PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Hayes (ranked 4478 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hunter Reyes (ranked 3002 p4p, 294 weight class). Reyes has chosen Laid to rest- lamb of god as his entrance music. Rafael Hayes has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Hayes
vs
Reyes

215 cm
24
279 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

190 cm
25
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rafael 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, Hunter Reyes !
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Alan Glass and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Reyes moves into range and clinches up with Hayes.

Hayes jumps guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Hayes keeping full guard, as Reyes tries to pass.
Hayes is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Hayes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hayes keeping moving, preventing Reyes from controlling successfully.
Hayes is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hayes controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hayes has a closed guard, preventing Reyes from standing up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hayes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Reyes manages to get himself to full guard.

Hayes stopping the sweep attempt from Reyes .

Hayes decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Reyes , up you get!
Hayes circles away from the clinch attempt
and Hayes counters with a one-two to the body.

Reyes gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hayes to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayes trying to control the position from guard on top but Reyes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hayes will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Hayes decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Hunter Reyes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hayes fails to land the takedown.
Hayes shoots in looking for a takedown. Reyes tries to sprawl out of it but Hayes keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Reyes manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hayes fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Hayes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reyes fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Reyes is looking to clinch but Hayes is avoiding it.
Hayes looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Reyes is fending him off so far but Hayes persists. Nope, Reyes circles away and we're back to standing.
Hayes keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Reyes gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Reyes is working for takedown but Hayes is calmly controlling the position for now.
Reyes dodges an elbow strike from Hayes.
Reyes is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hayes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hayes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Reyes circles away.
Reyes takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Reyes throws a nice inside leg kick.
Reyes is looking to clinch.
Reyes with a poor takedown
and Hayes counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Hayes tries for a takedown but Reyes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Reyes shoots in but Hayes avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Reyes looks winded!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hayes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Reyes circles away.

Hayes feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Reyes is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Hayes presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Hayes dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Reyes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hayes darts in looking for a takedown but Reyes gets double underhooks and turns Hayes into the cage.
Reyes fails in his attempt to clinch.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Reyes enables Hayes to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Reyes manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Hayes decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Hayes tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Reyes defends well and Hayes ends up having to push Reyes into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Reyes fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Reyes clinches up against the cage.
Hayes throws a knee to the head but misses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Hayes is trying to force a seperation but Reyes has the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Reyes .
Hayes misses with some punches.
Reyes fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Hayes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Reyes scores with a nice head shot.

It looks like Rafael Hayes has been cut.
Hayes changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Reyes tries to avoid it but Hayes manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Reyes to the ground. Reyes escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Hayes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Reyes clinches.
Hayes is trying to break the clinch but Reyes has him pressed against the cage.

Reyes pulls guard effortlessly.

Reyes scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Reyes tries for a takedown but Hayes circles away easily
and Hayes counters with a nice body kick.
Reyes is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Hayes is predictable there

and Reyes counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Reyes .
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hayes is on top in guard.

Reyes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Hayes stands and steps away. Reyes gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Reyes shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hayes's guard.
Reyes throws an elbow that misses. Hayes uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Reyes 's guard. Nice move by Hayes!

Reyes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hayes is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hayes gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Hayes shoots in for a takedown but Reyes shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Hayes throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Reyes was covering up waiting for the punch and Hayes finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Reyes kicks Hayes off and gets to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rafael Hayes is winning the standup battle so far.

Hayes closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Reyes 's guard.

Hayes is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Hayes stands and steps away. Reyes gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Hayes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Reyes gets caught flat footed, as Hayes shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Reyes is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Hayes dives into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hunter Reyes will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Rafael Hayes's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Reyes has his takedown stuffed
and Hayes counters with a left to the body.
Hayes shoots for a takedown but Reyes saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Reyes scores with a push kick.
Reyes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hayes shoots in looking for a takedown but Reyes manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hayes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Hayes shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hayes showed some decent athleticism there.
Hayes not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hayes is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Reyes has managed to free his arm - good work.
Reyes tries to kick Hayes off in order to stand up. Hayes Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Reyes looks to move to half guard but instead Hayes has passed into mount! Damn!
Hayes looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Reyes tries to lock up and control but Hayes gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Hayes looking to secure an arm triangle but Reyes defends it well.
Rafael Hayes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hayes is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Reyes throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hayes's waist but Hayes gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Reyes off to one side.
Rafael Hayes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hunter Reyes .

Hayes gets a takedown into half guard.
Reyes gets back to full guard.

Reyes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hayes defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hayes thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Reyes looking for a sweep. Not yet Reyes , not yet.

Hayes is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Reyes working a defensive guard but Hayes manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Hayes thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Hayes is looking to take a break and control but Reyes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Reyes reaches up around Hayes's neck trying to control. But Hayes takes advantage instantly and he's locked on an arm triangle! Big trouble for Reyes ! Oh that looks nasty! A human being's head is not meant to turn that color! Reyes is out! He's gone limp! The ref steps in to break the fighters up and Hayes celebrates the victory with the fans!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Rafael Hayes!