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PFL Belfast highlights: Dean Garnett crushes Ciaran Clarke with spinning elbow
TL;DR
Dean Garnett defeated Ciaran Clarke with a spinning elbow knockout in the first round at PFL Belfast on April 16, 2026. The fight took place at SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Key points
- Dean Garnett knocked out Ciaran Clarke
- Fight ended in the first round
- Event took place at SSE Arena in Belfast
- Garnett used a spinning elbow for the knockout
- PFL Belfast occurred on April 16, 2026
Mentioned in this story
SSE ArenaBelfast
Dean GarnettCiaran ClarkePFL Belfast
2026 PFL 5 Belfast Fight Night at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Jose Peñuela / PFL)
Undefeated no more.
PFL Belfast delivered a brutal finish today (Thurs., April 16, 2026) as Dean Garnett knocked out Irish prospect Ciaran Clarke with a spinning elbow, followed by ground-and-pound, in the very first round inside SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
It was competitive early, with both fighters landing clean shots — but the ending came fast and violent.
The knockout had shades of Lerone Murphy’s spinning elbow finish of Aaron Pico (watch highlights), as Garnett timed it perfectly and put Clarke away in emphatic fashion.
Watch the finish below:
The win moves Garnett (15-4) to 3-2 under the PFL banner and gets him back in the win column after a tough knockout loss to Baris Adiguzel last December.
At 37, the veteran may have just punched his way into the Bantamweight rankings with the statement victory over a previously unbeaten opponent who was ranked No. 9.
As for Clarke (10-1), the loss marks the first defeat of his professional career — and a rough start to his PFL run.
The 30-year-old Irishman made his name in Bellator, where he went 10-0 with six finishes (five submissions, one knockout), though critics often pointed to the level of competition he faced.
Q&A
What happened in the Dean Garnett vs Ciaran Clarke fight at PFL Belfast?
Dean Garnett knocked out Ciaran Clarke with a spinning elbow followed by ground-and-pound in the first round.
When did the PFL Belfast fight between Garnett and Clarke take place?
The fight occurred on April 16, 2026, during the PFL 5 event at SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
How did Dean Garnett secure his victory over Ciaran Clarke?
Garnett secured his victory with a spinning elbow knockout, followed by ground-and-pound strikes.
