IN DEPTH | EPISODE 28 | CIARAN CLARKE

Summary

Dave sits down with unbeaten Bellator professional Fighter Ciaran Clarke for a chat about his career to date, his aspirations, and much more.

Transcript (youtube_captions)

[Music] foreign [Music] Relentless if you haven't seen it I really suggest you do so but to get to where he is today we they all start somewhere and I want to go back into where did you start how did you start MMA and why um yeah so we started with me um back in 2011. and I always you know it was always interested in martial arts growing up like you know um you know being produced you know I mean we're always you know and always interested in all that and uh yeah look at that like long story short like you know we just um I think it just concerned me from a young age in the sense that obviously older brother in the house I was you know group in a single parent house I'm the Alice the four siblings at home and you know I think I really had a little bit of responsibility you know like in my own head I was the man of the house but like do not if that makes sense so like you know like not that like everyone of course gets bullied when they're uh at some stage in life but it wasn't even that it was just like you know I don't know in a funny little way I felt like you know I had a little bit responsibility you know like fighting kicks off you know that you can whatever happens yeah yeah and again you know people probably look at that and laugh but like that's really mind heart you know what I mean and like you know that wasn't even fired it wasn't around she obviously wasn't there living at home but like you know he was like but like again like that when you're in that kind of environment then when you're growing up and they stay and been out in the street and stuff for looking you know you know those things matter you know I mean that really consumed me it was like you know what we look if someone tries to take something from you which they do when you're growing up especially when you're out of here and all that like everywhere you know you want to be able to you know stand your ground you know what I mean and I was always about that and I always you know I always was like well if anyone's gonna try it out with me they're going to remember it you know you know and it really it was like you know and like even like going forward to a library on it like when I have kids like the two things I think you know as far as obviously education and everyone else and you know uh and religion for me I know you bought like you know things is like learn how to defend yourself and to swim I think them too like are the two pillars you know what I mean like you need to you need to have some sort of the two you know what I mean like a pattern you know so it was just that and then obviously that maybe sparked it to like oh I dabbed in a bit of box and again like that few months here and that you know never compete but did a bit of spiral and all that and Stephanie brought our gun up and about our mates and stuff and then from there then it was just amazing school at the time it was I was training them for me and uh they were like oh come in and join and you know you looked back then it was 15 at the time and yeah it's just maintained I'm sure but then it was I was like I loved how hard it was you know the boy like you know I loved because I had to play a game like a football ground up and like I just loved how tough it was you know the way like even though like obviously engaged in football are doing sprints but like if you're not doing the it was just so physical you know and I just loved that you know what I mean like even like growing up and I always wanted to be the person catching people yeah to get me I wasn't the one trying to run I was the one making the catch people and I was like like Janelle just let the things that happens maybe who I am today I don't know but just little things of that and again all of those things just you know build me who I am and just here I am there you know what I mean you're sitting here taking your time are they come up and talk to me you know I mean just it's just mad like another way yeah it is it is a mad rise and we'll get to kind of where you are now once we go through and like that you said you and your brother came up too as well and was SPG the first gym you went to was that the first gym you tried no no it wasn't actually um the first gym we tried was a no fear of me and I that was kind of Dylan at the time and he still still is he's black belt there and still trained and it was professional for it for years actually for all kind of McGregor air back in the day before the cage Warriors before the the world hotels and everything else but um yeah so Conor was basically yeah he was the youngest turned 23 and we joined there and like you know coming from you know like that it was again me being the yeah you know the oldest and then actually I get into a gym where he's professional for uh discipline you know that's who I was looking up to instead of you know they all the lights in the estate are the all the boys in the street uh General that was my you know uh you know I suppose that was my uh blessing you know I mean like always blessed to meet him like always like I don't know that's why he's starting to look up to it if that makes sense so whereas some people might have went that way I was because I was you know looking up to these type of characters and I was looking up to the lads in the gym that was walking away I'll come to train and does that make sense you know so like um it was such a big thing for me training McConnell and like yeah which is like you know what you instilled in this what we maybe lacked in technique at the time like we really trained hard like it's not like we weren't training conditions like this you're trying to shed it's back like he was just trying like for professional fights back like even though it wasn't that long it was like 12 13 years ago but it's not it was like that's what it was that back then you know what I mean like um yeah like Joseph we were training four years uh I was 20 to 20 I was 18 you were like look we want tape I want you want to have a crack at this stunned Naruto had to get the boss to lose up the train and then again another blasting me over John kavana then