NORMAN PARKE WILL be aiming to avoid a third consecutive defeat in the octagon when he takes on Reza Madadi at UFC Fight Night 76 in Dublin on 24 October.
However, Parke (20-4-1) is adamant that he’ll pick up his first win of the year when he faces the Swede at the 3Arena, having endured a disappointing 2015 so far.
Madadi (13-3), an accomplished wrestler, will be competing for the first time since defeating fifth-ranked lightweight Michael Johnson in April 2013, after which he spent 14 months in prison for burglary.
“I know this lad has been out for quite a while but the way I’m looking at it is that he’s been training for the entire time that he’s been locked up in prison,” Parke told The42.
“I know I certainly would if I was locked up. It’s a good opportunity for both of us to get back on track but I feel like I’m better than him everywhere. I know he beat Michael Johnson, but if that fight were to happen again I’m certain Johnson would win.
“Reza Madadi, he’s got a good body-lock and he likes to go for the guillotine. I feel like they’re the only two things I’ve got to watch out for. My striking is far superior and with my judo background, he’s going to find it hard to control me and take me down.
“Stuff the takedown, keep it on the feet and fight him; that’s my fight all day long. I can beat him in the stand-up, I can beat him everywhere. There’s no chance he’ll be able to take me to the floor and control me there. No chance whatsoever.”
If things don’t go Parke’s way next month in Dublin, his place on the UFC’s roster could potentially be at risk. The promotion is becoming more ruthless when it comes to showing fighters where the exit door is, as Niklas Backstrom discovered recently following two defeats on the trot.
Parke, a 28-year-old native of Bushmills in Antrim, started his time with the UFC with a five-fight undefeated run and his two subsequent losses came via split decision, so being cut — even after a loss against Madadi — would seem quite harsh.
However, when asked if his UFC career is on the line in this next outing, Parke said: “It’s a possibility, yeah. I’m trying not to think about that too much but there is a good possibility that it could happen.
“But all I can focus on is putting on a good performance and fighting to win. And if I put on a performance I know I’m capable of then I will win. I’ll get the job done.”
Tickets for UFC Fight Night 76 go on sale this Friday, 4 September, via Ticketmaster.
