MITCH CLARKE, who faces Joseph Duffy tonight at UFC Fight Night 90 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, has come through more his fair share of adversity to get back to the octagon.
Clarke hasn’t fought in 15 months, his last bout a decision defeat to Michael Chiesa at UFC Fight Night 63 in Virginia last April.
Clarke has had his share of injury woes, stretching back to a popped elbow sustained during his win over Al Iaquinta in 2014. Clarke popped his elbow out whilst recording the first D’arce choke from the bottom in the history of UFC.
Clarke has also suffered from a torn patella tendon and had to have knee surgery.
In his bout with Chiesa, Clarke broke a knuckle and picked up hamstring and back injuries, but there was an even more worrying moment last year.
[adrotate group=”55″]During acupuncture treatment, a needle broke off in his forearm and required surgery.
“They went to turn the needle, and you could hear a little click,” Clarke told MMA Junkie. You hear the doctor say, ‘Uh oh.’ Whenever a health care professional says, ‘Uh oh,’ you know something is bad. They asked, ‘What do I do?” And I said, ‘I don’t know. Go get someone.’ I had the needle stuck in my arm and promptly went to the emergency room.”
Clarke is back in action tonight when he squares up to Burtonport’s Duffy in Vegas.
[adrotate group=”46″]It hasn’t just been his own injuries that have hit Clarke hard. Just last month, his former room-mate Ryan Jimmo was killed in a hit-and-run in Edmonton.
“Adversity is what makes champions great. It takes pressure to build that diamond and now it’s time for me to build that diamond,” said Clarke, who spent the last two months of his training camp in Albuquerque to train under Greg Jackson.
“I believe in myself and my abilities, and I’ve totally changed my mental focus. I believe in what I’m doing … I didn’t hold anything back. This fight’s all about me.”
[adrotate group=”77″] Tags: