# Clay Collard

Clay Collard (born March 10, 1993) is an American professional mixed martial artist and former Professional boxer. A professional since 2011, he formerly competed for the UFC. He currently competes in the lightweight division of the Professional Fighters League.

## Background

Collard grew up in Castle Dale, Utah. Collard started wrestling at the age of six, picking up boxing at the age of 11. Collard attended Emery High School, where he lettered in wrestling.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Early career

Collard took his first and only amateur mixed martial arts bout less than two weeks after his 18th birthday. He won the bout via 12-second knockout and subsequently turned professional to fight the next weekend. Collard competed solely in Utah regional circuit, amassing a 13–4 (1 NC) record before being signed to the UFC.

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

Collard made his promotional debut on August 23, 2014 as a short notice replacement against Max Holloway at UFC Fight Night 49, replacing an injured Mirsad Bektic. Collard lost the fight via TKO in the third round.
Collard next faced Alex White on December 6, 2014 at UFC 181. Collard won the fight via unanimous decision.
Collard faced Gabriel Benítez on June 13, 2015 at UFC 188. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.
Collard was expected to face Andre Fili on September 5, 2015 at UFC 191. However, Fili was forced out of the bout with injury and replaced by Tiago Trator. Collard lost the fight by split decision and was subsequently released from the promotion.
Collard was expected to headline LFA 75 against Arthur Estrázulas on September 6, 2019 but withdrew from the bout due to a short notice call from the UFC. After four years away from UFC, Collard returned to the promotion and was scheduled to face Devonte Smith on August 17, 2019 at UFC 241 replacing John Makdessi. However, on the fight week news surfaced that Collard withdrew from the fight due to an undisclosed reason and was replaced by promotional newcomer Khama Worthy. Following the ordeal, Collard was released from the promotion again.

### Professional Fighters League

In March 2020, Collard signed with Professional Fighters League and competes in the lightweight division. He was expected to participate in the season 2020 but due to COVID-19 pandemic the league cancelled the whole season.

#### 2021 season

Collard made his PFL debut against Anthony Pettis on April 23, 2021 at PFL 1. He won the bout via unanimous decision, out boxing Pettis throughout the bout.
Collard faced Joilton Lutterbach at PFL 4 on June 10, 2021. He won the bout via split decision.
Collard faced Raush Manfio in the semifinals of the Lightweight tournament on August 13, 2021 at PFL 7. Collard lost the bout via unanimous decision.

#### 2022 season

Collard faced Jeremy Stephens on April 20, 2022 at PFL 1. In a back and forth affair, Collard won the bout via unanimous decision.
Collard faced Alexander Martinez on June 17, 2022 at PFL 4. He lost the close bout via split decision.

#### 2023 season

Collard faced Yamato Nishikawa on April 14, 2023 at PFL 3. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Collard faced Stevie Ray on June 23, 2023 at PFL 6. He won the fight via TKO in the second round.
Collard faced Shane Burgos in the semi-finals of the lightweight tournament on August 23, 2023, at PFL 9. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
In the final, Collard faced Olivier Aubin-Mercier on November 24, 2023 at PFL 10. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

#### 2024 season

Collard faced former Bellator Featherweight champion A. J. McKee on February 24, 2024, at PFL vs. Bellator. He lost in the first round by armbar submission.
Collard started the 2024 season with a bout against former Bellator Lightweight champion Patricky Pitbull on April 12, 2024 at PFL 2. He won the fight by second round technical knockout.
Collard faced Mads Burnell in the main event of PFL 5 at Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, UT on June 21, 2024. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Collard faced former Bellator Lightweight champion Brent Primus in the semifinals of the 2024 Lightweight tournament on August 16, 2024 at PFL 8. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

#### 2025 PFL Lightweight Tournament

On February 26, 2025, the promotion officially revealed that Collard will join the 2025 PFL Lightweight Tournament.

## Professional boxing career

Collard was initially training boxing only to improve his offensive striking skills for mixed martial arts. However, he needed money to fix his car so he opted to take a short-notice professional boxing match. He made his professional boxing debut in 2017, winning via split decision.

