Clark takes Flyweight Title
Local MMA fighter Shannon Clark now can add a worldwide belt victory to her accolades after winning the LFA’s (Legacy Fighting Alliance) Flyweight Title bout over Brazilian black belt JuJitsu fighter Thaiany Lopes during LFA 177 in Niagara Falls, New York on Friday.
Clark, who is used to being a stand-up fighter, had to use more a ground fight attack in the ring against Lopes.
She won the bout in just over twoand-half minutes into the second round by doing her first ever bulldog choke, which a type of neck crank that has the possibility of being a mixed feeling between a guillotine and a rear naked choke applied in an opposite direction.
“We expected this fight to go on the ground because we didn’t think she’d stand with me and we practiced a lot of that … stuff out on the ground ,” said Cook.
Cook estimated she had 77 strikes to Lopes five in the first round.
“When I was on ground, I was still very active and then just played around with it. I didn’t feel very threatened as much as I was expected to which is good and bad at the same time.”
She felt more confident in the second round.
“I’m still throwing way more than her. I felt stronger than her,” said Cook.
What she learned from the fight is not being so content on her back.
“It was really good for me just to relax, like learn that I’m actually not as bad as I thought I was on the ground and I can just not freak out I guess,” said Cook.
“And just learn my confidence and let it keep growing.”
The win now puts her record at 5-0 since turning professional in 2022.
“This is the highlight of my career,” said Cook.
“This is a world title belt that I won and got to bring home to Lethbridge.”
She prepared for the fight my training with local police officers who are all bigger than her.
“So I just try and fight back and that’s why I’m use to just throwing so much because that’s all I got on them sometimes,” said Cook.
“Then that’s … when I know I have a choke, is if I can get it on the boys that are two hundred and some pounds, I can get it on her.”
Cook can now either defend the belt or make it to the UFC.