AIMING HIGH IS NOT A PROBLEM

Duncan targeting spot in top 15 after his success in London

- STUART MCFARLANE

Stirling's UFC fight star Chris Duncan carries the moniker of 'The Problem' as he battles in the Octagon — but he's hoping there are no hiccups on his journey towards the MMA elite.

The 31-year-old, originally from Strathyre, is still basking in the glow of a confident victory last time out at the O2 in London against Jordan Vucenic, which included battling a partisan atmosphere in favour of his English opponent.

But Duncan insisted that victory actually went more easily than he had anticipated and the hostility of the home crowd just fed into an intensity for the bout.

He said: "Jordan was going to be home favourite just with the English connection; it was kind of my home crowd if I was fighting someone foreign.

"One of the media guys said it was the 'Calcutta Cup' of MMA, so I played into that and the pride I have in my Scottish heritage to motivate me during the fight.