TORONTO – Canadian lightweight Mitch (Danger Zone) Clarke returns to action July 7 against (Irish) Joe Duffy on a televised UFC Fight Night card in Las Vegas.
Clarke, a Saskatoon native who trains in Edmonton and Arizona, is coming off a loss by decision last April to Michael Chiesa, who is currently ranked ninth among lightweight contenders. The loss was the third against two wins in the UFC for Clarke (11-3-0).
The main event of the card pits lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos against No. 2 contender Eddie Alvarez.
Clarke will fight alongside Montreal lightweight John (The Bull) Makdessi, whose scheduled bout against Mehdi Baghdad at UFC 199 on June 4 in Los Angeles has been shifted to the July 7 show in Vegas.
Clarke’s return to the cage was delayed by an injury to his arm sustained undergoing intramuscular stimulation treatment. A small needle broke in his arm and had to be removed surgically.
Duffy (14-2-0) is 2-1 in the UFC with a loss last time out to Dustin Poirier. He has a submission win over countryman (The Notorious) Conor McGregor outside the UFC back in 2010.
The July 7 card is one of three UFC shows that week in Las Vegas, culminating with UFC 200 on July 9.