PFL lightweight semifinalist Raush Manfio learned a lot about his upcoming opponent, Clay Collard after watching his fight with Anthony Pettis.
After a three-year layoff from the sport, PFL lightweight contender Raush Manfio entered the 2021 PFL regular season with more questions than answers.
But after back-to-back razor-thin decision victories over Joilton Lutterbach and Anthony Pettis, Manfio is ready to prove to the world that he belongs in the conversation among the best lightweights in the world.
Manfio will face Clay Collard in the PFL lightweight semifinals next month, in a matchup of two dangerous strikers and gritty competitors. Collard made a name for himself after dominating Pettis to open up the regular season, getting the unanimous decision victory.
Manfio and Collard share a lot in common, including both having victories over Pettis this season. Ahead of their highly-anticipated clash, Manfio learned a lot of lessons from watching Collard’s performance against Pettis to contribute to his own approach in the cage.
“I think when Collard fought Pettis, he gave him a lot of space for kicks,” Manfio told FanSided’s Amy Kaplan in Florida during the PFL press junket. “I kick really well too. For sure I want to repeat what Pettis did and kick him. I learned a lot from that fight.”