you know what I mean he just basically within a month he was like ah do you just want to train the property and we were like deadly and they started training the pros and ever since that then obviously opportunities came away just you know obviously as I said true John and and uh yeah just so he's still quitting you know that was a thing you know what I mean yeah no that's that's good like that it was good that you could have that figure to look up because like you said indratta and among many places throughout the country it's so it's so easy for kids to go Australia to see people with money they see this to see that and they can go that way but that the fact that you you had that figure and from obviously now you had a figure to people how does that make you feel because especially in drogheda like I hear lots of people he's an inspiration like that they all come out for your fight how does that make you feel for that to flip and you're that person now yeah it's a modern to be honest because you know I like that said you started just you know for your own selfish reasons and still looked at you know you're doing it for but then next letter like you have all these people come to avoids and you know and you know you're meeting people's kids and they're like you know like I want you to meet you and forgetful and it's like it's just my it's just mad like you know because and I I do feel that I feel the responsibility you know and it's sometimes it is a little bit of pressure and like because then you're like no way like I have like you know I never thought this you know and then um so like it is it is mad in that way but like like that if I can be like that for people and and that's another thing you always asks the question what would you like to remember for like that's another thing maybe like you know I did it the hard way you know I mean look me amateur career 13 wins 11 losses I fought the who's who fought the best in the world they fought the broader the wrestler the the Russian the Brazilian you know as far as that and then like I didn't get any handouts you know what I mean I didn't come from money I didn't come from I didn't fall into this so I was just blessed the people that met in my life and then I didn't you know I was you know I was training full-time walking the weekends 24 hours to make ends meet to go up and train you know I didn't get any handles you know what I mean and and I did it that way and I think you know I think if that's what they're looking up to then I think you know well maybe like you know I could be a good example like that you know I mean and then not as if I'm where I want to be but you know I'm doing I'm doing well no flick and also um and again that's like that down to be sponsors that people have met along the way you know but I've been able to do it I mean the Lord's yourself give me the you know the the coverage to talk about this or whatever so I just feel blessed to be honest man that's that's really it you know the atmosphere is surreal the fact that people and then do you feel do you feel like a responsibility now to no obviously because I know you on a level whereas I know your character you're a good person and you know sometimes uh people not Fighters but people might go off the rails a little bit through this you feel responsibility to always put your best foot forward to be an example or does that factor or is that just because you're a good person anyways you're never really gonna go and do anything yeah yeah like like I do feel that but then it's like but then obviously you know when you have you know and that kind of pressure on you or that expectation and another thing as well when you start to get like a little bit you know a little bit known or whatever you know what you know like the slowest bit you know what I mean like like you know around the turnover like people think they know it and like they have this expectation and I've seen something today or something online like you everyone here has their expectations of me and yours are different to the next persons and like they actually don't know does that mean you know so I don't know I have that like a little bit and then then it is good in a sense because like you know you win a fight and you know everyone's you know what you know congratulating it's brilliant you know I mean the sport you get but then you go up to the gym and everyone's just like Well Done Facebook class you know they were both of you and then if you're lost like say Lee Hammond you know just come out this week that he lost in the ultimate like nobody's like thinking it's like you know it's just like we know a good leaders I mean his peers and his you know training apparently know how good he is and the same like if all he took a loss in the gym but you don't go in and everyone's looking at as if it's your funeral where's your microwave you know yeah and everyone thinks it's like the fight or and when you win this so like people pray and then they think it's like the end so things that like you know it just kind of puts things into perspective if that makes sense you know yeah who's kind of really there because obviously when we all know how good Lee is and he was actually winning that fight until he wasn't which I don't know if that would make sense but he was winning that fight until obviously he got caught and he actually put a post up as well like and I this is what I want to do these industries well I want people to see who you are who Lee if I ever get to interview him to see behind because people see you for 15 minutes nine minutes if you're an amateur they don't see like you spoke how long ago you start they don't see did your next fight is basically your life's work in the making and I want people to be able to appreciate that because like I said you go back to the gym and it's not Paul probably go or John be like right 24 hours of sulk we're on to the next one that's all obviously you haven't lost in a while so you haven't got that feeling that Pro yet but yeah no people outside I would this is what I want to give them an Insight so but like we you talk there about your amateur career like I said 13 10 I've always used you as an example whether you hate me for it or not is get those like get those fights get those hard fights in amateur because a lot of Fighters