Clay Collard Bio
Clay Collard (born March 10, 1993) is an American professional mixed martial artist and former professional boxer who competes in the lightweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL). Known inside the cage as “Cassius,” Collard has built a reputation as a durable, well-rounded fighter since turning professional in 2011. Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall with a 75-inch reach, he has spent more than a decade competing across multiple combat-sports promotions in North America.
Collard first reached a major stage with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 2014 before resuming his career on regional circuits and eventually finding a long-term home in the PFL. He also competed as a professional boxer, posting a 9-6-3 record that includes two knockouts. Today he trains out of Las Vegas, Nevada, with Team Bonafide under trainer Ryan Ault.
Early Life and Background
Clay Collard was born on March 10, 1993, in Payson, Utah, and grew up in the small town of Castle Dale, Utah. He was raised in a working-class community that valued toughness and self-reliance, qualities that would later shape his combative approach inside the cage. From an early age, Collard gravitated toward combat sports, beginning wrestling at age six and adding boxing fundamentals three years later at age eleven.
He attended Emery High School, where he lettered in wrestling and continued developing the grappling foundation that became central to his mixed martial arts style. The rural Utah setting gave him access to a tight-knit wrestling community and a steady stream of amateur competition. By the time he finished high school, Collard already had a clear sense that fighting would be his career path rather than a hobby.
Path to MMA
Collard took his first and only amateur mixed martial arts bout less than two weeks after turning 18, and he made an immediate impact by winning the fight via a 12-second knockout. Encouraged by the result, he turned professional the following weekend and began stacking experience on the Utah regional circuit. Between 2011 and 2014, he built a 13-4 record with one no contest, a fast rise that caught the attention of the UFC.
His skill set at the time leaned heavily on wrestling, but he continued sharpening his boxing under coach Ryan Ault, which gave him a more complete stand-up game. This dual-discipline development ultimately led to his UFC call-up in 2014 and later to his crossover into professional boxing. The path from a small-town amateur to a nationally signed fighter took only a few years, establishing Collard as one of Utah’s most promising young mixed martial artists.
Clay Collard Career
Early Career (2011-2014)
Clay Collard’s early professional career unfolded almost entirely on the Utah regional circuit, where he faced a steady flow of experienced opponents while still in his late teens and early twenties. His willingness to fight frequently helped him develop an aggressive style and a deep gas tank, both of which became hallmarks of his later performances. By the time the UFC came calling in mid-2014, Collard had already accumulated more than fifteen professional bouts.
His regional résumé featured multiple finishes and decision wins that demonstrated his comfort both on the mat and on the feet. The grind of competing close to home, against veterans who knew his tendencies, sharpened his adaptability. That foundation ultimately prepared him for the jump to the sport’s biggest stage.
UFC Tenure (2014-2019)
Clay Collard made his UFC debut on August 23, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 49, stepping in on short notice to face Max Holloway after Mirsad Bektic withdrew with an injury. Despite the difficult matchup, Collard went the distance and lost via technical knockout in the third round. He bounced back at UFC 181 on December 6, 2014, earning a unanimous decision win over Alex White to record his first victory inside the Octagon.
The remainder of his first UFC run was uneven. He dropped a unanimous decision to Gabriel Benítez at UFC 188 in June 2015 and then lost a split decision to Tiago Trator at UFC 191, leading to his release from the promotion. Collard returned to the regional scene, where he rebuilt his record, before getting a second UFC call in 2019. Booked against Devonte Smith at UFC 241, he withdrew from the card during fight week and was released again, closing out his Octagon career.
Professional Fighters League Era (2020-Present)
In March 2020, Collard signed with the Professional Fighters League and joined the lightweight division. His PFL debut came on April 23, 2021, at PFL 1, where he outboxed former UFC champion Anthony Pettis over three rounds to earn a unanimous decision win. He followed that with a split-decision win over Joilton Lutterbach at PFL 4, positioning himself as a legitimate playoff contender.
Collard’s 2021 playoff run ended in the semifinals with a unanimous decision loss to Raush Manfio, but he returned strong in 2022, picking up a unanimous decision win over Jeremy Stephens at PFL 1. The 2023 season became his deepest tournament push to date. He defeated Yamato Nishikawa and Stevie Ray by stoppage, then outpointed Shane Burgos in the semifinals before falling to Olivier Aubin-Mercier by unanimous decision in the lightweight final at PFL 10.
Beginning in 2024, Collard faced a string of high-profile opponents. He lost to A. J. McKee by first-round armbar at PFL vs. Bellator in February 2024, then knocked out Patricky Pitbull in the second round at PFL 2. After a decision loss to Mads Burnell at PFL 5 and another decision defeat to Brent Primus in the 2024 semifinals, he was officially revealed on February 26, 2025, as a participant in the 2025 PFL Lightweight Tournament.
Style and Strengths
Clay Collard is best known for his relentless pace, durable chin, and growing comfort exchanging on the feet with elite strikers. His early wrestling base allows him to control position when needed, but his recent growth under Ryan Ault has come through sharper boxing combinations and improved defensive head movement. He pairs well with Team Bonafide, where the camp’s emphasis on conditioning matches his high-volume approach.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Collard points to his UFC debut against Max Holloway on short notice and his 2023 lightweight semifinal win over Shane Burgos as defining performances. He reached the PFL lightweight final in 2023, establishing himself as a perennial contender in the league, and added a second-round technical knockout of former Bellator champion Patricky Pitbull in 2024 to his list of milestone wins.
Clay Collard Career Wins
Clay Collard’s verified professional mixed martial arts record stands at 25 wins against 15 losses and 1 no contest across 41 total bouts. Of those victories, 9 have come by decision, 4 by submission, and 2 by knockout, with the balance of stoppages spread across his regional and PFL career.
PFL Highlights
Inside the PFL cage, Collard has earned signature decision wins over Anthony Pettis and Jeremy Stephens, a second-round technical knockout of Patricky Pitbull, and a second-round TKO of Stevie Ray. His deepest run came in 2023, when he reached the lightweight final before falling to Olivier Aubin-Mercier by unanimous decision.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the PFL, Collard recorded a unanimous decision victory over Alex White during his first UFC stint and built the bulk of his 13-win regional record across Utah between 2011 and 2014. His professional boxing career adds 9 wins, 6 losses, and 3 draws, with 2 of those victories coming by knockout.
Clay Collard Family
Family Background and Fighting Lineage
Public details about Clay Collard’s parents and immediate family remain limited in verified sources. What is documented is his upbringing in Castle Dale, Utah, where he began wrestling at six and added boxing at eleven, suggesting a household that supported youth athletics.
Personal Life
Clay Collard currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he trains with Team Bonafide. Verified personal-life details about a spouse or children are not publicly documented in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Clay Collard entered 2025 as an officially announced participant in the PFL Lightweight Tournament, revealed by the promotion on February 26, 2025. His first appearance of the season came in the quarterfinals against Alfie Davis at PFL 3 on April 18, 2025, where he was stopped by first-round TKO.
Despite the early exit, the loss leaves room for Collard to regroup, given the PFL’s tournament format and his history of bouncing back from setbacks. He remains one of the more experienced names in the 2025 lightweight field, with championship pedigree from his 2023 final run and recent knockout wins over top opposition.
With longtime trainer Ryan Ault and Team Bonafide still in his corner, the outlook for the rest of 2025 hinges on his ability to reset after the Davis loss and re-establish the high-volume striking that carried him to the 2023 final. His durability and willingness to face elite opponents keep him firmly in the mix as a contender heading into subsequent tournament rounds.
