Sean Clancy Jr talks to Mill Magazine ahead of his world title fight

On the brink of fighting for his first world title, undefeated MMA fighter Sean Clancy Jr talks his career, growing up in Paisley and much more, Robert Blair asks the questions…

Sean Clancy Jr, you had your first fight at the age of 15. Was it always a goal to compete professionally?

I’ve always done it, my dad got me into it as a way to bond and to teach me a life skill originally. So, I don’t really have any memory of when I started, it’s just always been the case. Since I was like six years old, I said that I wanted to be the best fighter ever and it just went from there (laughs).

I was literally one of those kids in school saying that I was going to be WWE Heavyweight Champion and naebdy told me no. Maybe I should’ve gone into wrestling instead, there might’ve been more money in it. 

You’ve mentioned your dad there, but your brother Stephen trains as well, doesn’t he?

Aye, all my brothers train but Stephen actually fights and he’ll be turning professional soon. So, he’s one to watch. We train together at Higher Level in Bathgate so we carpool there and share the trip. 

Does it help to have someone close to you to share that experience with?

Absolutely, even just driving up there is taxing on the head as back and forth, it can sometimes be the equivalent of driving to Liverpool. 

It seems like regardless of the journey, it seems like you’ve never wanted to train anywhere else. Is that because of [renowned coach and former fighter] James Doolan and what he brings to your preparation?

Of course aye, it’s the best place to train for sure. Most people that go to other gyms grow out of there and when they want to take it to the next stage, it’s the higher level. Stephen and I are some of the only people who’ve always trained there. People like Paul [Craig, UFC fighter] joined after me and it was cool to see him go off to the UFC.

But, before that, there was Stevie Ray and Danny Henry, so seeing them going off and smashing it at that level made it seem obtainable. Training with Paul is great as he takes me on all these trips, so it seems even more real. 

Photo by Dolly Clew/Cage Warriors

Obviously, you’re a Paisley boy and one of your biggest sponsors comes from here in Pro-Life. How did that relationship begin?

It’s somewhere I train quite frequently. My mum used to work there, as did my dad and auntie so I remember being there from the crèche when I was like three. There’s been a connection for decades now, so I’ve got a lot of love for it. 

In your own career, you’ve maintained an undefeated record to the point that you’re now seen as not only one of Scotland’s biggest prospects, but the UK’s. Is that a lot of pressure or does it just come with the territory?

It’s just a byproduct of everything I’ve done. Pursuing this career is quite a selfish thing and I’ve been trying my hardest to get here. That’s over seven years now, so I love the support and everyone getting behind me but there’s no way I’d let them get to me. I’m trying as hard as I was when I didn’t have as many eyes on me. The job is the same either way. 

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It does seem like you put pressure on yourself to definitively finish every fight though?

That’s just part of my personality. It’s not even that I put pressure on myself to do it, but when I’m in there, it’s something I’m always looking for. It’s just a natural part of my style and it’s not something that’s inauthentic to me. 

You got the second round finish earlier this year at Braehead Arena during Cage Warriors 187, which is probably as close to a hometown Paisley crowd as it comes. How did that feel?

That was pretty special. The first round was a bit iffy and that’s probably the first time I felt some pressure on fight week because everyone talking about it got me overthinking. Ultimately, I feel like I dealt with it well and even when he was going for a submission, it wasn’t close or anything.

Then by the second round, I’d settled in and you saw how quick I finished it after that. 

Now, you’re preparing to fight for the interim Welterweight Title at Cage Warriors 199 in Newcastle. How are you feeling ahead of the event in December?

They haven’t even told me if I’m main-eventing or not yet. I don’t have an opponent yet, as it was supposed to be against the champion. But, he’s out for whatever reason (laughs). So, I’ll be calling him out after this one. It’s one of those wee checkpoints that I think of alongside having my first fight, turning pro and my first world title is one of those too.

What’s also cool about it is that once I get this welterweight title, then James will have coached fighters to the flyweight, featherweight, bantamweight and lightweight belts in Cage Warriors. That’s the most in the promotion’s history, so that’ll be amazing. 

Sean Clancy Jr v Lucas Rodrigues, photo Dolly Clew/Cage Warriors

Do you think after you secure that, then the UFC call-up will be coming in the next couple of years?

It’s very possible, but I don’t stress about that. The longer it takes me to get there, then the better I’ll be. Even if I was to fight another five times, I don’t mind as it’s just more experience and if I lose to someone in Cage Warriors, I don’t think I deserve to be there.

I want to be as prepared as possible because I don’t just want to be there, I want to be the best. That’s always been the goal. 

Faith seems to play a big role in your life. Has that always been the case or has this developed due to the spiritual side of fighting?

I’ve always been a Catholic, but I wasn’t particularly practicing. It became something that I’ve felt more drawn to over the past few years and it’s just getting stronger. It’s something I lean on as I get older as I become a man and there’s more moving parts in my life. 

Has that been accentuated by the fact that you’re a dad now?

Definitely, it’s something that keeps me accountable in ways I wouldn’t be otherwise. 

Speaking of taking responsibility, you’ve been very active on social media in regards to the ongoing situation in Palestine. Did you feel that you had to do this because you have a platform?

I don’t have a huge platform, but my thought process was that there are people who look up to me, so it might help in that way. Beyond that, I don’t want to compromise my values at the start. So, by the time I have a major platform, I want to be able to keep doing that and for it to have an impact. 

Q&A with Sean Clancy Jr

Favourite workout music? It’s so eclectic and broad. It can range from country to 2Pac, Frank Sinatra and Madonna. It depends on which side of me is out that day!

Where do you like to eat in Paisley when you’re not weight cutting? Jam Jar and Andy’s Golden Fry. 

If you could fight anyone dead or alive, who would you face off against? Genghis Khan. Surely if I beat him, then his empire is mine? 

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