Canadian flyweight Shannon Clark knocked out in Dana White's Contender Series bout
Venezuelan flyweight Yuneisy Duben stopped Canadian Shannon (MMA Barbie) Clark in vicious fashion Tuesday on Dana White's Contender Series, derailing Clark's hopes of earning a UFC contract while knocking her out cold.
Clark came out swinging, eating blows as she plowed forward and was knocked to the ground with a clubbing right 50 seconds into the first round. And Duben, a heavy underdog, finished the fight 73 seconds into the round with a vicious overhead right to the chin as Clark attempted a low kick.
The hammer-like blow knocked Clark out cold and she toppled backwards — her head bouncing off the canvas. Motionless for a time, she eventually left the cage under her own power.
The Contender Series, held at the UFC’s Apex production facility, offers fighters a chance to impress UFC president White — and possibly earn a UFC deal. Duben both made and left a mark.
"One of the most impressive knockouts I've ever seen … Congratulations, you are in the UFC," White said in announcing Duben's contract.
Duben (6-0-0) went into the fight a plus-800 underdog, meaning a $100 bet would return $800 in profit. Clark was a minus-1350 favourite, meaning you had to wager $1,350 to win $100.
"That's got to be the biggest upset in Contender Series history," said White.
The UFC boss said the 28-year-old Duben almost didn't make it to the fight, saying "she doesn't have a dollar to her name. She's flat broke, she has nothing. She came here and took this opportunity tonight."
"I told myself 'It is my night. The night belongs to me, I'm going to shine,'" Duben said through an interpreter. "And this is what I did. I've always had a dream I'm going to be in the UFC."
The 32-year-old Clark, a mother of two from Lethbridge, Alta., earned the chance to compete for a UFC contract after defeating Brazil's Thaiany Lopes in February to claim the vacant Legacy Fighting Alliance 125-pound title.
"I'm here to show you can follow your dreams, even when you're a mom," Clark (5-1-0) said in a promo for the show.
Canadians who previously earned UFC contracts via the Contender Series include Chad Anheliger, Jasmine Jasudavicius, Mike Malott, Yohan Lainesse and TJ Laramie. Others to have moved on via the feeder series include Serhiy Sidey, who moved to Canada from Ukraine when he was six and now calls Burlington, Ont., home, and Brazilian-born Caio Machado, who now fights out of Vancouver.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 3, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump's campaign says candidate is safe after gunshots were reported in his vicinity in Florida
Donald Trump's campaign says he is safe after gunshots were reported in his vicinity Sunday afternoon in Florida.
B.C. to open 'highly secure' involuntary care facilities
B.C. will be opening “highly secure facilities” for people with addiction and mental health issues in the province, officials said Sunday.
They came from Jamaica for work, now they're homeless and out thousands of dollars in lost wages
Abuse of Canada’s temporary foreign worker program has left a group of carpenters from Jamaica 'destitute' after an Ottawa company refused to pay them for nearly half a year of work.
Montreal bars, restaurants react to Quebec bill to regulate merchant tipping requests
Quebec tabled a bill on Thursday that would regulate how merchants determine suggested tips, forcing businesses to calculate them based on the price before tax. Restaurant staff and management are divided on the policy.
TIFF audience prizes for 'Life of Chuck,' Hip doc; Rankin among Canadian winners
'The Life of Chuck,' an offbeat film by writer-director Mike Flanagan, wins the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Queen Victoria's favourite Tuscan villa for sale for more than US$55 million
Once a favoured holiday destination for Queen Victoria, and reputedly described in one of the greatest works of Italian literature, the Villa Palmieri is steeped in history and could now be yours – if you have more than €50 million (US$55 million) lying around.
Air Canada deal avoids shutdown, brings relief to passengers and business groups
Travellers, business groups and politicians expressed fervent relief on Sunday after Air Canada and the union representing thousands of its pilots negotiated a new labour deal and averted a disruptive, countrywide shutdown.
U.S. says claims of CIA plot to kill Maduro are 'categorically false' after Venezuela arrests six foreigners
The U.S. State Department has rejected claims of CIA involvement in an alleged plot to kill Venezuela's leader Nicolas Maduro, after Venezuelan authorities said they had arrested six foreigners, including a U.S. Navy SEAL.
What are your rights as a neighbour in Canada?
If you have beef with your neighbour and you feel it's gone too far, what should you do? A personal injury lawyer has some advice.