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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Matt Erickson

Devin Clark laments up-and-down run, but still has eyes on sport’s ultimate prize

RIO RANCHO, N.M. – Devin Clark beat Dequan Townsend with a unanimous decision Saturday on the main card at UFC on ESPN+ 25 in Rio Rancho, N.M.

Take a look inside the fight with Clark, who is back in the win column, but has alternated losses and wins his past seven fights.

Result: Devin Clark def. Dequan Townsend via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
Updated records: Clark (11-4 MMA, 5-4 UFC), Townsend (21-11 MMA, 0-3 UFC)
Key stat: Clark had three takedowns and outstruck Townsend 122-37.

Clark on the fight’s key moment

“It feels great to kick off the new year with a win. (It) wasn’t the prettiest. I didn’t feel great out there, but I got the job done. The last-minute opponent change definitely impacted the game plan. We were preparing for a tough Dagestani wrestler, and now it was a rangy striker, which I lost to in my last fight. It played with my head a little bit, but I just stuck to the game plan and focused on takedowns and it worked.”

Clark on fighting in front of a friendly crowd

“Albuquerque is amazing, this is basically my second home. The fight culture here is so big, so it’s great to perform for the fans here.”

Clark on what he wants next

“I’ve been doing this win-loss thing recently, so I have to find my groove and put a win streak together. I don’t want to be a journeyman fighter. I want to go for the prize. Tonight, I kept going and got the ‘W’ and proved to myself that I still have it. After a big loss, it sucks, but I’ve won too many fights to give up. I can grind people out. It’s not the flashiest, but it works and it will get me to where I want to go.”

To hear more from Clark, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

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