will speak to an amateur when they lose they're like oh I'm like you've been in the position that now you know how to correct so that won't happen in Pro you had that many flights do you think those losses have made you go on the streak that you're on as a professional oh like I mean like you said something too much you can look at me records you can look into whoever as well and look how well they're doing a pro now or even what they've achieved at Amazon stuff I've won I've lost against them you know if father who's who's you know and like you know like you said I've done all the brawler the rest of the everything the striker you know and you know that really stands me and it's just to feel comfortable in there you know I mean and I remember after it was I don't know if it was a random number at the time maybe it's a mental thing but I remember I had me 20 foot and it started to really feel like comfortable it was horrified in the world championships they can you know like just you just you find accountability and and then you know you it just becomes like you know you do so long and you just it's a you know what helps you when you want to go pro if that is your goal all you see someone like having six fights and like that generally I was there waiting once I've won the shot you know and like some Lads are like oh they're coming in a little scratch and they're like oh I'm not doing this for any much longer unless you're getting paid for I'm looking at them like you know man like if you're in this really for the long haul you want to be getting as much experience as you can like you know and like again it depends obviously in your age and stuff with that and like how long you're doing it but like you know having like a few fights and getting into Pro like when you get to a certain level you're gonna meet the you know you're going to meet that guy and like you want to be ready you know what I mean so we we all know who they are that went probably too early or you know maybe that was what they were supposed to do I don't know but like for me I was just like when I when I went to jail and said I want to go probably he was like I thought you'd never asked and the key was we were having conversations and he was like do you want to go pro like you know like he was like like because I stayed that long and like you know like obviously ready and stuff but like I just wanted like obviously my God for long terms to to get a goal of the only maps and stuff you know and uh but yeah that was I think everybody should be going that route you know I really do yeah no I like that there's very few that have over the kind of 20 fights Alexander Sullivan who obviously I believe holds the record I'm not going to say definitely because because someone will correct me out there um but I'm nearly sure as we interviewed Alex does you just like Karma Conway is going up there yeah he's been around a while but like that you felt all those positions and and it's mad you say like someone gets a little caught and they want to like talk to us about the evolution of MMA since you start like you said you were in the shed the train and the health and safety the rule sets like how much have you seen in that time change so much for the betterment of the sport yeah like I've seen like for the bear as far as the one thing I know is like the safety like you know people can find about in all that but like I've like I've met people that like these type of scans and stuff has you know saved their lives and ways you know what I mean so like people can give it a bit in our lap at the end of the day fighting's only one 10 15 years your life or whatever maybe you know if it is me life you know I mean and like the Paris I am is because of it but all you know when I'm finished competing point that's that's that's most the rest of your life if you're not the way it's like you know that's when I start having a family and all those things you know what I mean so like and that's really matters I mean so like you know and again like I said this is you know the passion you're talking today is because of this sport you know I mean it's you know mold me into who I am but you know like what I'm saying like you know back then like it was like if someone whipped a phone to take a photo after session they'd give you like what is he doing around the gym what is he doing I mean what are you gonna do tell you I'll meet you a train you know so like and then now it's like like I'm like writing a social media like posting every session and all that like and people are like you know I noticed like oh you're still training and I'm like yeah I'm still trying to train twice a day three times a day sometimes of course like this is full time for me like you know but I noticed that's the social media end of it you know so you have to keep on top of that I think some people like black belts are social media and some people are black belts and do you know what I mean so I think that's the difference is black belts in Soldier media and this black person you know martial arts you know so I've seen that and I've scene like you know the way people carry on through the evolution of Conor and stuff and you know like in you know Conor was always like that even like like I said coach kind of little farm at the time he was always that on boards.ie giving you know I mean Connor was always that like you know whereas you have like some young for like he's trying to act like and I'm just like I see people come around the hotel acting in the Maga and like at the fights and I'm just like man some big heavy come along put his hand in your head and just it's an illusion you don't mean to go around acting like you're a you're not a tough man you know what I mean it's just it's Madness so like all of that and then as far as the you know the skill you have the likes of like Max lady going promo I remember training with him like a killer the keys unbelievable you know like the level has got to be like you know the space of like what you could get within two years training this gym maybe you would have took me you know six years back then like at the start does that make sense so like you know it's just 11 the level how we're doing it the only maps at the youth worlds and everything you know so it's just you know it's unreal it's I think