LAS VEGAS – Mark Madsen tried to take Drakkar Klose up on his offer, but wasn’t able to find him.
Rivals due to past training ties, Madsen (12-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) and Klose (13-2-1 MMA, 7-2 UFC) were expected to fight this past Saturday at UFC Fight Night 213. However, an ACL injury to Klose nixed the grudge match, at least for now.
“I’m still excited to fight Drakkar Klose,” Madsen told MMA Junkie and other reporters Wednesday at UFC Fight Night 214 pre-fight news conference. “I can’t wait to get in there and punch my right hand through his face. He called me out early.”
The withdrawal didn’t soften the hard feelings. If anything, it sparked even more disdain between the two lightweight fighters. After Klose told Madsen to meet him outside the cage to settle the score, Madsen took him up on the offer and showed up at Mayo Clinic, where Klose was supposedly treated.
“I actually went there,” Madsen said. “He was supposed to have surgery. I asked at the front desk. Nobody heard about Drakkar. Nobody has seen him. He did not manifest on any list. I don’t know what’s going on with Drakkar. I know he pulled out, but let me send the message out right here. I’m ready to fight Drakkar Klose any time. If it’s a case of him not being injured as severely as some people say, I’m ready to go tomorrow.”
“… I was going to fight Drakkar Klose anywhere he wanted to – even at a hospital. … Let me go with my game plan. Kick the crutches. Punch him in the face. I don’t know if Mayo Clinic is paying for that, but anywhere he wanted.”
Unable to successfully meet up with Klose, Madsen now has Grant Dawson in front of him. Dawson (18-1-1 MMA, 6-0-1 UFC) sports an undefeated record inside the promotion.
“Great matchup,” Madsen said. “Undefeated vs. undefeated in the UFC. There’s always a nice ring to that. Grant has been dominating with his wrestling, with his grappling. He has some amazing skills in the areas where I also have amazing skills, so I’m excited. It’s a great matchup. This is really a fight that will put me toward the top 15, the big fights. Going in there, putting a clinic on Grant Dawson, getting a dominant win and really putting him away is going to put me on the map.”
Once Dawson is out of the way, Madsen indicated his attention will fall back on – you guessed it.
“I could beat Drakkar Klose on a Friday and then fight Saturday,” Madsen said. “I’ll probably get around that. I don’t know how long Drakkar is going to be out. As I told you guys, I’ll fight him anywhere he wants it.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 214.
