Prospect in the Spotlight (Sept 6-7): Shannon Clark

Introduction

Tuesday, September 3rd, Canadian flyweight prospect Shannon Clark will be in action for Dana White’s Contender Series, where she will be looking continue her winning ways against Yuneisy Duben. She will be looking for another win, as Clark looks to score a contract with the UFC. She represents Canadian Martial Arts Centre, a solid camp in MMA. Let’s take a closer look at this prospect as this week’s “Prospect Spotlight.”

Strengths

Well-Rounded: Clark is a jack of all trades in the cage, as she’s very capable in all facets of the game. She reminds me a bit of fellow countryman Julia Budd in terms of her frame and style. She has solid striking ability, mixing up her kicks and punches well. She’s also a good ground striker on the ground, where she utilizes effective ground-and-pound. Three of her five wins are by knockout. That said, she also has solid wrestling and good grappling from the top. Her most recent bout saw her bulldog choke Thaiany Lopes, who was the biggest test of Clark’s career.

Physicality: Like I said before, Clark reminds me a bit of Julia Budd, and that’s very apparent in her physical style. She has the physical strength to bully opponents and likes to get into battles of attrition. It helps her control the fight and keep the advantage.

Needs Improvement

Step Up in Competition: Clark has fought some solid competition thus far, but nobody that can be considered top-level thus far. Her biggest test was the aforementioned Lopes, which is solid, but up until LFA, she was a regional fighter. That said, she’s looked impressive in all five of her pro wins, so I think she’s ready to make that step up.

Outlook

UFC Midcarder: At 32 years old, time is ticking for Clark, as the UFC is known for not generally going after older fighters. That said, she looks to be in her athletic peak right now. She also has an advantageous matchup with Yuneisy Duben, who looks like a fighter that needs more seasoning on the regionals before getting a shot at the UFC. This should be a showcase for Clark, who then takes her game to the UFC and shows what she’s made of.