Clay Collard advances to the PFL Championship after an intense battle with Shane Burgos. Read the full article for a detailed breakdown of the fight and the upcoming championship matchup.
In a night filled with intense matchups at the PFL Playoffs, Clay Collard emerged victorious in a three-round war against Shane Burgos. The event took place at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, with the winner earning a spot in the PFL Championship and a chance to compete for the $1 million grand prize.
Round 1
The first round saw Burgos taking control of the cage, applying pressure and landing a series of inside low kicks. Collard responded with a two-punch combo and a low kick of his own. Collard connected with a right hand upstairs, but Burgos managed to take him down. Collard quickly got back up and landed solid hits to the body. He continued to overwhelm Burgos with his volume and attacked his opponent’s body relentlessly. Despite a few moments of imbalance caused by Burgos, Collard ended the round with a flurry of body shots against the fence.
Round 2
Burgos started the second round with a push kick, but Collard backed him up with his left hand. Collard’s superior boxing skills were on full display as he continued to dominate the fight. Burgos attempted to attack Collard’s leg with kicks, but it had little effect on Collard’s relentless assault. Collard landed clean punches and hooks, causing Burgos to bleed from his nose. Despite a calf kick from Burgos that momentarily sent Collard to the canvas, Collard quickly got back up and delivered a massive left hook that knocked Burgos down. Collard followed up with ground and pound strikes, but Burgos managed to escape and get back on his feet before the round ended.
Round 3
Burgos resumed his leg attacks in the third round, while Collard showed some showmanship. Collard took a stiff body shot from Burgos and began to slow down as Burgos mixed up his strikes. Collard gave up his back to Burgos but managed to separate himself against the fence. Burgos continued to land powerful leg kicks, while Collard relied on head movement. However, it was clear that Burgos had the upper hand in the third round. Both fighters traded blows until the final bell.
With a unanimous decision victory (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), Clay Collard secured his spot in the PFL Championship. He will face Magomed Magomedkerimov in November.
| Fighter | Result |
|---|---|
| Clay Collard | def. |
| Shane Burgos | via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) |
