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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Stephen Houston

MMA talent Sean Clancy Jr seals title with incredibly quick win over Jamie Hayes

Talented teenage Barrhead fighter Sean Clancy Jr triumphed in just 69 seconds to become world amateur MMA champion.

And the 19-year-old said: “I don’t think he knew what hit him.

“It was very quick, we have five three-minute rounds, but in the back of my head I thought a quick stop might be an option.”

The Renfrewshire welterweight made short work of older opponent Jamie “Blazing” Hayes at the Battle Arena in Edgbaston, Birmingham on Saturday.

Stunned Hayes ended up shaking his head in astonishment after the bout, which ended in his submission after Sean got a choke hold on him under the chin.

The former St Luke’s High pupil is also expected to increase his UK ranking, after being rated ninth at the age of just 19.

The bout was live on a pay per view network and commentators said “what a talent we have here in Sean Clancy” and described his physique as like being made of granite.

Back home in Barrhead, young Sean has time to prepare for his next match in May, with an opponent yet to be confirmed, and then a tournament in July.

Sean also has a couple of brothers who fight, encouraged by dad Sean Clancy Snr, who is a strength and conditioning coach.

Sean trains at the Higher Level Martial Arts school in Bathgate, putting in a punishing 75 mile round trip.

He’s coached by Scotland’s premier trainer James Doolan.

And his gym said: “Sean Clancy becomes the gym's first world Amateur champion winning his second title in three weeks beating an experienced amateur in Jamie Hayes.”

His father, who also worked as a bouncer, first sparked his interest in fighting when learning self defence at just two years old.

He won his first four amateur fights and has become a feared and respected opponent.

Two of his five brothers, Logan and Stephen, also fight and can give Sean a good session in the training
ring.

On the fight, Sean told Express Sport: “At the very start I had said to my coach I thought he would open up with a leg kick and that’s exactly what he did.

“I managed to dodge it and he tried to throw it again and I dodged it.

“I flung a leg kick of my own and landed that on his calf.

“I hit him with a couple of punches and he was trying to pressure me.

“But I got onto his back and choked him.”

Hayes was forced to throw in the towel and Sean rose to his feet in ecstasy.

Sean added: “I felt fantastic, I had personal family things going on before the fight.

“Jamie was absolutely gutted, but it was me or him.”

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