If fighting is all about heart, well, UFC 223’s Devin Clark, a.k.a. Brown Bear, has more than his share.
UFC 223 is set to be a showcase for the lower weight classes just over a week away in Brooklyn, NY. So when light heavyweight Devin Clark enters the cage against Mike Rodriguez as part of the preliminary card, the pair will be the lone bout upwards of 155lbs at the event.
With the duo representing the big men, they’ll certainly stand out. And interestingly enough, they walked a similar path getting to the UFC. For Devin Clark, the call came after an appearance on Dana White’s Lookin’ for a Fight, under the RFA banner. Rodriguez, meanwhile, fought his way into the UFC on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series.
Clark, of course, has a head start on his opponent. He’s been with the UFC for nearly two years, going 2-2 in the promotion. After a debut loss at middleweight, he returned to light heavyweight, winning two of his three fights in the division thus far. He’ll welcome Rodriguez to the fold at UFC 223, and ahead of the bout, discussed the match-up and more with Cageside Press.
“I don’t stand still like his last opponent did. I’m a hard guy to get a hold of”
With both fighters entering the promotion via Fight Pass shows, Clark admits that while the two shows had their differences in how they prepared fighters for “the big show per say with the lights and the whole promotion type deal,” he can relate to his opponent. “I can definitely relate to him. But now it’s the real deal and the big show, so hopefully he’s ready for that.”
As for what he’s expecting from his opponent on Saturday, who scored a huge flying knee finish on the Contender Series, Clark told us that “he’s definitely going to have to use his range and try to catch me with something.”
“Good luck with that,” he added. “I don’t stand still like his last opponent did. I’m a hard guy to get a hold of, he can go ahead and try, but that’s when he’s going to get put on his back. I’m definitely going to be using my wrestling, and using my assets.” Clark has definitely scouted his opponent, noting that “he likes to set up that flying knee, that rear knee, and he uses a front teep to do it. Or if a guy stands still he’ll throw it there too. That’s definitely one of his strong suits, is his flying knee, and his Muay Thai type stuff.”
Getting to the victory for Clark will mean “taking [Rodriguez] down, and a TKO, or whatever I’ve got to do to get that win. A finish would be nice, but at the end of the day, I’m looking for a W.”
Training with the famed Jackson-Winkeljohn has its benefits when it comes to getting that win, of course. Saying that his current camp was going great, Clark told us that “this is my fifth camp here, I love it down here.”
“You’ve got the altitude, you’ve got the mountains,” he explained. “And then you’ve got the coaches and the training partners. It’s a full machine, that gets you everything you need, and you know you’re working hard. At the end of the day, you’ve done everything you can.” He’s been training with “a little bit of everybody” though he singled out Tuesday Night Contender Series alum Bevon Lewis, a guy decent range, like a certain former light heavyweight champ.
Though Rodriguez is dead ahead, UFC London, now in the rearview mirror, happened to see a triumphant moment from the last man to beat Devin Clark, Jan Blachowicz. Clark definitely took note, and Blachowicz getting the win (over Jimi Manuwa) also proved that Clark’s able to hang with the best.
“That’s a fight I wish I could get back,” he admitted, “and hopefully I will get that fight back one day. Hopefully I can rematch him one day. Because I know I can beat him. I made one mistake in that fight, and it cost me the fight. He’s really good, he’s a black belt in Jiu-jitsu, he choked me when he could. That’s a fight. Definitely, I was happy about what I did on my feet.”
Ultimately, the lesson learned is “knowing I can hang with those top contenders. Knowing that I am one of those top contenders, I’m just going to take my time and get there.”
In the meantime, the light heavyweight division will take a brief pause while champion Daniel Cormier faces Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight title. To Clark, “it kind of is what it is.”
“It’s a decent fight I suppose,” he continued, adding “I kind of want to see the fight. It’ll be a good competition. Whether D.C. wins or not, I don’t know what he’ll do, if he’ll stay at heavyweight or go back down to light heavyweight. I have a feeling he’ll go up to heavyweight, and that just frees up some space.”
As to who wins, “that’s a hard one to call. D.C. can probably get it done with his wrestling, but you can’t count Stipe out of anything.”
“It’s a toss up to me” Clark finished.
“Just be nice to everybody, and treat everybody how you want to be treated.”
When it comes to heart, Devin Clark has shown it both inside the cage and out. Clark has become well known for his work advocating for those with Down’s Syndrome. It’s something he got into via his friendship with Kevin Kroger, who’s done marketing work for the fighter. Kevin’s son Camden has Down’s Syndrome. As Clark tells it, “I met him, and the relationship just kind of took off. Obviously there’s a connection there, and I figured why not use my platform to do some good, and bring awareness to the situation.”
If there’s one thing Clark feels people should know about those with the condition, it’s that “they’re people. They’re people just like you and me, and they shouldn’t be treated any other way. There’s no reason to treat somebody foully for how they were born. Just be nice to everybody, and treat everybody how you want to be treated.”
That’s a message that too often gets lost these days. Clark doesn’t just stop there, however. He’s also been involved with Garrett’s Fight, which helped MMA fighter Garrett Holeve, born with down’s syndrome, compete in his first sanctioned fight. It’s a connection Clark also made via Kroger. In the end, the UFC light heavyweight told us he “ended up driving to St. Louis for his fight, ended up being in his corner, and now we’re friends. Garrett, I know he trains every day, he’s about that life. Definitely a good guy — just a fighter, just like me.”
As for Clark himself, getting back to the topic of UFC 223 and Mike Rodriguez, his prediction for the bout is simple. “I’m going to hurt him. One way or another, I’m going to hurt him, that’s my prediction.”
UFC 223 takes place Saturday, April 7 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.
