Justin Clarke reflects on the “devastating” moment of his first MMA loss, suffered against Ivory Coast’s Abraham Bably during last year’s PFL Africa Finals, where Bably was crowned the PFL Africa Heavyweight Tournament winner. Picture: PFL Africa
Image: PFL Africa
South Africa’s Justin Clarke (4–1) has opened up about his PFL Africa final loss in December last year, admitting that the “devastation” he felt will serve as a major driving force in his 2026 campaign.
Clarke was one of the standout fighters in the PFL Africa heavyweight division last season, eventually reaching the final before suffering a first-round TKO defeat to ruthless Ivorian finisher Abraham Bably (8–2) in Cotonou, Benin.
“If I look at the 2025 season and the way it ended for me, it was extremely devastating. Losing that final fight is something I never want to feel again,” said Clarke.
Clarke returns to the PFL Africa Smart Cage for Season Two, which kicks off on April 10 at SunBet Arena at Time Square in Menlyn Maine, Pretoria. He is set to face Senegal’s Abdoullah Kane (5–1) in the co-main event, with the South African firmly focused on completing his journey by securing the golden strap and being crowned PFL Africa Heavyweight Champion.
“Looking at the season ahead, I’m extremely motivated and I see nothing but wins. I’ve put that final fight against Bably behind me and have spent a lot of hours training. I’m covering all my bases and using that loss as a learning curve. You’re going to see one hell of a year from me. I’m looking forward to impressing the fans and putting on amazing shows,” said Clarke, who was riding a four-fight win streak before suffering his first professional loss in December.
Fighting out of CIT in Pretoria, under the guidance of coaches Morné Visser and Steph De La Rey, Clarke and his team are leaving no stone unturned in preparation for the challenge ahead. Kane presents a formidable test — a physically imposing athlete weighing 120 kg, standing 195 cm tall, and boasting a 215 cm reach.
In his last two fights, Kane put both the promotion and fellow contenders on notice with emphatic finishes, stopping Emmanuel Mukam via head-kick knockout and Jashell Ticha Awa via second-round TKO at the inaugural PFL Africa semifinals and finals.
A striker-first athlete, Kane thrives on securing stoppages and makes excellent use of his natural attributes, particularly his reach and height, to dominate on the feet. Four of his five wins have come via KO/TKO. However, he is far from one-dimensional and continues to evolve his skill set, training out of world-renowned gyms such as Tiger Muay Thai in Thailand and Gym Factory in Morocco.
“I can see he’s a very strong striker and a very good fighter coming from a well-known gym, so I expect a real challenge,” Clarke said. “We’ve studied the footage, identified a game plan, and I’m working hard to make sure I execute it on fight night.”
South Africa’s Justin Clarke aims for redemption and the PFL Africa Heavyweight Championship as he faces Senegal’s Abdoullah Kane in a highly anticipated “Battle of the Behemoths” at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria on April 10. Supplied
Image: MMA
Standing at 191 cm with a reach of 185 cm, Clarke may be at a disadvantage in reach but is by no means small in stature. It would be no exaggeration to label this clash the “Battle of the Behemoths.”
“What I’m really looking forward to is stepping into the cage with him because I know he’s going to challenge me in a different way and push me to become a better fighter,” said Clarke.
A former Kyokushin Karate practitioner, Clarke transitioned into kickboxing, where he won both the WAKO South African Championship (2017) and the WAKO African title (2022). He brings powerful striking, debilitating leg kicks, and an ever-growing arsenal that includes a strong ground game. Known for the demanding training environment at CIT, Clarke embodies the team’s mantra: “Train hard, fight easy.”
Beyond redemption, the opportunity to fight in front of his home crowd adds extra significance to the bout.
“I’m really looking forward to April 10, when I get to perform in front of my home crowd and showcase all the hard work I’ve been putting in. From a fan’s perspective, you’re going to see two behemoths going at it — it’s going to be awesome. Don’t even think about leaving your seat. Stay glued to the action, whether you’re watching on TV or, even better, there in person. It’s going to be one hell of a fight,” Clarke added.
Tickets are available via Ticketmaster, and fans can follow PFL Africa and MzansiMMA on social media for further announcements.
IOL Sport