Turning to MMA as a teenager, Ciaran Clarke went from a troubled life to becoming a longtime training partner of Conor McGregor. Clarke competed in 24 amateur bouts before turning pro, and he's 9-0 since, which includes five submission victories. With rear-naked and arm-triangle chokes being methods of success for him, Clarke most recently fought in Belfast in March, submitting Darius Mafi.

 

Tuomas Gronvall takes this fight on less than a week’s notice after an injury to Zebenzui Ruiz. Gronvall is a 20-fight veteran who has amassed 12 wins thus far. Gronvall last fought on the PFL Europe card in June, losing to Khurshed Kakhorov.

 

How will Clarke and Gronvall fare in this short-notice matchup?

 

 

Round 1

 

Punch and a high kick from Gronvall. Left hand from Clarke. Clarke pushes Gronvall into the fence and he gets the takedown. Gronvall looks to return to the feet, but Clarke gets high on Gronvall with a full nelson. Clarke wraps up Gronvall’s leg while in the position. Clarke gets off that leg but keeps a strong backpack-like positioning on Gronvall. Gronvall manages to get Clarke off him, and now he’s pressing Clarke into the fence. Gronvall with a couple of knees. After some struggle, Clarke now presses Gronvall.

 

The two break off from their clinch. Clarke misses a punch, and Gronvall looks for a takedown. Clarke looking to keep his balance as they move along the fence. Knee by Gronvall. Clarke looks for a ninja choke, but Gronvall avoids it. Knee from Clarke. Clarke looking for a Thai clinch. Left hand from Clarke on the break. One-two from Gronvall. Jab by Gronvall. Gronvall connects with a couple of right hands. Low kick from Gronvall. Clarke presses Gronvall against the fence, and he gets the action to the floor. Gronvall scrambles, looking to escape Clarke’s grasp. Clarke riding to prevent Gronvall from getting back to his feet – but Gronvall eventually gets there. Clarke with a couple of strong right hands before the bell.

 

 

Round 2

 

Round kick by Gronvall. Gronvall manages to score a takedown early in this round. Clarke active from the open guard. Clarke closes up his guard. Clarke holding Gronvall down, preventing him from posturing up. Gronvall stands up and has to deal with the guard. Clarke scrambles, and Gronvall gets to his back. Knee from Gronvall. Clarke is pressing as he now is the one in control in the position. Gronvall gets back with a reversal about two minutes into the round. Clarke reverses the position again, and Clarke gets back into a backpack position, wrapping himself on Gronvall’s back.

 

Gronvall works Clarke off of him and pressuring Clarke against the fence, utilizing his hips. Now it’s Gronvall who looks for that backpack position. Gronvall looking to get the hooks in, and he’s got a body lock on Clarke. Gronvall abandons the position and gets back to his feet, still pursuing a takedown. Clarke counters and gets to Gronvall’s back, with the two battling for control against the fence. Clarke now with a hold of Gronvall’s back again, as Clarke throws a couple of low knees. Throw from Clarke, but Gronvall stays on his feet. A couple of elbows on the inside from both men. Clarke looks for another throw and a right hand before the bell.

 

 

Round 3

 

Clarke goes for a takedown right away and gets it, but Gronvall scrambles back up right away. Clarke now has a hold of Gronvall once again against the fence. Short elbow off the break. Clarke presses in again after a one-two from Gronvall, and Clarke scores another takedown. Gronvall gets back to his feet, but Clarke with pressure on Gronvall’s back again. The fight returns to the floor, and Clarke is getting the hooks in. Clarke secures the body triangle. Clarke with some right hands. Gronvall with a few right hands to try and escape, but Clarke answering back. Gronvall gets on all fours and returns to his feet, but Clarke maintaining pressure with the body triangle.

 

Gronvall tries to slam Clarke out of it, but to no avail. Gronvall tries to shake and slam again, but Clarke is still on him. Clarke looking to lock up the choke, but Gronvall defends it. Gronvall looking to punch his way out of it again. Gronvall trying to twist his way out, but nothing is working. Clarke looks to sneak his arm under the chin with about a minute to go in the fight. Clarke is under the chin and is squeezing in the closing seconds! Gronvall defends well. Clarke stays on him. Gronvall with one last slam as the bell rings, but it’s not going to do anything.

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

Ciaran Clarke def. Tuomas Gronvall via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27 x2)