really the score is limit for a little small country that we're in you know yeah because the level that damages I think because obviously I mainly focus on during with my other page the amateurs and the level letter at now is just amazing and everyone says what's coming underneath is it's mad it's like that you've got people like Sean abandon's going to UFC a couple of people on average you see you're going to see more SVG like you're going to see more people in Bellator you've got octagon and stuff now but it's not my social media obviously you said that that some people are good and some people are bad I think it's a double-edged sword it can be good it can be bad you're gonna have your Instagram Fighters but also a part of the fight game now which I think is unfair but obviously because of entertainment do you think social media is an aspect that gets looked at more and not as I post a skill but it kind of they look at both and if there's two people the same skill level or maybe one slightly better but the other one's better on social media they might go well we're giving him the shot definitely 100 and I think that has to be talking because it's like and like we're all victim of it you know that's why like if I wasn't doing this I wouldn't be on it that's that's a fact like I would not be on that like I just oh you have to be on it in the sense that like that like you know what I mean you notice when you're not on a DOT like you have to keep people up to date and people like apparently people want to know what I mean I mean totally you have to keep them up to date on and what you're doing and like what decisions are doing and stuff and and like that but like I said I'll be a victim to it as well I see like some people I have black belts out and I'm like you know you might get caught opener like and you're like no way like oh you just realize here like he's just better at posting me like he's not actually training hard I mean he's doing different to me I mean he just has better social media you know whatever way you know so and uh I think it is a big thing like not to get into it but like you know you know we see they do look at your profile obviously because you know as we see the way people have gone and stuff you know and it is a big thing and even like people would mention I have a big following and stuff you know and like I think it matters like you know as I said because at the end of the day it's probably his point and it's entertainment like you know if uh even though it was like the dagistani some of the Russians don't speak English not many people really want to know if they don't know like and they're the best in the world you don't know them until they're in the UFC and then goes this last like 20 you know and you're like where did he come from and then he learns English and you're like oh he's I want to know him and so like it's it's you know it does matter you know what I mean but like I said it can be good and bad uh you can get caught up in all and you know yeah I just think for me I started and now for that when it wasn't the thing [Music] and you know it's just it's just not me you know I mean yeah no but that's why I like you or you and authentically you and that's what like we've tried to arrange it since you uh multiple times but you're so busy you're just like I'm training you're coaching you're up here you're doing what you need to do you're just you and you're in this 100 we're gonna go into your kind of pro career now but just what with your amateur career starts us a little bit the last then I'll see the imass and what was your experience and would you recommend it for the amateurs uh going forward oh 100 Logan said I think you know that that that's the route that is the roots later for you that's where you that's where you go you see the amount of people that's gone from there to the UFC and everyone else all the looks looks a lead that's not against the other before you know Jack Shaw from Wales um you know McCoy if you know obviously the most notable you know I mean like like that is the route you're fighting the best in the world from each Nation every day and like it becomes normalized you know like you get used to like in the hotel which are with the file your voice or you could be sitting there with the guy and fighting the next day or that day doing Medicals we're just sitting there it's not like you know the built bulbs from the sauna or just you know like there's no you know like sometimes you know hey everyone you know so like I remember like once I was fighting a fella the next day and I didn't know who I didn't know I didn't know I was in the in the ice bath and I was looking at the time as I write 10 minutes right and I'm in the elk there's me rattling you know what I mean and your man's beside me just chilling out in general just and I'm like gosh I've had an artifism I would have been putting on a bit of it you know so like it's just a normalizes that type of thing you know what I mean and I think that is the roof Autumn because again like that there's no other way to get ready like as I said lad's going after six fights and you know all these sponsorship banners and stuff and look again like that I wouldn't be able to do if I wasn't it wasn't for the sponsors but like you know I just think like I heard John say it like years they were like you know put the banner away and just you know I think that's why you know the the Box in this country and obviously like you wouldn't be able to forever we went with me just because it's harder training on the body injuries wise and stuff but like those guys having two 300 fights again I don't know if that's possible MMA but like that's probably why the Russians are so far ahead because they're doing so what age and you know so I think that is the route compete as much you can don't have an eagle you know don't be thinking to me when you look at me and amateur like I wasn't don't get me wrong with it it meant to everyone I mean to be winning but like you know I've had a topic I never went to anyone you know what I mean like you know like and like that it's only a record amateur and art or no buff always says you know your pro record goes on your gravestone it's not your Armature you know what I mean so that's what I think for the amateurs going forward yeah and like