Author – Nicholas Holt
Sean Clabough
Welterweight | Age: 20 | Record: 7-0 | Fighting out of Tennessee, United States
Sean Clabough, training out of Knoxville Martial Arts Academy, has built an impressive undefeated start to his amateur career. The 20-year-old welterweight sits at 7-0, with his opponents holding a combined record of 18-15 when they faced him. Every one of his victories has come by finish, five of them in the opening round. Most recently, he stopped Ta’Mere Stampy (now 5-2) by knockout.
That fight with Stampy was more competitive than the result suggests. Early in the first round, Clabough was caught by a check hook while pressuring forward, slipping briefly before regaining momentum. He quickly rallied with spinning kicks and heavy hooks, trapping Stampy against the cage and securing a full mount before closing the show with ground-and-pound.
Clabough’s strengths are clearly on the mat, but his defensive flaws on the feet stand out. He often keeps his hands low and takes unnecessary damage from jabs, most notably in his fight with Will Pittman. In that matchup, Clabough was nearly finished in both the first and second rounds before he managed to pull off an armbar from his back. That willingness to walk forward and trade recklessly has shown up in multiple fights—a style that works at the amateur level but will need refinement if he’s to succeed long term. When he does take fights to the ground, however, he looks at home and dangerous.
On the mat, Clabough has a diverse submission arsenal and smooth transitions. His second amateur bout against Trey Reynolds remains a highlight: after landing a quick leg-trip takedown and surviving a scramble, Clabough locked in a triangle choke from the bottom for the win. Alongside that, he’s secured submissions over Pittman and Reynolds off his back, while also displaying slick grappling sequences against Stampy. His striking is raw but not without promise—accurate spinning kicks, a willingness to trade, and the toughness to survive exchanges suggest untapped potential with the right coaching.
Next up, Clabough is set to compete for Cage Fury FC’s Next Gen promotion, challenging James Lledo (6-1) for the amateur welterweight title on October 4 in Atlantic City. Lledo, the reigning champion, is coming off a doctor-stoppage win over Joe Teguia. Still early in his career, Clabough may be some distance from the professional ranks, but at just 20 years old, he’s already proven himself an exciting finisher with plenty of upside. Expect fireworks when he steps into the cage this October.