{{short description|American mixed martial artist|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Infobox martial artist | name = Clay French | other_names = | image = | image_size = 200px | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|10|7|mf=y}} | birth_place = Villa Park, Illinois, United States | death_date = | death_place = | death_cause = | height = {{height|m=1.67|precision=0}} | weight = {{convert|70|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}} | weight_class = Lightweight | reach = | style = MMA, Submission wrestling | stance = Southpaw | fighting_out_of = Schaumburg, Illinois | team = H.I.T. Squad, Gilbert Grappling | rank = | years_active = 2004–2014 | mma_kowin = 2 | mma_subwin = 11 | mma_decwin = 6 | mma_koloss = 1 | mma_subloss = 5 | mma_decloss = | mma_draw = | mma_nc = | url = | sherdog = 12585 | footnotes = | updated = }}
'''Clayton "Clay" French'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcZRTHQM7nGEVIaN-Cdz3Dg|title=Clayton French - YouTube|website=www.youtube.com}}</ref> (born October 7, 1980) is an American mixed martial artist who fought on Pride Fighting Championships, Sengoku, KOTC and other several fighting organizations. He holds a notable victory over TUF winner Mac Danzig by split decision and has trained with former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Clay-French-12585|title=Clay French MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog.com|website=Sherdog}}</ref>
==Biography== Clay wrestled at Eastern Illinois University where he was coached by Matt Hughes who turned him on to Mixed martial arts. Clay became a KOTC lightweight title holder. He has since started fighting at Sengoku in Japan and he enjoys the Japanese fighting culture.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.purefight.org/speaker/3022-Clay-French |title=Clay French | Purefight |access-date=2011-12-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619060351/http://www.purefight.org/speaker/3022-Clay-French |archive-date=2010-06-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref> he then began fighting in Titan Fighting Championships.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/ExKOTC-Champ-French-Olympic-Medalist-McMann-Win-at-Titan-19-34385|title=Ex-KOTC Champ French, Olympic Medalist McMann Win at Titan 19|website=Sherdog}}</ref> Clay was the head coach of wrestling at St. Laurence High School from 2015-2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.stlaurence.com/news/new-wrestling-coaching-staff-at-st-laurence|title=New Wrestling Coaching Staff at St. Laurence|website=St. Laurence}}</ref> Before Clay moved to Morton Freshman center, he worked as a computer teacher in a school nearby, Burnham Elementary. Clay has since moved to be a teacher at Morton Freshman Center in Cicero, IL. In the 2017-2018 School year, he is a teacher in the TSI department, a part of the school meant to teach students how to work with computers.
==Championships and Accomplishments== ===Mixed Martial Arts=== *'''King of the Cage''' **King of the Cage World Lightweight Champion (One time) **Three successful title defenses *'''Extreme Challenge''' **Extreme Challenge 70 Four-Man Lightweight Tournament Finalist
==Mixed martial arts record== {{MMArecordbox | draws= | nc= | ko-wins= 2 | ko-losses= 2 | sub-wins= 11 | sub-losses= 5 | dec-wins= 6 | dec-losses= | dq-wins= | dq-losses= | other-wins= | other-losses= }} {{MMA record start}} |- | {{no2}}Loss | align=center| 19–7 | Thiago Meller | TKO (punches) | XFCI - International 1 | {{dts|2014|February|8}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 3:39 | Sao Paulo, Brazil | |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 19–6 | James Krause | Decision (split) | Titan Fighting Championships 19 | {{dts|2011|July|29}} | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Kansas City, Kansas, United States | |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 18–6 | Billy Stamp | Decision (split) | Ruckus Entertainment: Ruckus Invades Navy Pier | {{dts|2010|September|11}} | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 17–6 | Sean Wilson | Submission (rear-naked choke) | KOTC: Turbulence 2 | {{dts|2010|April|24}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 3:39 | Lac du Flambeau (town), Wisconsin, United States | |- | {{no2}}Loss | align=center| 16–6 | Eiji Mitsuoka | Submission (guillotine choke) | World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 9 | {{dts|2009|August|2}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 1:51 | Saitama, Saitama, Japan | |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 16–5 | Bryan Neville | Submission (neck crank) | KOTC: The Renewal | {{dts|2009|June|20}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 0:28 | Indianapolis, Indiana, United States | |- | {{no2}}Loss | align=center| 15–5 | Michael Johnson | Submission (kimura) | FFC - Fuel Fight Club | {{dts|2009|April|10}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 3:16 | Lake Ozark, Missouri, United States | |- | {{no2}}Loss | align=center| 15–4 | Rory MacDonald | KO (punches) | KOTC - Grinder | {{dts|2008|November|28}} | align=center| 2 | align=center| 4:26 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | <small>Lost the KOTC Lightweight Championship.