Cage Warriors – Europe’s Leading MMA Organisation – is delighted to confirm that CW interim welterweight champion Sean Clancy Jr. has signed with the UFC following an impressive performance on Week 3 of Dana White’s Contender Series.
The 23-year-old Scot delivered a statement performance at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas on Tuesday night, stopping Gary Balletto via second-round TKO to maintain his perfect professional record and earn a UFC contract.
Clancy Jr. entered the bout with an unbeaten 8-0 record, having finished every one of his professional opponents.
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From the opening bell, “The One” showcased the pressure, composure and finishing ability that have made him one of the most exciting prospects to emerge from the Cage Warriors ranks in recent years.
After establishing his striking and grappling throughout the opening round, Clancy Jr. took control in the second, eventually forcing the stoppage with a barrage of elbows to secure the biggest victory of his career.
The victory extended Clancy Jr.’s perfect professional record to 9-0, with all nine of his victories coming inside the distance.
From Cage Warriors To The UFC
Clancy Jr. joined Cage Warriors in 2023 and quickly established himself as one of the promotion’s most dangerous young talents.
After picking up a string of finishes under the famous Yellow Gloves, the Paisley native captured the Cage Warriors interim welterweight world championship in December 2025, stopping Melvin van Suijdam via second-round TKO at CW 199 in Newcastle.
He was subsequently scheduled to unify the welterweight titles against Justin Burlinson at CW 205 in Glasgow, before Burlinson was forced to withdraw from the contest on fight day.
With his UFC opportunity now secured, Clancy Jr. becomes the latest Cage Warriors champion to make the jump to the world’s premier MMA organisation.
His journey from promising prospect to undefeated world champion and now UFC athlete is another example of the pathway Cage Warriors provides for the next generation of MMA stars.
A New Chapter Begins
Clancy Jr.’s UFC contract was one of five handed out following Week 3 of Dana White’s Contender Series, with all five winners earning a place on the UFC roster.
Now, with his UFC contract secured, “The One” will turn his attention towards the next chapter of his career – and the biggest challenge yet.
Congratulations, Sean Clancy Jr. – from Cage Warriors interim welterweight champion to UFC athlete.