While autumn may be arriving across southern Alberta, one thing's certain—the region is about to get hot!
Rumble in the Cage, a founding promotion in Canadian MMA, returns for the first time in nearly three years with Rumble in the Cage 63 taking place this Saturday night in Lethbridge, Alta.
The card once again delivers a healthy dose of local and hometown fighters, notably Lethbridge's very own Shannon Clark (0-0), who lines up against Edmonton, Alta.'s Jackie MacLean (3-1) in a women's bantamweight matchup.
Competing out of the highly regarded Canadian Martial Arts Centre (CMC), Clark went undefeated during her amateur tenure. She hopes to carry that momentum into her professional debut against a seasoned adversary in MacLean.
"I'm feeling good. A touch of nerves, though—who wouldn't be?" Clark told MMA Empire in an interview.
"I've got a quality opponent, so this fight should give me a real test. Training camp has been fantastic. I'm grinding hard every day. I believe I'm in the best shape possible right now, so if that still falls short, then that's where we stand."
A top-tier athlete long before picking up gloves, Clark's physical gifts played a major role in her amateur success.
Backed by a collegiate soccer foundation, Clark prides herself on dictating the pace and constantly pressing forward.
"Cardio is definitely what stands out most," Clark noted. "That's the area my gym believes sets me apart from others."
"I understand how to push myself, even when stacked against many male fighters, so that's what I'd call my strongest asset. I remember my old track times and I'm always chasing improvement."
Even as she plans to lean on her conditioning, Clark brings plenty of technical skill to the table. She's also shown a willingness to engage in heated exchanges inside the octagon.
"If I had to single one thing out, it'd be my striking," Clark shared. "I'm aggressive and I welcome contact—I genuinely enjoy trading punches."
"That energy fuels me and drives me to respond in kind. Honestly, I have to rein myself in sometimes because I tend to push hard and attack aggressively. Most women I know prefer grappling and aren't drawn into brawls."
After securing two notable TKO victories with Shaved Bears MMA as her training home, Clark now prepares to face MacLean, who has built a promising professional record.
Clark enters the bout with full awareness—and zero intimidation.
"I know she's a powerful wrestler and her last two wins came via ground and pound," Clark said. "She takes position and dominates on top. That approach has worked for her, so I expect she won't change her game plan. I'm not drilling specific counters against her, but with each fight I continue building my toolkit. I understand her strengths, yet I don't adjust my training because of them."
Saturday presents a thrilling moment for Clark, who will step into her professional debut in front of a familiar crowd.
True to form, Clark keeps her focus locked squarely on the task at hand—one fight at a time for this mother of two.
"I was born and raised here, so having hometown fans behind me will be special. Lots of family and friends will be in attendance, which provides great motivation," Clark said. "But it does bring pressure too. For me, I tackle everything one step at a time. I haven't mapped out how far I'll go or where this path leads, so I just take each fight as it comes—and so far, that mindset has served me well."
Clark's shoutouts
"To my family—I couldn't do this without the unwavering support from my husband and my dad. Huge thanks to my coaches and everyone at CMC." Follow Clark on social media: INSTAGRAM
