Budding African Heavyweight: “Expect Absolute Carnage”

On the continent of Africa, the country of South Africa has been a hot-spot for MMA talent over the years. With examples like former UFC champion Dricus du Plessis and South African MMA pioneer, Garreth McLellan, young UFC and PFL talent is on the horizon. One of those talents is the devastating heavyweight in Justin Clarke.

Justin Clarke: From Karate to South African MMA Star

For many of the world’s best mixed martial artists, they began their journey in combat sports long before jumping into an MMA cage. Justin Clarke was no different, beginning his combat sport days at the age of 14 with Karate.

“I have always been heavily involved with sports since I could walk. With regards to martial arts, I began with Kyokushin Karate in Swaziland when I was 11 years old,” Justin Clarke began. “After 4 years, we moved countries and I had to give it up, however the itch still remained. After 12 years of more sports like university Rugby, powerlifting, and amateur strongman, I eventually found my way back to martial arts in the form of K1 and Kickboxing.”

“I competed for 9 years as an amateur, eventually representing South Africa from 2017 – 2022. Became African champ in 2022,” Justin Clarke continued. “I had spent a few years looking to go Pro K1, but could not find any fights locally. One day while sparring Dricus du Plessis, his coach Morné Visser spoke with me and asked if I give MMA a try…and so I did.”

Justin Clarke: Fine-Tuning the Game

Justin Clarke would fine-tune his game after that sparring session with Team CIT, located in Pretoria, South Africa. Team CIT is the home of former UFC champion Dricus du Plessis as well as former EFC champion Adam Speechly and another former EFC champion in David Buirski. To Clarke, there have been many who have contributed to the different success within his MMA game. “Pat Carney helped me out with kickboxing and K1, Jacques Wagner has helped me a lot with Kickboxing, K1, BJJ and MMA, and Morné Visser has helped me blend everything into MMA,” he said.

Justin Clarke’s Quick Climb Up the MMA Ladder

Less than two years as a professional fighter, Justin Clarke has already made waves in the sport in his country of South Africa. His debut came in May 2024, where he earned a 34-second knockout victory at EFC 113.

His next three matchups would all end in early stoppages in his favor, two of those in the first round of action. In December 2025, Justin Clarke would face the first roadblock of his career, taking his first loss at PFL Africa 4, which can be a make-or-break moment in a fighter’s career.

“As much as losing sucks, it is something I accepted a long time ago when competing,” Justin Clarke said. By accepting, I do not mean I roll over and accept it, I just understand that it is a part of this sport, as it is in many sports. And it is like life, sometimes you don’t get what you want. So it does not define me and I do not let the thoughts of my loss hover around my head and distract me.”

“After all, I am in the heavyweight division and one must fall,” Justin Clarke continued. “That being said, I never want to feel those feelings again! So I am training my butt off right now. I am determined to get back to that winning feeling.”

Justin Clarke: Future Champion

April 16 will see Justin Clarke return to the PFL cage with his mind set on absolute destruction of the heavyweight division. A big win could put the South African back on track to eventually earn a title shot. So what can fans expect when the monster South African returns to action? “Absolute carnage. He is a big dude. I am on home ground. Like hell I am going to let him win. I will give everything I have to put him down,” stated Clarke.