PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gary Hayes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Zidel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zidel comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Are You In? - Incubus kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Paul Zidel enters the cage!

Hayes
vs
Zidel

201 cm
23
215 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

195 cm
23
200 lbs
3 - 8 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Solid chin

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gary Hayes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paul Zidel!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hayes looks to throw the jab but Zidel is out of range.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hayes, as that shot connected.

It looks like Paul Zidel has been cut.
Hayes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hayes throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zidel sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hayes misses with a looping right.
We've been told by Hayes's head coaches at Soul Supremacy Elite Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Zidel instigates a clinch.
Zidel with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Zidel looking to throw knees to the head but Hayes is blocking nicely.
Hayes lands a left hand that snaps the head of Zidel backwards.
Zidel working hard to break the clinch.

Hayes manages to break the clinch.
Hayes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hayes misses with a looping left.
Gary Hayes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hayes throws a lazy right hand but Zidel sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Zidel gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hayes content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zidel.
Zidel with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zidel pushes off an throws an elbow but Hayes leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Zidel pushes off an throws an elbow but Hayes leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Hayes leaning against his opponent.
Zidel is trying to pull guard but Hayes turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Zidel blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zidel throws a knee to the head but misses.
Zidel slowing the pace effectively.
Zidel tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hayes just stands there and leans against the cage.
Zidel with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Gary Hayes has been cut.
Hayes blocks an elbow strike from Zidel.
Zidel blocking some punches.
Zidel wants to get back to striking at distance but Hayes won't allow it.
Zidel tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hayes just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gary Hayes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Zidel.
Hayes lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Zidel is trying to pull guard but Hayes has him pressed against the cage.
Zidel looks winded!
Hayes misses with the head strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hayes.

Hayes manages to break the clinch.

Zidel rushes Hayes and presses him up against the cage.
Hayes scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hayes lands a left hand.
A bit of stalling here from Zidel.
Zidel wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hayes misses with a punch on the inside.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Zidel has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. So far he's outscoring his opponent in the clinch so it seems to have been worthwhile.
Zidel looking to throw knees to the head but Hayes is blocking nicely.
Still in the clinch, Hayes scores with a nice short uppercut.
Zidel with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hayes is working Zidel over against the cage.
Hayes taking a breather.
Hayes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hayes lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Zidel backwards.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hayes.
Hayes lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Zidel looking to throw knees to the head but Hayes is blocking nicely.
Hayes working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hayes is trying to stall.
Hayes tries a body shot but Zidel blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zidel with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hayes is working Zidel over against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hayes.
Hayes lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Zidel.
Hayes lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zidel backwards.

Hayes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Hayes drives through and clinches with Zidel against the cage.
Hayes lands with a short shot to the head.

Hayes breaks the clinch.
Hayes scoring well with a low kick there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
You can follow us on Twitter at...Ooooooh Zidel got wobbled bad by a big combination! Hayes presses forward with punches and knees until Zidel stumbles to the ground! The ref watches Zidel closely before deciding to step in and end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:45 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gary Hayes!