Clarke's hometown has produced numerous sporting greats over the years
MMA star Ciaran Clarke is super proud to fly the flag for sports-mad Drogheda as he aims to take his professional record to 10-0 in London this weekend.
"I'm fully aware and fully know that I wouldn't be where I am today without the support from the people of Drogheda," said the Bellator bantamweight. "Obviously the support of my coaches as well, I know without all these things I wouldn't be where I am today without the support. "Then when it's a smaller town, it sort of has I suppose that GAA feel to it when everyone gets behind you and I know I wouldn't be where I am without that support from all my sponsors locally too."
"It's unbelievable," he said about fighting at the Wembley Arena. "I think everyone is like 'where are you fighting, is it the 3Arena again?' And when I say London and Wembley, they're like 'Wembley, no way'. Clarke produced a dominant performance last time out in Belfast, beating Darius Mafi with an arm triangle choke in the third round, but the 29-year-old stated after that win that it had been his toughest camp to date and has now revealed that he suffered an injury nine weeks out that prevented him from sparring before getting shingles a fortnight before the bout.
"Thank God it worked out alright, but it was very hard to navigate around and get myself back right because I didn't feel right after that."
Ciaran Clarke Drogheda Drogheda United FC Drogheda United MMA John Kavanagh Louth
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