Clay Collard: Raush Manfio will try to take me down after I outclass him on the feet

Clay Collard expects Raush Manfio to resort to his grappling as soon as he makes him taste some leather.

Collard (20-8-1) meets Manfio (13-3) at 2021 PFL Playoffs 1, which takes place Aug. 13 at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. The night’s playoff bouts air on ESPN2 and stream on ESPN+, while the non-playoff matchups stream on ESPN+.

It’s no secret the former pro boxer wants to keep the fight standing and while he thinks Manfio will be game to trade, he sees him switching up the game plan as soon as they start exchanging.

“I actually think he’s going to try and stay on the feet with me for a little while – probably the first minute, minute and a half,” Collard told MMA Junkie Radio. “I think once I start landing shots and beating him up a little bit and he realizes that he’s a little bit outclassed on the feet, I do believe he is going to try and take me down and win the fight there.

“I’m very prepared for that. I don’t think he has the answer for me on the feet, and I think he’s going to go into some desperate wrestling and try to force takedowns. I believe that’s going to take him off his game and that’s when I’m gonna capitalize and land something big.”

Collard started out his PFL campaign by upsetting former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, followed by a split decision over Joilton Lutterbach. So with tournament favorites Pettis and back-to-back PFL lightweight tournament winner Natan Schulte out of the competition, he sees Manfio as the sternest test remaining.

Although he wasn’t too impressed with Manfio’s performances so far, he sees him as a harder matchup than the other semifinalists Alex Martinez and Loik Radzhabov, who will square off on the same night.

“I think Raush lost to Lutterbach. I think he got the split decision, so in my opinion he lost,” Collard said. “He looked all right against Pettis, but I think I broke Pettis. I’m excited, man. I’m just excited.

“I think Raush is toughest guy left in the tournament. So yeah, I’m excited to fight the tough guy once again.”