that it is good look at like I said I bring an upward fight as well look at that record and look at your pro now so we're gonna go into the pro like you went straight into Beltone like first so obviously you thought the IMAX you've been at this what was it like first time going into Bellator stepping into the into that promotion into that cage for your pro debut yeah it was it was a it was mine and like that come back to even like the only Maps like if I hadn't done them that wouldn't again be that opportunity to do that you know I mean because I compete there for so long and you know I became like you know someone that was a how many times representative Lauren bottom so like that would have helped that you know I mean if I was just fighting in local shows and I I do I highly doubt that would have came from it you know what I mean so that and then to go into that like as I said all that prepared me for that you know and again like that it's a lot it's a whole different ball game you know it's it's tree Arena 10 000 people 300 people coming up from your your area and it's different you know what I mean it's obviously you know but all that prepared me for as I said but uh start my Bellator was a dream come true like you're not even John came to me I was like this is unbelievable like all of it made sense you know all the upside Downs the amateur it came to this you know I mean and like I said in bless that I've met John Trini my life and you know again all the people and uh I'm I'm I don't I don't forget that either you know I mean I know that that's the position was given because of that reason and and I worked hard for it and you know I got it and I'm just lucky I noticed maybe up but uh to fight about it or first one it was just like is this like between controls or like you know to feel the canvas the gloves and just the whole production of it all and the the magnitude of how big it was in the tree Arena you know I mean and then the thing could fight there another six times and for abroad and Paris that time once and and it's just unreal man to be honest it's like you said what what you walk for you know yeah describe to the people what that crowd is like in Dublin it's it's um when you're coming up onto the ramp the way the arena is like the cage is down and it's just to see your people and adjust the energy just hit you like it it just like a wall up like and I mean just buying a headshot and you can go two ways a bit you know I mean you can let it crumble and you know for me I'm just kind of really too focused like a lot of times I didn't even take it in I was just like like you know I fall in front of nobody and I remember they got me interested song wrong two or three times but like I was used to fighting with all like oh you don't even think about an engine song I don't even think of it the whole you know Razzmatazz but oh you know I mean like I said I just for that cage right now and I mean just it's just it's just a fully Farm you know what I mean so that really you know it was only maybe the last three four fights are kind of started to take that in and it's only in hindsight I'm like right take it in there enjoy this that's what you're doing it you know I mean like you know enjoy that because when you look back and uh but to explain it you have to do it and you know it's um like I said two there's two type of people you can go one way or you're right you can feed off and thank God every time I've I've fed off the energy and got in the wind there you don't mean so yeah it is it looks like a for a fighter to go out that it is special and I like like that you're on that Ron Bellator rear naked choke seems to be the the go-to choice what's it like going up because like when you started in Bellator it was obviously similar records but like I've looked the records of guys who fought like once you got into your third four or five you were fighting guys that had way more experience than you and what was the top class has taken then flights like that you've always taken the toughest flights to jewels no I'm better than them I don't care what their record is I'm gonna beat them or or they just go in and they're just another human being in front here the mentality was like I'm I'm here in the beginning like you know you know obviously you know you can be you know you see of course you know but like I mean I was like I'm in bellatorian like I'm not you know here to be you know torn down for each other you know when you're building a record to get today or maybe you know what I mean like but it wouldn't be me anyway you know but I'll be you know obviously the record amateur shows that but you know I was just like I'm here now and whoever Department it's just yes you know I mean I'm ready for that now you know I mean like that the amateur career uh you know the amateur stand it prepared me for that I knew I was ready for that you know I mean whoever you put in front of me I said yes like you said tour pro 4 fighting a veteran That was supposed to kind of McGregor back in the day just um different ways whatever happened with John and Louie at the time he was eight and one coming back he was watching interviews he was going to be doing next World Champion he's coming back he's more mature and here's me terminal you know what I mean getting in there to fight event and and I got the win you know you got 10 eight rounds now for you know I mean it just goes to show like that and a lot of people might look and say like I did more fights or like you know maybe glass front eleven and five you know 18 Pro fights or whatever it was and it's like but if you're welcome yeah I like when you stack it up with actually more experience yeah I've made the walk more than I've done you know I've trained for 30 plus fights you know I mean so I think again really did stand to me and like I said I'm in Bellator you can ask Jude he'll he can he can say this John has put the tweets before and you know it's all there they send the people to me yes I've never told that anything I've come I've I've gotten 12 and three Lads I've gotten Lads they're in DLC now I've said yes to them all is you know I'm there I'm there you know I'm already there I'm not as if I'm trying to build to get there so and uh you know long may last you know what I mean yeah and I like that it's he's fought