| Devin Clark | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1990-04-12)April 12, 1990 (age 35)[1] Sioux Falls,South Dakota, U.S. |
| Other names | Brown Bear[2] |
| Residence | Sioux Falls, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st) |
| Division | Heavyweight Light Heavyweight[1] Middleweight[3] |
| Reach | 75 in (191 cm) |
| Style | Wrestling |
| Fighting out of | Sioux Falls, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Team | Team Nak Suk (until 2010)[4] Next Edge Academy of Martial Arts (2010–2017)[4][1] Jackson-Wink MMA (2017–present)[3] |
| Trainer | Bruce Hoyer[5] |
| Wrestling | NJCAAWrestling[4] |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 24 |
| Wins | 14 |
| By knockout | 4 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 9 |
| Losses | 10 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 4 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record fromSherdog | |
Devin Clark (born April 12, 1990) is an American professionalmixed martial artist who competed in theLight Heavyweight division of theUltimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional competitor since 2013, he was signed by the UFC afterDana White scouted him on the "Dana White: Looking for a Fight - Season 1 Episode 6" UFC web series.[6]
Clark was born inSioux Falls, South Dakota in 1990. He started boxing as a child and wrestling at the age of seven, continuing to compete in the latter in high school. He started coming into his own as a junior in high school, where in the state finals match, he lost to former UFC athleteDavid Michaud. The following year, his senior year, he became the South Dakota State Champion at 189 lbs.[7] Clark attendedRochester Community and Technical College where he was a two-timeNJCAAAll-American at the 184-pounds division for the Yellowjackets. He won the National Championship in 2009, and placed 4th in 2010.[8]
Despite eventually dropping out of college, Clark wasn't ready to stop competing as a martial artist, so Clark started MMA training at his local gym, Team Nak Suk, and later moved to Next Edge Academy under the tutelage of BJJ black belt Bruce Hoyer.[4][9] He quickly moved up and competed in the Resurrection Fighting Alliance. He was a high school state wrestling champion, Junior College National wrestling champion, and an amateur boxer.[10][11]
Clark started his professional MMA career on August 24, 2013, and made his debut in Knockout Events: Battle at the Chip. He had his first win over Jeremy Spelts via TKO (punches) on round one.[12]
One year later, after his first professional win, he made a move to compete inResurrection Fighting Alliance 17 on August 22, 2014. He faced Aaron Brown and secured a win via TKO (punches) on round two.[13]
On February 7, 2015, Clark joined Total Fight Challenge promotion for his third fight and faced William Vincent. He secured a win via submission (rear-naked choke).[14]
Clark returned toResurrection Fighting Alliance promotion (RFA). He faced Jaquis William on RFA 25 on April 10, 2015, outworked William and won the fight via unanimous decision.[15]
Clark faced Dervin Lopez on RFA 29: USA vs Brazil on August 21, 2015. He won the fight via unanimous decision.[16]
On April 15, 2016Dana White,Matt Serra andRobbie Lawler attendedResurrection Fighting Alliance 39 event atSioux Falls, South Dakota for "Dana White Looking For a Fighter", a UFC web series program,[6] where Clark faced Rafael Viana for the Light heavyweight Championship. The fight was scheduled for 5 rounds and after the second round, Viana suffered a broken hand which kept him from continuing in the fight. Clark was declared the new champion. White was impressed with Clark's performance on the night and with his MMA record of 6-0-0, White signed him up into the UFC roster.[17][18][19]
Clark made his UFC debut againstAlex Nicholson in a Middleweight bout on July 13, 2016, atUFC Fight Night 91.[20] He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.[21]
Clark, replacingJake Collier, moved back to the Light Heavyweight division and facedJosh Stansbury on December 3, 2016, atThe Ultimate Fighter 24 Finale. He won the fight via unanimous decision.[22][23]
Clark next facedJake Collier on April 15, 2017, atUFC on Fox 24.[24] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[25] In post fight interviews, Clark admitted that he was disappointed in his performance as he stated he missed opportunities to finish the fight.[26]
Clark facedJan Błachowicz on October 21, 2017, atUFC Fight Night 118.[27] He lost the fight via rear-naked choke submission in the second round.[28]
Clark facedMike Rodríguez on April 7, 2018, atUFC 223.[29] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[30]
Clark facedAleksandar Rakić on December 8, 2018, atUFC 231.[31] He lost the fight via TKO in the first round.[32]
Clark was expected to faceAbdul-Kerim Edilov on April 20, 2019, atUFC Fight Night 149.[33] However, Edilov's removal from the card for undisclosed reasons was announced on 25 March and he was replaced by Ivan Shtyrkov.[34] However, on April 20, 2019, it was reported that the bout was cancelled after Shtyrkov was hospitalized.[35]
Soon after the previous fight was canceled, it was announced that Clark would faceDarko Stošić atUFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Smith on June 1, 2019.[36] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[37]
Clark facedRyan Spann on October 12, 2019, atUFC Fight Night 161.[38] He lost the fight via submission in round two.[39]
Clark was scheduled to faceGadzhimurad Antigulov on February 15, 2020, atUFC Fight Night 167.[40] However, Antigulov was pulled from the event for undisclosed reason and he was replaced byDequan Townsend.[41] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[42]
Clark was scheduled to faceAlonzo Menifield on May 2, 2020, atUFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Weidman.[43] However, on April 9,Dana White, the president of UFC announced that this event was postponed[44] and the bout took place on June 6, 2020, atUFC 250.[45] Clark won the fight via unanimous decision.[46]
Clark was briefly linked to a bout againstShamil Gamzatov on November 28, 2020, atUFC on ESPN 18.[47] However, Gamzatov was removed from the bout in mid-October due to allegedvisa issues. Clark facedAnthony Smith on the card as the main event afterCurtis Blaydes had to pull out of his fight againstDerrick Lewis due to a positive COVID test.[48] He lost the fight via a triangle choke submission in the first round.[49]