</small> |- | {{no2}}Loss | align=center| 15–3 | Satoru Kitaoka | Submission (achilles lock) | World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 4 | {{dts|2008|August|24}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 0:31 | Saitama, Saitama, Japan | <small>Sengoku 2008 lightweight tournament opening round</small> |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 15–2 | Jameel Massouh | Submission (rear-naked choke) | AMMA 1 - Adrenaline MMA 1 | {{dts|2008|June|14}} | align=center| 2 | align=center| 3:17 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 14–2 | Jason Ireland | Decision (unanimous) | KOTC: Bad Boys | {{dts|2007|November|21}} | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States | <small>Defended the KOTC Lightweight Championship.</small> |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 13–2 | Bobby Mosley | Submission (armbar) | Mainstream MMA 7 - Vengeance | {{dts|2007|October|20}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 1:29 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States | |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 12–2 | Sam Jackson | Submission (rear naked choke) | EC 82 - Extreme Challenge 82 | {{dts|2007|August|18}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 4:22 | Springfield, Illinois, United States | |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 11–2 | Buddy Clinton | TKO (cut) | KOTC: Collision Course | {{dts|2007|August|5}} | align=center| 3 | align=center| 3:26 | San Jacinto, California, United States | <small>Defended the KOTC Lightweight Championship.</small> |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 10–2 | Buddy Clinton | Decision (split) | KOTC: Damage Control | {{dts|2007|May|26}} | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | <small>Defended the KOTC Lightweight Championship.</small> |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 9–2 | Dominic Bjerke | TKO | CFC 8 - Courage Fighting Championships 8 | {{dts|2007|April|21}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 1:18 | Decatur, Illinois, United States | |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 8–2 | Mac Danzig | Decision (split) | KOTC: Hard Knocks | {{dts|2007|January|19}} | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Rockford, Illinois, United States | <small>Won the KOTC Lightweight Championship.</small> |- | {{no2}}Loss | align=center| 7–2 | Shinya Aoki | Submission (flying triangle choke) | Pride - Bushido 13 | {{dts|2006|November|5}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 3:57 | Yokohama, Japan | |- | {{no2}}Loss | align=center| 7–1 | Justin James | Submission (armbar) | EC 70 - Extreme Challenge 70 | {{dts|2006|August|26}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 2:06 | Hayward, Wisconsin, United States | <small>Extreme Challenge 70 four-man lightweight tournament finals</small> |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 7–0 | Alonzo Martinez | Submission (rear-naked choke) | EC 70 - Extreme Challenge 70 | {{dts|2006|August|26}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 3:34 | Hayward, Wisconsin, United States | <small>Extreme Challenge 70 four-man lightweight tournament opening round</small> |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 6–0 | James Kugler | Submission (choke) | CFC 6 - Courage Fighting Championships 6 | {{dts|2006|July|15}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| N/A | Decatur, Illinois, United States | |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 5–0 | Alex Carter | Submission (armbar) | IC 29 - Iowa Challenge 29 | {{dts|2006|June|10}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 0:16 | Quincy, Illinois, United States | |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 4–0 | Norm Alexander | Submission (armbar) | CFC 5 - Courage Fighting Championships 5 | {{dts|2006|April|29}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 4:45 | Decatur, Illinois, United States | |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 3–0 | Josh Arocho | Submission (rear-naked choke) | XFO 7 - Outdoor War | {{dts|2005|August|27}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 3:28 | Island Lake, Illinois, United States | |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 2–0 | Joe Veres | Submission (guillotine choke) | CFC 2 - Courage Fighting Championships 2 | {{dts|2005|March|26}} | align=center| 2 | align=center| 0:59 | Decatur, Illinois, United States | |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 1–0 | Eric Gwaltney | Decision (unanimous) | SC 19 - Silverback Classic 19 | {{dts|2004|August|13}} | align=center| 2 | align=center| 5:00 | Canton, Illinois, United States | {{end}}
==External links== * {{Sherdog}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:French, Clay}} Category:American male mixed martial artists Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing wrestling Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:People from Villa Park, Illinois Category:Sportspeople from DuPage County, Illinois Category:People from Mokena, Illinois Category:Sportspeople from Will County, Illinois