PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Benito Acero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Hayes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Michael Hayes enters the cage!

Acero
vs
Hayes

182 cm
28
180 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

185 cm
27
170 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Benito Acero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Hayes!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Winston Howard and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hayes fails with a takedown attempt.
Hayes fails to land the takedown.
Hayes's coach down at Beast Bar was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Hayes's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Nice sprawl there from Acero as Hayes shoots in.
Benito Acero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Hayes.
Hayes fails with a takedown attempt.
Acero looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nice sprawl there from Acero as Hayes shoots in.
Hayes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Acero gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Acero connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Michael Hayes has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Acero breaks from the clinch.
Hayes dives in and grabs Acero's left leg, looking for a takedown. Acero pushes down on Hayes's head and hops out.
Acero half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Hayes with a lazy takedown attempt

and Acero holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Knees to the body from Acero.
Hayes wants a takedown.
Hayes wants a takedown but no success here.
Acero unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Hayes looks winded!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acero gets underhooks to prevent Hayes's takedown attempt.
Acero stops a takedown attempt from Hayes.

Acero manages to break the clinch.

Acero fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hayes, pushing him back against the cage.
Acero gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Acero escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Acero rushes Hayes and presses him up against the cage.
Acero scores with a hook to the body.
Acero with a knee to the head.

Acero manages to break the clinch.
Acero thumps Hayes with a low kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Acero, right into the meat.
Acero throws a right hand that Hayes ducks under and follows up with a left that Hayes also avoids with ease.
Hayes fails to land the takedown.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hayes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Acero wants to get back to his feet but Hayes drags him back down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hayes thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Hayes tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hayes has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Hayes is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Acero has escaped the position, nice work there.

Hayes is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Acero knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hayes trying to control the position but Acero is working away.
Acero definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hayes tries for a kimura but Acero is defending well.
Hayes advances to full mount.

Hayes looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Hayes wants to control the pace but Acero is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Acero defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Hayes.
Acero is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

Hayes working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Hayes working for a submission but Acero is keeping him at bay.
Acero is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

Hayes has hold of Acero's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Acero manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benito Acero dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Michael Hayes's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hayes shoots for a takedown but Acero saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Acero stuffs the takedown.
Hayes fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Benito Acero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Hayes.
Hayes fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Acero avoids it really well and circles away.
Hayes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Acero sprawls well. Acero wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hayes gets slowly back to his feet.
Acero seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Hayes fails with a takedown attempt.
As Hayes looks to move away, Acero throws a big counter combo but Hayes just gets out of the way.

Hayes gets tackled into the cage by Acero. Acero maintains the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Acero breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Acero defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hayes.
Benito Acero is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hayes shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Acero as he avoids it easily.
Acero cracks the inside of Hayes's front leg.

Acero clinches up with Hayes and pushes him back against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Acero.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acero lands a good knee to the midsection. Hayes won't want to take too many of those.
Acero is pressed up against the cage. Hayes has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Acero down to the mat. Acero avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Acero gets a clinch.
Acero works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Hayes is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hayes is breathing heavily.

Acero breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Acero stuffs the takedown.
Hayes fails with the takedown.
Hayes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Acero takes the fight into the clinch.

Acero breaks from the clinch.

Acero closes the distance and clinches.

Acero's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Acero tries to bum rush Hayes with a series of wild strikes but Hayes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayes tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Acero defends well and Hayes ends up having to push Acero into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Acero throws a combination. Hayes tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Acero is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hayes can do to turn this around?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Acero scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hayes shoots in looking for a takedown but Acero manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hayes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
It looked like Acero was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Hayes gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Acero moves into the clinch.
Acero is pressed up against the cage. Hayes has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Acero down to the mat. Acero avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hayes misses with a takedown attempt - Acero sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Acero gets a clinch.
Acero stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Acero leaning against his opponent.

Acero's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Acero rushes Hayes and presses him up against the cage.

Acero pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hayes fails with the takedown

and Acero holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Acero stalling the fight.
Acero stalling in the clinch.

Acero's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Acero gets a clinch.
Acero lands a damaging elbow.
Acero scores with a knee to the head.

Hayes gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Hayes advances to half guard.

Hayes is looking for a kimura here.

Hayes is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Acero is just riding it out for now. Hayes eventually gives up the hold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Acero tries to kick Hayes off but Hayes keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Acero won't allow Hayes to pass to mount.

Hayes wants to work for an arm triangle but Acero is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Hayes is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Acero defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benito Acero dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Michael Hayes's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Acero has managed to clinch.

Acero breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hayes ducks right into an uppercut from Acero.
Hayes is trying hard to land a takedown here. Acero sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hayes has a takedown stuffed.
Acero is looking for a counter combo.

Acero has Hayes up against the cage in a clinch.

Acero's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hayes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Benito Acero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Hayes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Acero gets caught napping as Hayes dives in and scores a takedown. Acero manages to retain guard.
Acero wants to get back to his feet but Hayes passes into half guard.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hayes works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acero is trying to stand up.

Acero bucks Hayes off and manages to get back to his feet!
Acero scores with a leg kick.
Hayes tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Acero swivels and escapes.
Acero throws a right hand that Hayes ducks under and follows up with a left that Hayes also avoids with ease.

Acero gets a clinch.

Acero manages to break the clinch.

Acero clinches up with Hayes and pushes him back against the cage.
Hayes has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Acero avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Acero lands a body shot in the clinch.
Acero is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Hayes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hayes is working for takedown but Acero is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Acero lands a body punch in the clinch.

Acero's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hayes is trying hard to land a takedown here. Acero sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hayes tries to score a power double leg takedown but Acero sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hayes somewhat.

Acero moves into range and clinches up with Hayes.
Hayes goes for a takedown attempt but Acero pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Hayes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Acero sprawls well. Acero wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hayes gets slowly back to his feet.
Hayes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Benito Acero is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hayes misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Acero gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Michael Hayes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hayes takes a knee right on the jaw!
Acero pushes Hayes back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Acero pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hayes shoots in but Acero avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nice body kick there by Acero.
Acero throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A slapping leg kick lands for Acero.
Hayes fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Acero scores with a three punch combo!
Hayes shoots in but Acero avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Acero closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Acero breaks the clinch.

Acero moves into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Acero escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Acero moves into range and clinches up with Hayes.
Acero prevents the takedown attempt.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Acero.

Acero breaks the clinch.
A punch combination from Acero misses.
Acero stuffs the takedown attempt from Hayes. Hayes gets slowly back to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hayes is defended easily by Acero.

Acero gets in close and instigates a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benito Acero showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Acero, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benito Acero!
An out of breath Benito Acero thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.