some really really experienced opponents and I look at them Jesus like it's mad how some people's careers go that some people will take the easier fights where it seems to be an SPG you think Brian Moore is the same just couple others that are just like no one's just taking whoever they put in front of me when you hear the likes of Big John McCarthy and like Josh Thompson because they've been very complimentary of you I've noticed like from Washington County what's it like to hear words from people like big John who's like a Pioneer at a sport who helped kind of set up the rules there and Josh Thompson who fought in the UFC or does that even enter your head you've yeah like that in hindsight those you know like because I think if you get if if you get uh you know wrapped up and all that the occasion will get here and you know everything but like like that talking to them before fighting stuff the commentator interviews and you're just like this is mine like you're watching Josh Thompson you know knocking out in 80 years years ago with the head kick and you know watching them and Big John McCarthy you know reference some of the biggest fights in the world ever and in UFC obviously and you know like you said creating the rules their first referee before he was even born and just it's crazy like you know when you just come to think like you know uh where I've come and it's just it does it you know the likes that I'm getting behind me he actually Josh just retweet me tweet the other day and it's just it is it's a bit surreal you know what I mean but like that said I've been walking towards that so it's like no way but then it's like so you're walking all many of these years to that you know so yeah it's it's it's class really you know you know it is because it's my album I hear him talk about how he's Fighters and you're like I kind of know you or I know whoever and it's nice to see that you're you're getting a recognition and you've had some fantastic performances in Bellator some fantastic finishes there's one thing I noticed about Judo as well and it's like sometimes the fight might not be going your way but you make it go your way in the end what you put that down to is that high corner work from John or is that all of the above mixed in together yeah it's very it's hard because I don't think like to watch me like even next one I don't think he's gonna watch it and say like he's doing nothing special like you know but you know I'm not like a uh yeah I already it's all right like that you don't mean that he's going around spinning you know I'm not like you know doing nothing special but like I always say it like it's it's until you're in there and you feel the pressure you know I mean and it's like I don't even realize sometimes you know it might be I have to Sparrow something like oh your pressure was you know it's serious you feel like 100 kilos on top of me or you know you know whatever and uh you know it's only you know it's only when you're in there you feel it you know I mean I think again like I said I think you know it's there's two things uh it's me Pace the pace to put on my poor I put my Pace on them you know like I said I might not be uh you know I might you know it might be the hairy one or two rounds but like that's that's because you watch the fights I'm going forward yeah it's me coming at them it's not me in the back I'm like you know look at that I might be getting caught with this or that or you know I'm wake up talking down but like I'm it's because I am the you know I'm depressor yeah you know I mean it's not as if I'm in the back but you know it's I'm the president some maybe maybe it should maybe take you know maybe think you know well I went back if I had it you know enough and just you know hell bent but that's just me still I put the pace from people and then towards around obviously you know I come in and then again the second thing I think we'll probably say is John always I said before like uh over you know ability to stay calm you know and uh in the in in the pressure cooker you know I mean in the big big arena is the big you know whereas um you know maybe you're allowed to crumble so probably that like you know what I mean you know and I wasn't saying that to say anything drugs or if you get me it's like oh cool I think it's like that so sometimes when flights aren't going your way like I said some people crumble but use like there hasn't been many times but like to pull out to have that heart because I think one of the the biggest things Irish Fighters have is how you've seen it with Danny McCormick we've seen it with yourself you've seen it with everyone but I just think it's so impressed sometimes like that for me if something's not going well I can go afternoon and especially in the fighting like you said that pressure of the atmosphere to be able to pull it out in front of of all the people that have traveled you have a huge huge fan base to travel with you how does that make you feel when you go to these shows and yourself 300 odd tickets your boss is going up and down how does that feel to have that support with you yeah look I mean as I said before like it's just an actual reason to go and get the win they could just like I'm fully aware of how much it costs so they get to these you know Bellator and stuff like you know tickets up the nose but is that there you know I mean never mind you know so I'm fully aware people have to take off work you know travel up there before you put your hand in your pockets under your you know what I mean so before you even get a drink and so I'm fully aware how much that costs and I really appreciate people and and when you put inspect you're like no way they're actually gonna away to come up here to support me and to you know watch me do well it looks like you know it's just it's just an actual reason you know I mean and I really appreciate that and again like that I keep mentioning responses like you know these believe in me and like they're like you know I want to get behind us lied you know what I mean so um I just feel it's a you know the road that you know I mean and again look I know I understand if I pick up last you feel a lot of that as well but like I know the people that have around me are is the right people that and uh at the end of the day those are matter don't