Clay Collard’s Undaunted Determination

Clay Collard feels motivated to go for the gold yet again in his fourth Professional Fighters League season.

“I’m focused on getting that belt,” he told Sherdog.com. “It’s eluded me a few times. In my first year, I feel like I got the rug pulled out from under me after winning a fight and not getting a chance to fight for it. In the second year, I lost a real close split decision. In the third year, we made it to the championship and came up short once again [against Olivier Aubin-Mercier]. I’m really focused on getting that belt. That’s the main goal. The [$1 million] prize is a bonus.”

Collard faces Patricky Freire in a PFL 2 lightweight showcase this Friday inside The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. Freire, a former lightweight champion, joined Bellator MMA in 2011. The promotion was absorbed into the Professional Fighters League in 2023. Collard embraces the challenge.

“I think it’s great news for mixed martial arts,” he said. “It definitely makes my job a little tougher to win that million dollars. I think only one [lightweight] guy from last year is coming back, and that’s Bruno Miranda. We got a whole bunch of new talent, a bunch of tough guys, and it’s really exciting news. I think it’s going to put on some great shows.”

Collard and his team have taken the time to break down Freire’s style. He already envisions his win over the dangerous Brazilian.

“He claims he’s a striker, but I bet after the first round, he’s trying to take me down. I bet we see him trying to wrestle first. He does have a little bit of power in his hands,” Collard said. “From what I’ve seen, he’s not super active. He just looks for those big shots. He looks for counters. He looks to try to catch you and put you away with one big one, so I plan on getting in his face and being more active than him, winning the rounds in that sense, and just putting my hands on him. Hopefully, he’s down to stand there and bang with me because everybody that’s tried that so far has gotten beaten up.”

Primarily based out of Four7 Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts in Lehi, Utah, Collard trains under coaches Jason Mertlich and Rad Martinez. Added to grueling training sessions are hundreds of miles on the road to Idaho for additional work at Family Boxing in Twin Falls and Colossal Fight gym in Pocatello.

“As far as preparation goes,” Collard said, “I’m doing every single thing possible to be well-rounded and get the win.” He expects a friendly crowd in Las Vegas, even though he does not believe it will impact the result of the fight. “I think I’m a fan-favorite kind of fighter. We definitely love having the fans on our side, for sure. Does it really matter for the outcome of the fight? No, not in my opinion. Noise is noise to me. Whether they’re booing or cheering, it’s still noise, but we definitely like when they’re cheering for us a lot more. That’s for sure.”

In the end, all thoughts of winning come back to home and family.

“You know, the money will help to take care of my family and set me up,” Collard said. “I got four kids, and they’re expensive. That’ll definitely help the cause, but fighting is my passion. Since the start of this, I’ve wanted to be a world champion, so that’s what I’m working towards. We’re just excited to get in there and do it again.”