Twenty-six-year-old Canadian Mitch “Danger Zone” Clarke (9-0) will make his UFC debut this Saturday night, Dec. 10, against New Jersey’s John Cholish (7-1) in a lightweight match-up at UFC 140  in Toronto, Ontario.

After cleaning house on the local circuit, winning titles in two different weight classes, and finishing seven of his nine opponents, the Saskatoon native was a prime candidate for the UFC’s final card north of the border for 2011.

ProMMAnow.com (www.prommanow.com) caught up with Mitch on Tuesday to discuss his UFC debut, get his thoughts on Cholish, learn more about his training situation and find out if he is as big a fan of axe kicks and piledrivers in MMA as his UFC profile says he is.

PRO MMA NOW: Hi Mitch. Thanks for talking with us here at ProMMAnow.com today. How are you feeling now just a couple days away from your UFC debut — are there any nerves?

MITCH CLARKE: Oh yeah, lots of nerves. It’s the pinnacle of the sport. Anyone who says they don’t have nerves before their first UFC fight is lying or crazy.

PRO MMA NOW: Do you remember what you were doing when you found out you were going to be fighting in the UFC; can you explain what that moment was like?

MITCH CLARKE: I was eating breakfast getting ready to go to my strength and conditioning session and I got the call. I froze up, I didn’t know what to do. More than anything I was awestruck.

PRO MMA NOW: And not only are you making your UFC debut, but you are doing it in Canada — does that make it extra special?

MITCH CLARKE: Definitely. To be fighting in my home country is a tremendous honor and to be having my first UFC fight in Canada is amazing.

PRO MMA NOW: You are fighting John Cholish. He fights out of the Renzo Gracie Academy and is also making his UFC debut. Like you, most of Cholish’s wins are via submission — so how do you see this fight playing out, sometimes when you get two grapplers in there it turns into a striking battle — what do you see happening?

MITCH CLARKE: He’s a good grappler but he’s well-rounded as well. I see this fight going a little of anywhere. It should be a good fight, both of us have something to prove.

PRO MMA NOW: Were you familiar with Cholish before this and have you been able to find much video on him — if so, what was your impression?

MITCH CLARKE: I wasn’t really familiar with him before this fight, I knew he fought on Strikeforce against Marc Stevens. My coaches watched the footage and we all think it’s a good fight and that we match up well together.

PRO MMA NOW: When is the last time you fought at lightweight?

MITCH CLARKE: At EFC about five months ago.

PRO MMA NOW: Where do you train and who helped you prepare for this fight?

MITCH CLARKE: I train at Cardinal Sports Gym, Hayabusa Training Centre and Frank Lee’s Muay Thai. I went down to ZUMA for this training camp, They helped out a lot. I’m blessed to have so many good training partners.

PRO MMA NOW: On your UFC profile it says you favorite striking technique is the axe kick — do you have a karate a background or were you just being funny?

MITCH CLARKE: I used to train in Kyokushin Karate, but no longer. I loved Andy Hug and his awesome axe kick but alas I will never do it in a fight.

PRO MMA NOW: So, I assume your favorite grappling technique is not really the piledriver too? You know that’s illegal right — I don’t want to see you getting disqualified in your UFC debut.

MITCH CLARKE: Yes I know, I was just trying to be cheeky.

PRO MMA NOW: Thanks for the time Mitch and best of luck on Saturday. Any shout outs, or would you like to thank anyone?

MITCH CLARKE: All my training partners, Hayabusa Training Centre, Cardinal Sports Gym, ZUMA, Frank Lee’s Muay Thai. Hyperion Laser Rehab, Hayabusa, Jakt Apparel, Mighty Mouthguards, Lexani, CCRHL, Black Sheep Pub, All Max Nutrition. Thanks to everyone.

Fight fans can follow Mitch on Twitter @MitchClarkeMMA and on Facebook.

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