Ciaran Clarke Set for London Showdown as He Flies the Flag for Drogheda
MMA star Ciaran Clarke is ready to make his mark once again as he heads to Wembley Arena in London this weekend, aiming to extend his unbeaten professional record to 10-0. The 29-year-old Bellator bantamweight has overcome injury and illness ahead of his latest bout and is proud to represent his hometown of Drogheda on the international stage.
Drogheda, a town known for producing sporting legends such as boxers Tony ‘Socks’ Byrne and Deirdre Gogarty, footballers Gary Kelly and Ian Harte, and handball great Joey Maher, now has a rising MMA star in Clarke, who hails from Yellowbatter. Located near sporting institutions Drogheda United and Newtown Blues GAA, Clarke has always felt the support of his hometown.
“I’m fully aware I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support from the people of Drogheda,” Clarke said. “The town may be Ireland’s biggest, but it has a small community feel where everyone gets behind each other. That support, along with my coaches, has been essential.”
Trained by Irish MMA pioneer John Kavanagh, Clarke and his younger brother Daryl spent years commuting from Drogheda to Dublin’s Straight Blast Gym. Now, Clarke is fighting at the iconic Wembley Arena, where fellow Irish sports star Katie Taylor made her professional boxing debut in 2016.
“It’s unbelievable to say I’m fighting at Wembley. It’s one of those places with such history, and I know a lot of people are excited to come and support me,” Clarke said. “But honestly, it doesn’t matter where the fight is as long as there’s a cage.”
Clarke’s last fight, in Belfast, saw him dominate Darius Mafi with a third-round submission via arm triangle choke, but it came after his most challenging training camp. Nine weeks before the bout, Clarke suffered an injury that stopped him from sparring. Then, just two weeks before the fight, he was diagnosed with shingles and had to navigate fight preparation while on antibiotics.
“It was very tough, but thank God it worked out. The doctor told me most people would have been floored by it, but because I was so fit, I managed to push through,” Clarke reflected.
This weekend, Clarke faces Spaniard Zebenzui Ruiz, a tough and versatile opponent with experience at featherweight. Despite Ruiz’s strong record, Clarke remains confident. “He’s a great lad with good grappling and physicality, but I’m ready. His record looks good, but I’m not sure if his opponents had the skills of the lads I’ve fought.”
While Clarke dreams of fighting in America in the future, his focus for now is firmly on Saturday night as he looks to add another victory to his unbeaten record and continue flying the flag for Drogheda.