mind as long as the matter you know those that do you care they don't matter you know I mean so um that's just the way I look at you know I mean and again I just feel blessed because of it you know yeah no it is and then like just fights it seems to be twice a year better to come back and you're gonna be fighting at this one obviously doesn't want to start the year and which you've been to nearly all of them in the past couple of years but you've missed one or two as well have you and no I haven't missed any Dublin's as far as the uh yeah you know so I haven't missed only but um like that like I think it's it's unbelievable to be able to fight at home but like I'd love to get this win and then please God maybe yeah you know next year um whatever whatever way it's going to work on as I said I have to win this fight you know I mean like I'm not looking pastable it's uh you know I've said before I'd love to get something abroad build a bit of boys you know you know get abroad to America or where to be somewhere else in Europe and you know build a bit of woods for the next one then the Dublin that people want to come and see or even like you said get a few people to come over and watch me and see how many people come support me and stuff you know because everybody's always saying to me when are we getting a holiday out here you know what I mean so uh I love that you know I mean that's what I get into it I mean don't get me wrong I'm very grateful not many people can say before I treat uh sorry six times in the three Arena but like you know I'm trying to get to you know where it's at which is obviously the states and stuff and so uh yeah we'll see what happens again focus on the next one I have to be him so you know what I mean you know and I like your mindset that you're focused on him and not looking past it because a lot of Fighters say um I won't say it was but it was a profile they look past the next their opponent said the fight with him there was potentially a big contract from somewhere else and then he lost but um with that got like you're gonna be eight and all if you if you win this fight potentially like how far away from a title shot you believe you could be because I think going on an organization should have you fairly close has there been talks about or do you just wait until they say there's a title shot well personally and this is fact I believe you know I feel them two three years away from now you know I mean like you know I'm only 28 like I know it's not like you know 21 year old but like you know I'm still young you know I've you know I feel I'm only freely feel I'm only really starting before career and like I you know um like that I think you know people have mentioned top ten to me and I was like really fair enough if I win this I'd be hating on the company it's one of the longest streaks in the whole company of the most consecutive wins there's an Irish foreign Bellator you know so I can get what people would say that but it's like for me it's like you know I'm still just trying to clone the ranks I've never said no to opponent if that what they thought was worthy of that's what that's what it is but like I said I'm just just keep stacking them up and when the time's right when they feel I'm ready which they haven't obviously given me anything like that yeah and you know the time will come you know but as I said I can't be looking past and saying I'm going to be a world champion or anything I have to beat the next Villa and the next will add to that all I can do is focus in the next man and his work for me so far I like that I just saying you look too far ahead what's next you know when I learned that amateur as well I looked at the gold medal but I didn't look at the five Med the five lines that they beat before you know I'd be like when the car when they got honestly no you have to be five people that came before you beat you know so yeah it's um yeah again all these lessons and just just experience leading up to these things you know I mean it's just that's my mindset going forward you know okay so it's gonna be just two or three more questions as well I want to thank you very much for taking time out your day I know you're very busy um out of your career so far and we're gonna usually we talk about just a problem because you're such an extensive amateur career um tree fights your favorite finish your favorite performance and a fight that you learn the most from right hey favorite finish would have to be um probably Jordan Barton for you the way the fight went to a cup of the knee losing two rounds you know there is a close fight there that was um that was um with the Brazilian light that was close but the reaction I got after that and really you know things really happened for me after that you know I mean I really got good you know and the you know the way the crowd went and looking back and it's it's one that looked back and it never even said to me did they say that therefore it was you know I think that was the fight that you know people looked at and was like you know because I think that really for everybody solidified me as you know you know I'll be serious because it was like maybe people you know maybe they maybe the average you're watching under Telly would say oh look I don't look like a photo you know the average you know bald and big beard you know tattoos and I don't look like they're stereotypical or whatever and like probably think I'm gonna get the head knocked on me and then they would have watched it and said here he's you know look he's hard as Nails I mean he's in there at the end there's no point in him he's you know he's in there to the apartment you know what I mean so I think that you know don't laugh for those type of people I don't know and then for like me like me peers and like you know people in the sport they were like that was a solid win like it you know that was you know people that are training I really already knew that but like you know I really like you know really showed and like at people text me saying that that Philip is a serious you know it's a series um great fight and you're really should you know showed here enough for you second is the the best performance my favorite performance Sunday probably Tyler's empathy with the uh you know the tournament we win against the world