## Championships and accomplishments

* Showdown Fights
** Showdown Fights Lightweight Championship (One time)
* SteelFist Fight Night
** SteelFist Fight Night Lightweight Championship (One time)
*** One successful title defense
** SteelFist Fight Night Welterweight Championship (One time)

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 40 matches | 25 wins | 14 losses |
| By knockout | 12 | 1 |
| By submission | 3 | 4 |
| By decision | 10 | 9 |
| No contests | 1 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 25–14 (1) | Brent Primus | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 8 (2024) | August 16, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | 2024 PFL Lightweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Loss | 25–13 (1) | Mads Burnell | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 5 (2024) | June 21, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | |
| Win | 25–12 (1) | Patricky Pitbull | TKO (punches) | PFL 2 (2024) | April 12, 2024 | 2 | 1:32 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 24–12 (1) | A. J. McKee | Submission (armbar) | PFL vs. Bellator | February 24, 2024 | 1 | 1:10 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | |
| Loss | 24–11 (1) | Olivier Aubin-Mercier | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 10 (2023) | November 24, 2023 | 5 | 5:00 | Washington, D.C., United States | 2023 PFL Lightweight Tournament Final. |
| Win | 24–10 (1) | Shane Burgos | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 9 (2023) | August 23, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | New York City, New York, United States | 2023 PFL Lightweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 23–10 (1) | Stevie Ray | TKO (punches) | PFL 6 (2023) | June 23, 2023 | 2 | 1:04 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | |
| Win | 22–10 (1) | Yamato Nishikawa | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 3 (2023) | April 14, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 21–10 (1) | Alexander Martinez | Decision (split) | PFL 4 (2022) | June 17, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | |
| Win | 21–9 (1) | Jeremy Stephens | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 1 (2022) | April 20, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Arlington, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 20–9 (1) | Raush Manfio | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 7 (2021) | August 13, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | 2021 PFL Lightweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 20–8 (1) | Joilton Lutterbach | Decision (split) | PFL 4 (2021) | June 10, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Catchweight (159.4 lb) bout; Lutterbach missed weight. |
| Win | 19–8 (1) | Anthony Pettis | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 1 (2021) | April 23, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 18–8 (1) | Randall Wallace | Decision (unanimous) | Final Fight Championship 35: Egli vs. Holt | April 19, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 17–8 (1) | Lucas Montoya | TKO (punches) | SteelFist Fight Night: March Madness | March 22, 2019 | 1 | 3:30 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | Defended the SteelFist Fight Night Lightweight Championship. |
| Loss | 16–8 (1) | Darrick Minner | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Final Fight Championship 33: Chub vs. Vrtačić | November 2, 2018 | 1 | 0:32 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 16–7 (1) | Carson Gregory | Submission (triangle choke) | SteelFist Fight Night 57 - Friday the 13th | April 13, 2018 | 2 | 3:07 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | Won the SteelFist Fight Night Welterweight Championship. Welterweight bout. |
| Win | 15–7 (1) | Troy Dennison | TKO (punches) | SteelFist Fight Night 55: Opposites Attack | January 13, 2018 | 1 | 0:46 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | Won the SteelFist Fight Night Lightweight Championship. Return to Lightweight. |
| Loss | 14–7 (1) | Tiago Trator | Decision (split) | UFC 191 | September 5, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 14–6 (1) | Gabriel Benítez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 188 | June 13, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| Win | 14–5 (1) | Alex White | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 181 | December 6, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 13–5 (1) | Max Holloway | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. dos Anjos | August 23, 2014 | 3 | 3:47 | Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States | Catchweight (149 lbs) bout. |
| Win | 13–4 (1) | Nick Compton | Decision (unanimous) | Showdown Fights 14: Heavyweight Collision | June 28, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Orem, Utah, United States | |
| Win | 12–4 (1) | Jason Brenton | Decision (unanimous) | Showdown Fights 13: Lopez vs. Castillo | January 24, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Orem, Utah, United States | Featherweight debut. |
| Win | 11–4 (1) | Justin Buchholz | Decision (split) | Showdown Fights 12: Buchholz vs. Collard 2 | September 28, 2013 | 5 | 5:00 | Orem, Utah, United States | Won the Showdown Fights Lightweight Championship. |
| NC | 10–4 (1) | Jordan Clements | No Contest | Showdown Fights 10: Collard vs. Clements | February 8, 2013 | 2 | 2:08 | Orem, Utah, United States | Originally a TKO win for Collard; overturned after he failed a drug test. |
| Win | 10–4 | Steve Sharp | TKO (punches) | Showdown Fights 9: Buchholz vs. Castillo | November 16, 2012 | 2 | 4:44 | Orem, Utah, United States | |
| Loss | 9–4 | Justin Buchholz | Submission (guillotine choke) | Showdown Fights 8: Burkman vs. Yager | August 25, 2012 | 3 | 1:35 | Orem, Utah, United States | |
| Win | 9–3 | Steve Walser | TKO (punches) | Showdown Fights 7: Uprising | May 4, 2012 | 1 | 0:44 | Orem, Utah, United States | |
| Win | 8–3 | Scott Casey | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Rocky Mountain Fight Championships 3 | March 24, 2012 | 1 | 4:36 | Vernal, Utah, United States | |
| Win | 7–3 | Dustin Collins | TKO (retirement) | Rocky Mountain Fight Championships 2 | January 14, 2012 | 1 | 5:00 | Vernal, Utah, United States | |
| Win | 6–3 | Luke Pierce | TKO (punches) | Flash Academy MMA: Fight Night Explosion | November 26, 2011 | 1 | 2:47 | Price, Utah, United States | |
| Win | 5–3 | Drayton Woods | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Crown Fighting Championships 4 | October 29, 2011 | 1 | 3:07 | St. George, Utah, United States | |
| Loss | 4–3 | David Castillo | Decision (unanimous) | Jeremy Horn's Elite Fight Night 14 | September 30, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Lehi, Utah, United States | |
| Loss | 4–2 | Oliver Parker | Decision (unanimous) | Moab Combat Sports: Red Rock Rumble 4 | September 24, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Moab, Utah, United States | |
| Win | 4–1 | Kyle Herrera | TKO (corner stoppage) | Fight King: Fight for the Cops | August 17, 2011 | 3 | 1:54 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | |
| Loss | 3–1 | Jose Salgado | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Crown Fighting Championships 3 | June 18, 2011 | 2 | 2:38 | St. George, Utah, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Kevin Hamby Jacobson | TKO (punches) | Flash Academy MMA: Mayhem & Motocross MMA Fight Night | May 14, 2011 | 1 | 1:10 | Price, Utah, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Kaifah Detoles | TKO (punches) | Fight Kings 7: No Mercy | April 2, 2011 | 2 | 2:02 | Vernal, Utah, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Daniel Ruiz | TKO (punches) | Moab Combat Sports: Red Rock Rumble 3 | March 26, 2011 | 1 | 2:11 | Moab, Utah, United States | |

