James Clarke says soul season continues at CFFC 112: 'I've been taking these kids souls for some time now'

James Clarke didn't always have dreams of becoming a professional fighter, but now that he is, "The Suplex Kid" has big plans moving forward.

"I know I belong in the big show, and I think it could be any fight now, man," Clarke said. "This could be it, but if not, it is what it is. I'm going to keep fighting. The main goal is to make it to the big show."

Clarke's fighting career didn't start with that idea in mind. Truthfully, he first stepped into a cage basically just to say he did.

"It always starts small, and I had no idea it was going to get to this level that it's at," Clarke said. "I just thought it'd be cool. I was scrapping in the bar every weekend anyway. I just thought it'd be cool to tell my friends I got in a real cage fight."

Clarke competed extensively as an amateur in his native Canada before deciding to make the leap to the pro ranks. He immediately ran into tough competition and found himself with just one win after his first four pro bouts. Clarke admits it was an eye-opening experience.

"I just thought I could continue to smoke cigarettes and party and just fight because I loved it, but then I started getting my ass kicked, so it was time to make some changes," Clarke said. "It's a little cliche to say, but MMA definitely, definitely saved my life, or at least changed it for the better, for sure. I mean, I used to smoke cigarettes and do a lot of a lot of stupid things kids do, right? So it helped me evolve that way, as well, and I'm a better person because of it."

Clarke (6-3) is also a better fighter, too. Since undertaking those life changes, he's since reeled off five straight wins, including three first-round submissions, earning him a spot in the co-main event of Friday's CFFC 112, which streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS from Philadelphia's 2300 Arena. There, he'll take on fellow flyweight prospect Aaron La Farge (5-2).

While La Farge owns a similar career record thus far, Clarke doesn't seem particularly impressed.

"I'm not the same guy I was when I was 1-3," Clarke said. "I think that the biggest thing in this sport is that if you're not evolving, the next generation will catch you, so I definitely stepped it up. I think this kid Aaron La Farge in for a rude awakening because he hasn't fought anybody like me, and I think I have fought guys that are in his category, so I think it's going to be a good night."

Clarke ultimately hopes a big win will get him an invitation to one of the sport's biggest promotions, but if that doesn't happen, he's willing to stay on the grind to get there, a move he thinks is inevitable. With the sacrifices finally made to do things the right way in his career, Clarke believes big things are on the way.

"I think it's my time – soul season, as we call it," Clarke said. "I've been taking these kids' souls for some time now.

"It takes a lot of sponsors and coaches and training partners to get guys like me to the big show, and I think we're there, and I'm just grateful for everyone I've got in my corner, and I don't plan on letting anybody down. I think it's going to be a good night at the office. I'm going to put on a show."