PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Odell Hayes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kwasi Mensa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kwasi Mensa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hayes
vs
Mensa

214 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Odell Hayes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kwasi Mensa!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mensa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Mensa has Hayes up against the cage in a clinch.
Hayes blocks the elbow strike.
Mensa gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Odell Hayes has been cut.
Hayes takes a knee right on the jaw!
Hayes wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Mensa lands a knee to the body.
Mensa working Hayes over with knees to the body.
Mensa keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hayes's efforts to push away.
Mensa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hayes has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Hayes gets control of Mensa's arms and successfully pulls guard. Hayes will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Hayes seems keen to control Mensa's posture.
Mensa wants to stand and escape but instead Hayes has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Hayes will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mensa wants to stand and escape but Hayes is having none of it.
Hayes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hayes lands a couple of digs.
Hayes won't allow Mensa to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mensa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hayes postures up in Mensa's guard and throws a big left but Mensa blocks it.
Mensa wants to stand but Hayes is controlling the position.
Hayes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hayes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hayes landing some decent shots from guard.
Hayes prevents Mensa from getting back to his feet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hayes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hayes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mensa wants to stand up but Hayes is controlling him.
Hayes with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Mensa wants to stand and escape but Hayes is having none of it.
Hayes working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hayes has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Mensa wants to get back to his feet but Hayes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mensa has momentary wrist control but Hayes slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hayes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mensa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mensa looks winded!
Hayes is looking to work some ground and pound but Mensa has wrist control.
Hayes landing some decent shots from guard.
Mensa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hayes is controlling him.
Mensa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hayes. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hayes content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hayes throws a big right hand that misses.
Hayes throws a big right hand that misses.

Hayes gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Mensa darts in and clinches Hayes up against the cage.

Hayes manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Hayes has his feet on Mensa's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hayes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mensa sprawls well. Mensa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hayes gets slowly back to his feet.
Mensa wants to counter with a clinch but Hayes pushes him away.
Mensa wants to clinch.
Mensa tries to clinch up.

Mensa has closed the distance and engaged Hayes in a clinch.

Hayes jumps into guard, dragging Mensa to the mat.
Mensa trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hayes's guard.
Mensa wants to stand and escape but instead Hayes has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Hayes content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hayes is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hayes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mensa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hayes.
Hayes keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mensa's head.
Mensa is looking to stand up but Hayes isn't so interested in that idea.
Mensa has momentary wrist control but Hayes slips an elbow through the middle.
Mensa wants to get back to his feet but Hayes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hayes scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hayes postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hayes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mensa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hayes scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Mensa has his feet on Hayes's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hayes closes the distance and clinches up with Mensa, looking for a takedown. Hayes pushes Mensa against the cage but Mensa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Odell Hayes dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Odell Hayes's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hayes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mensa sprawls well. Mensa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hayes gets slowly back to his feet.
Mensa wants to clinch up but Hayes keeps it at a distance.
Hayes is looking to counter punch.
Mensa looks to clinch
and Hayes counters with a stiff right hand.
Mensa fails with an attempt to clinch.
As Mensa looks to move away, Hayes throws a big counter combo but Mensa just gets out of the way.
Nice sprawl there from Mensa as Hayes shoots in.
Mensa is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Mensa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hayes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mensa is looking to clinch.

Mensa gets a clinch.
Hayes really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hayes has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Mensa after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Odell Hayes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mensa connects with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mensa 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.
Mensa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hayes avoiding damage as Mensa throws knees to the body.
Hayes jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mensa walks away with a smile on his face. Hayes gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kwasi Mensa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hayes keeps the fight on the outside.
Hayes tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Mensa manages to circle out of the way.
Odell Hayes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hayes shoots in but no luck this time.
Mensa wants to counter the offense by Hayes and move into the clinch position.

Mensa rushes Hayes and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mensa lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Hayes wants to take the fight to the mat but Mensa manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Hayes drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mensa gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mensa connects with a knee to the head.
Mensa landing knees to the head.
Mensa connects with a knee to the head.
Hayes drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mensa pulls his leg out and moves away.
Mensa fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mensa tries to clinch up but Hayes circles away and keeps his distance.

Mensa gets a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Hayes's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hayes takes an elbow to the forehead.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mensa throws a knee to the head but misses.

Hayes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mensa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hayes fails with a takedown attempt.
Hayes looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mensa is fending him off so far but Hayes persists. Nope, Mensa circles away and we're back to standing.

Mensa closes the distance and clinches.
Mensa landing knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mensa connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hayes's face.
Mensa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hayes has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hayes fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hayes is trying to pull guard but Mensa turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Mensa lands an elbow inside.
Mensa landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Mensa is pressed up against the cage. Hayes has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mensa down to the mat. Mensa avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Mensa has managed to clinch.
Hayes tries for a takedown but Mensa manages to get underhooks.
Hayes takes a knee to the side of the body.
Mensa lands a damaging elbow.

Hayes has Mensa pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Hayes pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Mensa tumbling to the mat - Hayes dives into Mensa's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mensa wants to stand up but Hayes is controlling him.
Hayes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mensa wants to stand and escape but Hayes is having none of it.
Hayes working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mensa's head.
Hayes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hayes throwing strikes from guard but Mensa blocks nicely.
Mensa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hayes.
Mensa wants to stand but Hayes is controlling the position.
Hayes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mensa wants to stand up but Hayes is controlling him.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kwasi Mensa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mensa leaves Hayes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mensa tries to clinch but Hayes moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kwasi Mensa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Odell Hayes's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Mensa is looking to clinch.
Mensa fails with an attempt to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hayes is defended easily by Mensa.
Mensa steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Hayes.
Mensa wants to clinch up but Hayes keeps it at a distance.
Mensa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hayes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hayes appears to be looking for a big counter.
Mensa moves to clinch but Hayes breaks away

and Hayes counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mensa won't be happy with that.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hayes landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Mensa is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Mensa sneaks out the side door and pushes Hayes away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Mensa moves in looking to clinch but Hayes pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mensa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hayes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hayes tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mensa swivels and escapes.

Mensa has Hayes up against the cage in a clinch.
Mensa landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Hayes managing to block the knees to the body from Mensa.

Hayes manages to pull guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hayes holds on and takes a little breather.
Mensa wants to get up but he can't break Hayes's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Mensa postures up.

Mensa stands up and waves to Hayes to follow him.
Mensa tries to clinch up
and Hayes counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayes swats away the attempt to clinch by Mensa.
Hayes shoots in and drives through. Mensa sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Odell Hayes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hayes tries to keep at a distance but Mensa has taken the fight into the clinch.
Mensa lands a right hand that snaps the head of Hayes backwards.
Mensa crunches a lovely knee into Hayes's ribcage.
Mensa comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Knees in the clinch landing for Mensa.

Hayes ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hayes no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Mensa is looking to stand up but Hayes won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Odell Hayes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hayes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mensa manages to get himself to full guard.

Mensa wants to stand up but Hayes is controlling him.
Hayes lands a couple of elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mensa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mensa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hayes.
Hayes won't allow Mensa to get back to his feet.
Mensa is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Hayes makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hayes prevents Mensa from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hayes keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mensa's head.
Hayes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mensa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mensa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mensa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hayes throws a big right hand that misses.
Hayes throwing strikes from guard but Mensa blocks nicely.
Hayes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mensa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mensa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hayes.
Mensa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mensa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Mensa stuffs the takedown.
Hayes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hayes appears to be looking for a big counter.

Hayes tries to keep at a distance but Mensa has taken the fight into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kwasi Mensa.
I think Mensa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kwasi Mensa!