A striking specialist, Haider Khan has a black belt in taekwondo and a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Khan, a former regional champion who has taken advice from legendary British boxer Amir Khan, is on a five-fight win streak. Khan made his PFL debut at the Champions Series event in January, finishing Mostafa Rashed Nada.
Sean McCormac, meanwhile, is a judo brown belt who was a double Irish University champion before his move into professional MMA. A teammate of Paul Hughes, McCormac has won two of his last three. This is McCormac’s first fight since April 2023, where he scored a decision win over Denis Perry.
Which of these two will come out on top in this Middleweight Showcase?
Round 1
McCormac with a leg kick to start. Another leg kick. Front kick and another low kick from McCormac. Left hand from McCormac. Front kick from Khan. Low kick from Khan. McCormac with a right hand, and Khan with a kick. The two going one shot at a time. McCormac with another calf kick, and one of his legs looks bruised already. Another one from McCormac. Leg kick from Khan now. Front kick from Khan. Calf kick from Khan. Right hand from McCormac. Left hand from Khan. Khan with a level change and he scores a takedown. McCormac tries to get to his feet, but Khan has a hold of his front side. McCormac goes back to the ground. Is Khan trying to attack the neck? He tries for a D’Arce, but McCormac gets up and escapes the hold before pressing Khan into the fence.
Khan reverses the position. We got a Thai clinch. McCormac with a punch on the break. Khan with a right hand. Combination by Khan, but he slips. McCormac takes advantage and jumps on the neck. McCormac landing several right hands. Khan isn’t a downed fighter but he’s trying to stand straight. Khan now on top, trying to battle McCormac’s guard. McCormac might be searching for an armbar or triangle choke. A couple of elbows from the bottom by McCormac. Right hand by Khan. Positioning stays before the horn.
Round 2
Low kick from McCormac. Khan with a right. One-two from McCormac. Khan flashes the left. Low kick from McCormac slips up Khan. McCormac continues to attack with the leg kicks. Uppercut and a takedown from Khan. Khan has McCormac down in a corner of the SmartCage. McCormac has a hold of Khan’s neck. Khan landing left hands. McCormac tries to make space, but Khan gets his head out and gets back to work from top.
McCormac scrambles but gives up his back, and Khan gets in the seated back mount position. McCormac adjusts and tries to fight Khan’s attempts to get hooks in. McCormac tries to adjust, but Khan counters and ends up on top. Strong right hand from top half-guard by Khan. Khan with another shot as McCormac tries to scramble. McCormac with the butterfly hook in. The referee calls for more activity. McCormac adjusting. McCormac with a hold of the neck. Khan punching to the body. Khan gets out of it. McCormac with double underhooks as he tries to control Khan’s posture. Khan with a punch. McCormac sweeps to the back, and Khan lands an elbow.
Round 3
McCormac moving around the outside. Khan flashing the jab. Right hand lands for Khan. Front kick from Khan. Low kick and a left hand from Khan. Khan with a body shot from distance, followed by a leg kick. Right hand from Khan. Khan with a counter left and a front kick to the body. McCormac lands a calf kick. Long jab from Khan. Another jab and a low kick from Khan. Quick left from Khan. McCormac lands a front kick, but it lands low. Quick reset. Low kick from Khan. McCormac flashing the left hand. McCormac misses a spinning back kick. Right hand from Khan. McCormac appears to be busted open around his nose. Khan continuing to look to land single shots to the head.
McCormac with a jab but misses a one-two. Khan with a straight right. Khan goes for a takedown, but McCormac stuffs it. McCormac looks for punches to the head, but Khan counters and gets to McCormac’s back. Khan finally secures the takedown with just over 90 seconds left in the last round. Slam and Khan is working in half-guard now. Khan using shoulder pressure, trying to work into mount. Khan driving into the neck of McCormac. Khan continues to land left hand. McCormac with some elbows from the bottom. Khan finishes in the mount on top, landing some ground-and-pound before the horn.
OFFICIAL RESULT
Haider Khan defeats Sean McCormac by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28x2) in a catchweight showcase fight
Khan moves his career record to 10-1
Khan wins his 6th straight fight
Khan fights out of Manchester, England
Khan missed weight for this fight
