Saskatoon UFC fighter Mitch Clarke tours Cosmo Industries
Saskatoon-born UFC fighter visits Cosmpolitan Industries ahead of the first UFC event in Sask.
He's not fighting in the first-ever UFC Fight Night in Saskatchewan this weekend, but Saskatoon's Mitch Clarke is in town and meeting with people with intellectual disabilities ahead of the event.
Clarke fights based out of Edmonton these days, although he's been sidelined with an injury to his arm that he calls a 'bizarre set of circumstances'. He was receiving acupuncture treatment when he heard the handle break, and the person performing it told him the handle of the needle broke off in his left forearm. He required surgery as a result and is still regaining feeling back in the arm.
"It's kind of a mixture of emotions. I'm really happy that Saskatchewan gets their own UFC event. Obviously I'd like to fight on it," he said. "I was getting ready just in case, because I was thinking they'd pick me to be on this card, but things didn't line up."
Clarke signs autographs for fans
On Friday morning, he toured Cosmopolitan Industries in Saskatoon and met with some of the program's participants and staff. Cosmopolitan Industries offers day programs for adults in Saskatoon who are intellectually disabled. Many of those focus on improving life and vocational skills and build self-esteem for its participants.
"I think it's important. As soon as I came in, people were smiling for me to get pictures with them," Clarke said. "Any way I can help centres like this, it's gratifying for me in that I'm able to help someone else. Usually what I do to try and help someone else, instead of just punching someone in the face. [It's] something that actually has substance."
Clarke autographed a stack of his photos bearing his nickname, Danger Zone. He says spending a few days in his home city has been eye-opening because he's not used to people wanting his autograph.
He said despite his injury and inability to fight his way onto the card, he wanted to lend his support to the UFC fight in Saskatoon.
UFC Fight Night begins at 4 p.m. CST at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon on Saturday, Aug. 23.
"The thing is, it'd be selfish to just think about me. You've got to think about the sport, you've got to think about Saskatoon and Saskatchewan."