Clay Collard is a fighter from the Pit Elevated training center in Orem, Utah. He made his debut against Max Holloway last August and he took that fight on barely over a week’s notice. Even though he lost that fight, he gained many fans during that fight because of his relentless style of pressing forward regardless of being punched or kicked. He has his 2nd fight in the UFC December 6th against Alex White and has had a whole training camp for his upcoming fight.
I was able to speak with him on the phone earlier this week and Collard mentioned that he just got done jumping in a river with Josh Burkman. It recently snowed in Orem at that point and he was more than fine with jumping in the ice cold river. “That’s just the type of guys we are at the Pit Elevated, it was fun” exclaimed Collard. It makes sense that he would enjoy “wild-man” activities because of his aggressive and wild fighting style. I asked him if he had any special nicknames because of his fighting style and said “Yeah, I had a buddy call me “The Woodman” because punches don’t really phase me and I just keep going.” His main nickname is Cassius, but “The Woodman” could possibly stick with him if he continues his aggressive “Terminator-like” style.
I asked Collard this thoughts on his opponent Alex White and his reply was “I don’t really look into other fighters, I just know what I am going to do. I’ve had a full training camp for this fight and I am about to show what the real Clay Collard is and what I can do with a full tank of gas. I felt I had the better of Max Holloway in the 1st round, but I don’t feel like I kept it going for the 2nd and 3rd round as well as I could. Now with a full tank of gas and a full training camp, my hands are going to keep punching until my opponent goes down. My hands simply are not going to stop this time. I have the best coaches in the world and I have put the time in for this fight.” Collard was very complimentary of his head MMA coach Jason Mertlich. “Jason Mertlich is one of the most intelligent and humble guys I know” said Collard. “He studies different types of martial arts throughout the day. He is a black-belt himself, but is willing to learn new things from a white-belt. He is one of the best guys I know and I am lucky to have him as a coach. The Pit Elevated is home for me and I’m not going anywhere. I feel like I am getting better every day here.” An interesting thing about Collard learning new things is his age. He is only 21 years old and UFC fighters have shown time and time again that they can step into the Octagon as a new fighter. Especially when they are really young like Collard.
I asked him if he ever has thought of moving down to 135 and he said “No, I’ve fought only at 145 and 155. I’ve even won a championship at 155, but 145 is where my opportunity is at in the UFC.” He is rather tall for a featherweight at 5’11 and still keeps on a healthy amount of muscle. He walks around at about 165, but he mentioned that the cut to 145 is hard, but not too hard. 135 is simply not a possibility for Collard.
The final question I asked him is what to expect at UFC 181 from him and he restated that “My hands are just going to keep going forward until my opponent goes down. It’s going to be an exciting fight and I am not going to stop until the ref calls the fight. I feel great, I am prepared with a full training camp and I am ready to go.” Collard has a great opportunity as he faces Alex White on December 6th.
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