Seymour Major

There is no single route into mixed martial arts. Some fighters arrive with years of boxing behind them, others come from Jiu Jitsu, and some gradually build their game by testing themselves across several different combat sports.

For Seymour Major from Mallusk, it has been the latter.

With experience in boxing, Jiu Jitsu and MMA, Seymour has developed a varied combat-sports background before putting those skills together inside the cage.

Representing IFS MMA Belfast, Seymour has already made a successful amateur appearance at Clan Wars, recording a unanimous decision victory on his official amateur debut.

And now another challenge awaits.

Developing Across Multiple Combat Sports

One of the biggest challenges in MMA is becoming comfortable everywhere a fight can go.

A boxer may be dangerous on the feet but has to learn what happens when an opponent shoots for a takedown.

A grappler may be comfortable hunting submissions but needs to understand how to close distance safely against an experienced striker.

Seymour’s experience across boxing, Jiu Jitsu and MMA has allowed him to work on each of those different areas.

Rather than developing exclusively within one discipline, he has been able to experience the different demands of striking and grappling before combining them through MMA.

That versatility provides an important foundation for any developing fighter.

Testing Himself in Boxing

Boxing has formed part of Seymour’s competitive journey and has given him the opportunity to develop his skills under pressure.

He has stepped into the ring through UWCB, adding competitive boxing experience to his background.

Boxing develops attributes that transfer particularly well into MMA — timing, distance management, combinations, footwork and the ability to remain composed while another fighter is throwing punches back at you.

But Seymour didn’t stop with striking.

Adding Jiu Jitsu and Grappling

Seymour has also spent time developing his Jiu Jitsu, adding an entirely different dimension to his fighting ability.

Grappling changes the way a fighter approaches almost every aspect of combat.

Takedowns, positional control, escapes and submissions all become part of the equation.

For an MMA fighter, being comfortable on the ground isn’t optional. Even someone who prefers striking needs the ability to defend takedowns, escape dangerous positions and understand when submission opportunities are available.

Seymour’s experience across both striking and Jiu Jitsu has therefore provided a useful base for his transition into competitive MMA.

Representing IFS MMA Belfast

Seymour trains out of IFS MMA Belfast, a gym with a growing list of fighters competing across the Northern Irish MMA scene.

Training within an active MMA team gives a fighter access to something incredibly important — variety.

Every training partner brings different strengths.

One might be a strong wrestler. Another might be dangerous with submissions. Another may want nothing more than to stand and exchange.

Being exposed to those different styles in the gym helps prepare fighters for the unpredictability of competition.

For Seymour, that training ultimately led to the opportunity to step onto one of Northern Ireland’s established MMA shows.

A Winning Amateur Debut at Clan Wars

On 2 November 2024, Seymour stepped into the cage at Clan Wars 50 at the New Forge Sports Complex in Belfast.

His opponent was Ben Patterson.

Rather than producing a quick finish, the fight gave Seymour the opportunity to demonstrate something equally valuable for a developing amateur — the ability to compete across the entire contest.

The pair fought for three three-minute rounds, with Seymour ultimately having his hand raised after earning a unanimous decision victory.

The result moved his officially recorded amateur MMA record to:

1-0.

It was a successful start to his amateur career and, importantly, gave him nine minutes of competitive cage experience.

More Than One Night in the Cage

Seymour’s competitive experience extends beyond the single fight currently appearing on his official Tapology amateur record.

Before making that amateur appearance, he had already been gaining experience through novice MMA competition, alongside his boxing and Jiu Jitsu training.

That experience matters.

By the time a fighter reaches an official amateur contest, countless hours have already been spent learning how to deal with pressure, fatigue and opponents with completely different styles.

Seymour’s journey through different combat sports has allowed him to build those experiences gradually.

Representing Mallusk

Coming from Mallusk, Seymour is another example of the fighters emerging from communities throughout Northern Ireland and testing themselves on the local combat-sports scene.

There is something particularly rewarding about watching fighters progress from local gyms and smaller competitions onto established shows.

For Seymour, Clan Wars provided that opportunity.

His first officially recorded amateur appearance ended with his hand being raised.

Now it’s about building on it.

The Next Challenge – Clan Wars 56

Seymour’s next challenge is already taking shape.

He is currently scheduled to face Daniel Downey of SBG Cork at Clan Wars 56 on 25 October 2026.

The bout is particularly interesting because competitors at the lighter end of the MMA divisions can sometimes have difficulty finding suitable opposition.

For Seymour, it provides another opportunity to get valuable cage time and demonstrate how much his game has developed since his victory at Clan Wars 50.

It will also mean returning to competition with something he didn’t have before his previous appearance:

An undefeated amateur record to defend.

What’s Next for Seymour Major?

Seymour’s combat-sports journey has already taken him through boxing, Jiu Jitsu, novice MMA and amateur MMA competition.

He’s tested his hands in the boxing ring.

He’s developed his ground game through Jiu Jitsu.

And when the opportunity came to put everything together inside the MMA cage, he emerged from his amateur debut with a unanimous decision victory.

Now representing IFS MMA Belfast with an official 1-0 amateur record, attention turns towards the next challenge.

From Mallusk to the Clan Wars cage, Seymour Major is continuing to test himself, develop his skills and build his experience one fight at a time.

And with another Clan Wars appearance on the horizon, the next chapter isn’t far away.

Follow Seymour Major

Keep up with Seymour’s amateur MMA record, results and future fights through his official Tapology fighter profile.

Tapology:
https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/467217-seymour-major