Clark was scheduled to faceIon Cuțelaba on May 1, 2021, atUFC on ESPN 23.[50] However, Clark pulled out from the event, citing injury, and he was replaced byDustin Jacoby.[51] The bout eventually took place on September 18, 2021, atUFC Fight Night 192.[52] After being knocked down in round one, he lost the fight via unanimous decision.[53]
Clark facedWilliam Knight on April 16, 2022, atUFC on ESPN 34.[54] He won the fight via technical knockout in round three.[55]
Clark facedAzamat Murzakanov on August 13, 2022, atUFC on ESPN 41.[56] He lost the fight via technical knockout in round three.[57]
Clark facedDa Un Jung on February 4, 2023, atUFC Fight Night 218.[58] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[59]
Clark facedKennedy Nzechukwu on May 6, 2023, atUFC 288.[60] He lost the bout via technical guillotine choke in second round.[61]
Clark facedMarcin Prachnio on February 10, 2024, atUFC Fight Night 236.[62] He lost the bout by unanimous decision.[63]
On February 14, 2024, it was reported that Clark was removed from UFC roster.[64]
Clark was scheduled to face formerUFC Light Heavyweight Championship challengerThiago Santos on May 25, 2025 at GFL 2.[65] However, all GFL events were cancelled indefinitely.[66]
When Clark was in high school at Lincoln, his two best friends gave him the moniker "Brown Bear", citing his dual personal characteristics - He has bear-like wrestling, and has a pleasant, thoughtful demeanor in everyday life.[11] Clark is active in helping numerous non profit agencies in his community. He is especially involved in advocating for those that haveDown syndrome and was recently appointed to the National Board of Garrett's Fight.[67]
While training for his bout atUFC on Fox 24, Clark gained notice for advocating forDown syndrome awareness.[68] Clark is very vocal in support of Down Syndrome Awareness and Advocacy, and the campaign to save the unbornDown syndrome child from abortion.[69][70][71]
Clark and his wife have a daughter.[9]
| 24 matches | 14 wins | 10 losses |
| By knockout | 4 | 3 |
| By submission | 1 | 4 |
| By decision | 9 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 19–10 | Bevon Lewis | Decision (split) | LFA 214 | August 15, 2025 | 3 | 5:00 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States | Heavyweight bout. |
| Loss | 14–9 | Marcin Prachnio | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Pyfer | February 10, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 14–8 | Kennedy Nzechukwu | Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC 288 | May 6, 2023 | 2 | 2:28 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 14–7 | Jung Da-un | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Spivac | February 4, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 13–7 | Azamat Murzakanov | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Cruz | August 13, 2022 | 3 | 1:18 | San Diego, California, United States | Return to Light Heavyweight. |
| Win | 13–6 | William Knight | TKO (elbow and punches) | UFC on ESPN: Luque vs. Muhammad 2 | April 16, 2022 | 3 | 3:21 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Heavyweight debut. |
| Loss | 12–6 | Ion Cuțelaba | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann | September 18, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 12–5 | Anthony Smith | Submission (triangle choke) | UFC on ESPN: Smith vs. Clark | November 28, 2020 | 1 | 2:34 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 12–4 | Alonzo Menifield | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 250 | June 6, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 11–4 | Dequan Townsend | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Anderson vs. Błachowicz 2 | February 15, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States | |
| Loss | 10–4 | Ryan Spann | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Joanna vs. Waterson | October 12, 2019 | 2 | 2:01 | Tampa, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 10–3 | Darko Stošić | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Smith | June 1, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Stockholm, Sweden | |
| Loss | 9–3 | Aleksandar Rakić | TKO (punches) | UFC 231 | December 8, 2018 | 1 | 4:05 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |
| Win | 9–2 | Mike Rodríguez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 223 | April 7, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Brooklyn, New York, United States | |
| Loss | 8–2 | Jan Błachowicz | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Till | October 21, 2017 | 2 | 3:02 | Gdańsk, Poland | |
| Win | 8–1 | Jake Collier | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Reis | April 15, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 7–1 | Josh Stansbury | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions Finale | December 3, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Return to Light Heavyweight. |
| Loss | 6–1 | Alex Nicholson | KO (punch) | UFC Fight Night: McDonald vs. Lineker | July 13, 2016 | 1 | 4:57 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States | Middleweight debut. |
| Win | 6–0 | Rafael Viana | TKO (hand injury) | RFA 37 | April 15, 2016 | 2 | 5:00 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States | Won the RFA Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 5–0 | Dervin Lopez | Decision (unanimous) | RFA 29 | August 21, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Jaquis Williams | Decision (unanimous) | RFA 25 | April 10, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | William Vincent | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Total Fight Challenge: Cannon vs. Al-Ghoul | February 7, 2015 | 1 | 4:29 | Willow Springs, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Aaron Brown | TKO (punches) | RFA 17 | August 22, 2014 | 2 | 4:02 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Jeremy Spelts | TKO (punches) | Knockout Events: Battle at the Chip | August 4, 2013 | 1 | 1:12 | Sturgis, South Dakota, South Dakota | Light Heavyweight debut. |
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