## Professional boxing record

| 18 fights | 9 wins | 6 losses |
| By knockout | 4 | 2 |
| By decision | 5 | 4 |
| Draws | 3 | 3 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location |
| 18 | Loss | 9–6–3 | Yoelvis Gomez | TKO | 1 (6), 2:11 | Dec 25, 2021 | Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 17 | Loss | 9–5–3 | Damian Sosa | UD | 8 | Dec 4, 2021 | Civc Auditorium, Stockton, California, U.S. |
| 16 | Loss | 9–4–3 | Maidel Sando | UD | 6 | Feb 20, 2021 | Shelby Co Fairgrounds, Shelbyville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| 15 | Loss | 9–3–3 | Quincy LaVallais | UD | 8 | Dec 12, 2020 | MGM Grand Conference Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 14 | Win | 9–2–3 | Maurice Williams | TKO | 2 (8), 1:32 | Aug 22, 2020 | MGM Grand Conference Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 13 | Win | 8–2–3 | Lorawnt T. Nelson | TKO | 2 (6), 1:57 | Jul 14, 2020 | MGM Grand Conference Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 12 | Win | 7–2–3 | David Kaminsky | SD | 6 | Jun 18, 2020 | MGM Grand Conference Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 11 | Win | 6–2–3 | Raymond Guajardo | TKO | 2 (6), 1:42 | Feb 1, 2020 | Beau Rivage, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S. |
| 10 | Win | 5–2–3 | Quashawn Toler | UD | 6 | Jan 3, 2020 | Blue Note, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
| 9 | Loss | 4–2–3 | Bektemir Melikuziev | TKO | 4 (8), 2:22 | Nov 2, 2019 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 8 | Win | 4–1–3 | Gerald Sherrell | UD | 6 | Sep 21, 2019 | The Meadows Racetrack and Casino, Washington, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 7 | Win | 3–1–3 | Dushane Crooks | TKO | 3 (6), 2:59 | Sep 6, 2019 | The Sugar Mill, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| 6 | Win | 2–1–3 | Maurice Winslow III | SD | 4 | Jul 6, 2019 | SeaGate Convention Centre, Toledo, Ohio, U.S. |
| 5 | Draw | 1–1–3 | Quincy LaVallais | SD | 6 | Jun 29, 2019 | Harrah's New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| 4 | Draw | 1–1–2 | Emilio Carlos Rodriquez | MD | 4 | Jun 21, 2019 | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S. |
| 3 | Loss | 1–1–1 | Quinton Randall | UD | 4 | Jun 1, 2019 | Arabia Shrine Center, Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| 2 | Draw | 1–0–1 | Tipton Walker | MD | 6 | May 18, 2019 | Performance Arts Center, Dearborn, Michigan, U.S. |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Jamey Swanson | SD | 4 | Jun 9, 2017 | Complex Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |