UFC’s Mitch Clarke Planning Return, Says Freak Injury is “Not Going to Hold me Down Any Further”
By Kelsey Mowatt
After suffering several injuries, including a freak and serious one while receiving acupuncture, Mitch Clarke is determined to fight again sooner than later.
The lightweight hasn’t fought since last April now, when he was decisioned by Michael Chiesa at UFC Fight Night 63. The 30 year-old was hoping to compete at UFC Fight Night 74 last August, which took place in his native, Saskatoon.
Several weeks prior, however, a needle broke off in Clarke’s arm during an acupuncture session, and the fighter had to undergo surgery to have it removed. The bizarre incident, and a more recent shoulder injury, have kept him on the sidelines since.
Recently Clarke appeared on Full Contact Fighter Radio, and while updating his condition, he reported this:
“My feeling in my hand, it will go numb every once and awhile, which I’ve just kind of learned to deal with,” said Clarke, while referring to the nerve damage his arm incurred as a result of the accident. “I don’t know if that’s probably the best way to deal with it, but part of my arm has some feeling in it, but there’s still a chunk of it which has no feeling in it at all.”
“I’ve been doing a lot of rehab and therapy to try and get it going again”, furthered the Edmonton resident, who has also trained with The MMA Lab in Arizona. “At the same time, I’ve decided that I’m not going to let it hold me down any further.”
As Clarke noted, despite the fact he’s not full recovered from the setback, “Danger Zone” hopes to return to the Octagon this spring.
“I want to fight anytime between March and June,” said Clarke, who prior to facing Chiesa, had scored consecutive wins over John Maguire and Al Iaquinta. “I want to get a fight in. I’ve been training since the beginning of December. For me, it’s about going out there and not letting this hinder me. It’s about getting better, and I want to fight again. It’s important for me to fight again.”
Clarke has gone 11-3 now since he transitioned into pro MMA back in 2007.