championships um a bit of a backstory that year he had knocked me out uh the only time I was ever knocked out and uh from a punch uh the qualified under the European championships he went on the win silver he knocked everybody he's a 90 knuckle finish rate anyway we all know him you know what I mean he's still doing it now still doing it now you know so no shame in that but uh he beat me in the second round I would have won the first round he was winning the second caught me knocked me out and later on that year he was wearing the gold kit he was number one seed in the tournament number one in the world ranked at the time he was the man that beat he was the fellow to win the World Championships everyone following with the cameras he'd deployed the day before because he was the first seed or he fought Brazilian the day before he's actually fighting Harry Hardwick now the Brazilian [Music] the next day he would knock me out in the March I mean then dominate the 43 rounds it was a tough fight but I actually looked in the still and after the second I looked over and I could see him shaking his head and I was like I have it and after that for you I fought the Roy for it and uh yeah I was three rounds got the win over three years and you know showed me character you know to come back from that loss and against someone that was you know and still to this day he's an animal you know what I mean and there so uh yeah to get that win back and again to learn from that like you know the one that I learned from the most was probably that one as well you don't mean to to cut a shot a bit because you know you learn a lot with yourself in these fights and it probably was all them things I mean you know to see how tough you are I mean and I already knew that anyway but it was just like you know it shows what you can do you know I mean all the hard-working you know it's like this is what you're doing you know what I mean I'd say that was a good feeling like that he he beat you previously knocks you out the first time ever then you're sitting across the cage and you see him shaking his head and you're like right I got you so that must be an amazing feeling um I'm gonna ask you one or two more questions as well so what's your aspiration when you first got in did you want to be a champion like what is what is the top of your list obviously you've got like you said you take one fight at a time but but what's the overall goal for Karen Clark I'll be honest still very hard for me to answer because like that I always thought like years ago like to be like you know I do interviews when they first start and like you know it'd be like what do you want to do this and it's like I thought I had to say like to be a world champion because it's like you know everybody's in it to be a world champion type thing and I'm not saying I'm not it's not I'm not saying that it'll never be but it's like I just can't look past what's really important you know which is the next fella and you know the two flights they have to be you know what I mean so and like obviously Evan was is going to say that but like I don't know you know to be a world champion like is such a special you know it takes you know especially type of person I mean and again I don't know if I am that you know I mean again I don't know if that's I can't see into the future you know I mean and again like you said did I get anything for that no I didn't I just get into it just because I wanted to you know really you know properly you know if I walk into a room here I know if I kicks off you know what I mean I can you know so that was where is that and then obviously when I started competing and stuff is to win how much I bet this world championships the amateur and stuff but like now it's like again like I said people like and I was like oh you realize the opportunity I have a bellaton it's like I know I'm just taking it all with both hands and I know the best mentality to take that and to do that is to look each foot because if I'm looking at a world championship and it's not going to be world champion that might never come and when I'm done you know whether we you know it's and they always say and it's and again the amateur and stuff people always say you know it's the journey and it really is you know I mean because this is like an iPhone's always like it's our experience but it is really you know what I mean so again like that I don't want to get you know well that's it for me you know I'm loving this I'm able to do what I can through the people at my own and people I've messed up and blessed with I met that blessed with and uh I'm happy you know I mean that's the main thing you know okay so um when it's all said and done how would you like to be remembered whether it be as a person or as a fighter and someone have fought with faith you know um two reasons you don't have faith in themselves they always you know never give up stayed at it stuck with it and I'm actually taking 10 you know and they always believed in himself and then the second reason would be the reason why I would have you know uh is me faith in God you know I mean that you know the people in Metro Life the people always blessed to meet and stuff the opportunities I got that's that's that's that's true guys I mean that's true Jesus it's giving me that and like you said in those fights you know that that's who's giving me the strength you know I mean it's true him that I'm getting them that strength you know and again don't want to go on a bit too much but you know that's uh because it does you know it falls in that fear sometimes but that's who I am that and I have to mention that because that's I wouldn't be here only tonight you know I mean so someone that fought with faith you know yeah no 100 it's been excellent watching you through the pro ranks thus far I can't wait to see the rest and I can't wait to see how your career unfolds and and like you I'm not looking too far ahead for you now I'm just looking at your next fight I can take that mentality for you because I really do think you should be fighting for a championship fairly soon but look if you're happy with every flight that's in Frontier that's the best way forward because you do you because you've been doing quite well as it is thank you I really appreciate it thank you thanks a million thank you