UFC FN 90: Mitch Clarke’s Ready for Octagon Return, Following Bizarre Injury And “Rough Time”
By Kelsey Mowatt
Mitch Clarke repeatedly said he would fight again, following a bizarre acupuncture incident that left him with no feeling in part of his arm, but the lightweight admits, he had his doubts.
The UFC veteran had to undergo surgery last year to remove a needle that broke off in his arm, while receiving acupuncture. Not only that, but Clarke incurred some nerve damage, and for a time, it wasn’t clear if and when he’d fight again.
“It’s not great to not be able to feel your arm from your elbow down, so, getting clearance and stuff might have been a little bit harder, getting a doctor’s note and stuff like that,” Clarke recently said on Full Contact Fighter Radio, when asked if he ever had doubts that his fighting career would resume. “As dumb as I may be sometimes, I still have to be smart about my body, it’s the only one I got, so, I’m not going to risk my arm for the rest of my life to go fight again, if it it’s not actually able to.”
“It is scary been told that something you’ve done for years and years is something that you might not ever do again,” the 30 year-old added. “It was a little bit rough time, and it was one of those time where I either let it own me, or own it myself, and kind of just keep plugging away. I chose the second. Keep plugging away and keep getting better.”
But, thanks to some successful rehab and physiotherapy, “Danger Zone” has been cleared to fight and will take on Joe Duffy at UFC FN 90, July 7th.
“Nope, 100%”, said Clarke, when asked if he has any numbness left in his arm as a result of the accident. “They found out what part of the issue was, and my team went in and fixed it, and I’m good to go. 100%. I have no discretion in throwing it, people grabbing it, I’m ready to use my arm 100%.”
Clarke (11-3) hasn’t fought since last April, when he was decisioned by Michael Chiesa. Prior to that the Canadian fighter scored consecutive wins over John Maguire and Al Iaquinta.
Duffy (14-2) is also coming off a loss, as he was decisioned by Dustin Poirier in January. The defeat snapped the Irish fighter’s four fight winning streak.
UFC FN 90 will be hosted by the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.