PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Khalid Hayes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aloysius Martin Thesz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Hayes might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Flight of Icarus. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Hayes
vs
Martin Thesz

180 cm
29
203 lbs
25 - 10 - 1

188 cm
27
210 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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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 25 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Khalid Hayes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Aloysius Martin Thesz!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thesz bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Hayes dodges the ground and pound from Thesz.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thesz tries to advance to mount but Hayes denies him.
Hayes is trying to improve his position.
Thesz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hayes keeps working.
Thesz grinds an elbow into Hayes's temple.
Thesz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Thesz is trying to ground and pound but Hayes uses the momentary lack of control by Thesz to regain half guard.
Thesz sitting and controlling from the half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Thesz wants to work for an arm triangle but Hayes is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hayes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hayes wants to control but Thesz is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hayes keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Hayes tries to get to full guard but Thesz has control of the leg.
Thesz with the ground and pound but Hayes uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Thesz passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Thesz tries for a kimura but Hayes is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayes is trying to improve his position.
Hayes's coaches at In the Penile Colony have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Thesz is looking to take a break and control but Hayes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Thesz tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Thesz misses with the ground and pound.
Thesz landing a few strikes.
Thesz tries to advance to mount but Hayes denies him.
Hayes tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Thesz wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thesz throws an elbow but Hayes slips to the side and avoids it well.

Thesz swings around for an armbar but Hayes sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Thesz's guard.
Hayes is fighting to break Thesz's control of his arms but Thesz is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Hayes slips nicely into half guard.
Thesz is trying to control but can't.
Thesz has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thesz tries to get to full guard but Hayes has control of the leg.
Thesz is concentrating on defense, preventing Hayes from advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hayes is thwarting Thesz's attempts to control the position.
Hayes is looking to take a break and control but Thesz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Aloysius Martin Thesz hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Hayes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thesz.
Hayes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thesz manages to avoid it.
Thesz misses with a body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hayes avoids the body shot from Thesz.
Hayes misses with a double jab.
A jab from Thesz does it's job there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aloysius Martin Thesz dominated that round.
That's time! Hayes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Thesz cracks Hayes with a good jab.
Thesz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hayes tries to work over Thesz's front leg with a kick but Thesz checks it.
Thesz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A slow jab from Thesz misses its intended target.
Hayes checks a low kick from Thesz.
Thesz scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Thesz misses with a few strikes there.
Thesz connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hayes's hands.
Hayes walks into a stiff left hand from Thesz.
Hayes scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
An inside leg kick from Hayes misses.
Hayes stalks Thesz and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Thesz's face. Thesz staggers backwards, shaken.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hayes misses with a kick to the body.
Khalid Hayes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hayes scores with a decent looking hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab from Thesz.
Thesz wants to clinch up but Hayes keeps it at a distance.
Hayes looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Hayes throws a shot to the body.

Thesz decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hayes trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
A nice elbow there by Thesz.
Hayes manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hayes trying to control from the bottom.
Thesz wants to free his trapped foot but Hayes is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Hayes wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thesz is thwarting Hayes's attempts to control the position.
Hayes is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Thesz's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Thesz's back!
Thesz trying to control the action but Hayes just sinks the hooks in.
Hayes keeps control of the position easily here as Thesz tries to buck him off.
Hayes avoiding Thesz 's attempts to control his hands.
Thesz wants to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thesz trying to control but not successfully.
Thesz can't escape the position.
Thesz wants to control his opponent's hands but Hayes gets his hands free.
Hayes has the hooks in. Thesz is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Hayes trying to control momentarily.
Thesz trying to control the hands but Hayes won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hayes controlling well, preventing Thesz from escaping the position.
Thesz keeps trying to improve his position.
Thesz manages to reverse the position and now he's in Hayes's guard. Nice work there by Thesz.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Thesz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hayes is keeping the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hayes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Aloysius Martin Thesz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Hayes throws a leg kick

and Thesz counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Hayes is pressing down on Thesz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Thesz trying to control but Hayes is working from the bottom.
Hayes is trying to control the position but Thesz postures up.
Thesz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hayes wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Hayes trying to control the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Khalid Hayes wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Hayes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thesz manages to avoid it.
Thesz throws a wild body kick that Hayes sees coming a mile off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thesz smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Hayes is looking to wear down Thesz with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Hayes throws a low kick, looking for Thesz's leg but Thesz calmly moves out of range.
Thesz bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Hayes's head.
Hayes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thesz.
Aloysius Martin Thesz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hayes pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Thesz shoots in for a takedown but Hayes shows good takedown defense.
Thesz slips a straight right by Hayes.
Hayes throws the kick towards the body but Thesz avoids it.
Thesz has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Thesz scores with a decent looking hook.
Thesz takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Thesz stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hayes.
Hayes throws a series of punches but Thesz avoids them all with ease.
Hayes lands a nice shot that snaps Thesz's head back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A thudding body kick lands there by Hayes!
Khalid Hayes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thesz blocks a low kick nicely.
A clash of legs there as Hayes blocks the low kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hayes.
Thesz swinging wildly here.
Hayes just misses with a punch to the body.
Donk. Hayes catches Thesz right on the button with a cross.
Hayes throws a body kick that misses

and Thesz counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Thesz working some strikes from top position.
Thesz postures up and lands a big shot to Hayes's brow.
Hayes pulls Thesz in close to his closed guard and prevents Thesz from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thesz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hayes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hayes wants to sweep but no luck.
Hayes trying to keep a closed guard but Thesz is proving a slippery customer.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hayes is really struggling to control Thesz but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Khalid Hayes wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Hayes doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Nice defenses there by Hayes.
Hayes is looking to land body kicks.
Thesz thows a body kick. Hayes tries to catch it but that hurt him.
A shot to the liver by Hayes. Beautiful body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hayes. Thesz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hayes misses with an uppercut

so Thesz counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thesz looking to pass the guard.
Hayes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hayes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Thesz throwing strikes but missing.
Hayes is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Thesz won't allow Hayes to sweep him here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thesz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hayes trying to keep a closed guard but Thesz is proving a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Aloysius Martin Thesz.
I've got Thesz winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aloysius Martin Thesz!
After winning the bout, Aloysius Martin Thesz thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.