with. Chris Duncan is certainly one of those people who have had only positive things to say about ‘The Diamond’. So, what do you think about his statements regarding ATT, his teammates, and the culture of the team?