Norman Parke on a potential UFC return in Belfast: ‘I’m not ready for that yet’

NORTHERN Ireland’s ‘Stormin’ Norman Parke claimed a hard-earned win at ACB 47 on Saturday night, then said “I’m not ready to go back to the UFC yet”.

Bushmills lightweight Parke, who was a popular figure in the UFC’s lightweight division, was cut by the UFC after matchmaker Joe Silva told the Bushmills man his recent performances “weren’t up to scratch”.

But despite that, Parke admitted after his tough three-round decision victory over Andrew Fisher in Glasgow that he wouldn’t necessarily accept a short-notice call-up to return in Belfast on November 19.

“I dunno. I actually thought about that before the fight,” he told SunSport.

“A good finish against Andrew Fisher, dominate him and just beat him everywhere (and) finish him. I was thinking, aye, then finish another lad at the end of the month and I’d be on two quick wins.

“But that never happened, so I’m not ready for that yet.”

“You’ve got to make sure you’re in-your-head ready, on point, everything. You need that level, you know?

“People don’t understand the level that you’re competing at.

“You can get people fighting two people fighting at that (UFC) level, then the same person you get watching two people fighting in another smaller show, and they think it’s the same, you know?

“People don’t understand that’s top of the food chain s**t there.”

“Maybe I nicked the fight (against him) in Brazil, but look at what he’s done,” he said.

“He’s on a six, seven-fight win streak at 38 years of age.

“I’m 29, so who’s to say? You’re never done, man. All this c**p people say about age and when you’re past 26-27 you’re done in this game.

“Maybe in boxing it’s different, but in this game here… look at Vitor Belfort. Look at Dan Henderson. These guys are way up into their 40s.

“So, no. I don’t feel I’m ready to get back there.

“I’ll start talking about it whenever I’m on a win streak and mentally and physically I feel like I’m prepared to get back.

“I feel that should be right. People say you’d be daft if they called you and you never took it, but you’ve got to make sure you’re prepared everywhere.

“I’m not thinking about it at the minute, though.”