Mitch Clarke kicking John Maguire (photo via Josh Hedges/ UFC/ZUFFA/Getty Images)

By Kelsey Mowatt

Following a bizarre and extremely unfortunate injury that Mitch Clarke incurred several weeks ago, the UFC lightweight is hoping to get a better sense of his recovery, when he competes in a pro grappling match on September 12th.

Clarke was hoping to fight at UFC Fight Night 74 this past weekend, which took place in his native Saskatoon. Earlier this year, however, Clarke was injured during an acupuncture session, when the needle broke off in his arm during the treatment. Clarke had to have surgery to remove the needle, and the 29 year-old hasn’t had all of the feeling return to his arm.

Up next, “Danger Zone” is scheduled to grapple Scott Nause at a Submission Series Pro event on September 12th in Nova Scotia, and he will use the match as a measuring stick to see where he’s at. Recently Clarke appeared on Full Contact Fighter Radio, and relayed the following:

“I love competing and it’s part of who I am and who I’ve been for the last ten years,” said Clarke. “But I definitely want to fight again and a little set back like this isn’t going to hold me down.”

“They say it’s too early to tell,” added Clarke, when asked if his doctors have provided him a timeline, in terms of when he may be fully recovered. “They’re just looking to see how my body reacts…just trying to activate what nerves I have in there. I can take a pen and push it into the skin, and stuff like that, and I can’t feel a thing in my arm.”

Clarke is remaining upbeat and optimistic, however, despite the fact he’s had a very tough year to date. Clarke was decisioned by Michael Chiesa in April, and injured his hamstring during the bout.

“When you overcome setbacks like this, it just makes whatever happens next, that much sweeter,” said Clarke, who defeated John Maguire and Al Iaquinta prior to facing Chiesa. “So, I’m just using it as motivation to be better.”

The upcoming Submission Series Pro event will be hosted by Truro’s Marigold Centre. Clarke’s MMA record currently stands at 11-3.