Professional Fighters League (PFL) vs. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) continues!
Clay Collard headlines PFL 5 tomorrow night (Fri., June 20, 2024) inside Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, locking horns with former Bellator MMA contender, Mads Burnell, in hopes of securing a spot in the promotion’s 2024 PFL playoffs.
Each time Collard competes inside PFL’s smart cage, the broadcast mentions Collard is, “the most exciting fighter in all of the mixed martial arts (MMA).” Naturally, most MMA fans (rightfully) counter with Justin Gaethje.
MMAmania.com asked Collard how a super fight with Gaethje would go.
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Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images
“I think my hands are a little cleaner than his,” Collard said during PFL 5 media day. “I think he gets a little reckless … and he gets beat up.”
Indeed, a fight between Collard and Gaethje is a complete fantasy at this point because the two promotions will never cross over, according to UFC CEO, Dana White; however, it sure is fun to think about.
Plus, the two have one thing in common: Both have been finished by Max Holloway. Collard made his short-notice Octagon debut against Holloway in 2014, while Gaethje got slept by the Hawaiian at UFC 300 in one of the best fights ever (watch highlights).
Collard is currently in second place in the 2024 PFL Lightweight standings with five points and is one win away from returning to the PFL Playoffs later this year (August). And he has homefield advantage — Collard hails from Utah.
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