Sean Clancy Jr. explains why he waited until Round 2 to finish Gary Balletto Jr.

Sean Clancy Jr. claims he could have finished his Dana White’s Contender Series bout sooner than he did.

Clancy Jr. (9-0) took on Gary Balletto Jr. (11-4) in a welterweight clash on Week 3 of DWCS 2026. Clancy Jr. took Balletto Jr. down in the second round and blasted him with elbows to earn a stoppage and an Ultimate Fighting Championship contract.

Sean Clancy Jr. says he sought experience before finishing Gary Balletto Jr.
Clancy Jr. says he felt Balletto Jr.’s face get crushed between his elbow and the mat.

“I'm buzzing, yeah, I've always wanted to put something open like that,” Clancy Jr. said in his post-fight interview. “It was, aye, it's something I've wanted for a while. I remember being so present; it just, as soon as I put it down, I just felt his face just get crushed in between my elbow and the mat. It was phenomenal. Just split wide open. It's the first time I've done it, but aye, here's to many more.”

The 23-year-old also claims he chose to gain some striking experience against Balletto Jr. in the first round. “The One” is confident he can finish anyone the way he finished his counterpart in the second frame.

“Well, I'm only a 23-year-old boy, like people forget that,” Clancy Jr. added. “Forget that I'm looking to try and pick up experience in there. That's where he's good, so I chose to spend a little bit of time there with him and just see, just rack up experience and stuff, you know? But I did in the second round, I can do that to absolutely anyone. I know I could have done that to him in the first round. Just wanted to have fun. Pick up the experience.”

Clancy Jr., a former Cage Warriors interim welterweight champion, has finished all nine of his career wins so far.

UNLEASHING HELLBOWS 💪

Sean Clancy Jr. gets the stoppage in R2 tonight!

[ #DWCS | LIVE on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/MnQMpjrOaB— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) August 26, 2026