PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Samir Mourani (ranked 4221 p4p, 433 weight class) and DeAndre Hayes (ranked 25117 p4p, 559 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mourani
vs
Hayes

180 cm
21
193 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

182 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite 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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Samir Mourani!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, DeAndre Hayes!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Reed Andrews and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hayes misses the shot to the body.
Hayes moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

It looks like Samir Mourani has been cut.
Hayes waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mourani.

Mourani has Hayes up against the cage in a clinch.
Mourani is trying to drag Hayes to the mat but Hayes just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Hayes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hayes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mourani takes a swing at Hayes's ribcage but misses.
Mourani has been working on his balance at The Forge, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Hayes.
Hayes throws an overhand right that lands on Mourani's shoulder, as Mourani tries to avoid the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hayes throws a right and a left that Mourani avoids nicely.
Mourani slips a jab and a cross from Hayes.
No joy there for Mourani, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hayes just misses with a punch to the body.
Mourani will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Mourani, as that shot connected.
A punch combination from Mourani misses.
Hayes misses with an uppercut.
Mourani tries to counter with a takedown but Hayes is quick to defend against it.
A telegraphed right hand from Hayes misses the target.
Mourani scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Hayes throws a jab when Mourani was well out of range.
Mourani attempts a counter takedown but Hayes avoids it well and moves away.
Mourani throws a hook to the side of Hayes's head but Hayes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Mourani scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Hayes misses the jab.
Hayes throws a jab but it's blocked by Mourani.
Hayes throws an overhand right that lands on Mourani's shoulder, as Mourani tries to avoid the shot.
Hayes thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mourani throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Good shot there by Hayes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hayes tries to clinch but Mourani moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayes waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mourani.
Hayes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mourani.
Mourani changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Mourani steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hayes.
Mourani throws a right hand that Hayes ducks under and follows up with a left that Hayes also avoids with ease.
DeAndre Hayes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mourani misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hayes.
Hayes looks to throw the jab but Mourani is out of range.
Mourani takes a swing at Hayes's ribcage but misses.
Hayes swings widly with a right hand

and Mourani counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Hayes!
Mourani wants to control but Hayes is keeping him busy.
Mourani lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Hayes down.
Mourani works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Hayes is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Mourani is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hayes seems a little lost for a moment, as Mourani dominates the positioning.
Mourani lands a few punches from side control.
Mourani scoring with punches and elbows.
Hayes is trying to get back to his feet.
Mourani connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Hayes some visible discomfort.
Hayes is not content to let Mourani control the position.
Mourani landing strikes.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hayes can do anything to dispel that myth.
Mourani working the head and body with strikes.
Mourani content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Mourani scoring with punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mourani wants to control but Hayes is keeping him busy.
Hayes is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Mourani is controlling him well.
Mourani working the ground and pound.
Mourani scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Hayes to see if he's OK.
Mourani creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Mourani landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Mourani is working Hayes over with some ground and pound from side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mourani lands a nice forearm strike.
Mourani is putting a hurting on Hayes here, landing some big shots from side control.
Mourani scores with a couple of short elbows.
Mourani in side control lands a decent elbow.
Hayes really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mourani. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hayes is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Mourani asserts his dominance and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samir Mourani dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Samir Mourani's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hayes tries to clinch there but Mourani circles away.
Hayes throws a right and a left that Mourani avoids nicely.
Mourani drops down looking for a counter takedown but Hayes sprawls and moves away.
Hayes misses with a looping right.

Mourani darts in and clinches Hayes up against the cage.
Mourani drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hayes lands with a short shot to the head.
Mourani tries to circle away but Hayes has him pinned against the cage.
Hayes misses with a punch on the inside.
Mourani tries to work over Hayes's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mourani wants a takedown but no success here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mourani goes for a takedown attempt but Hayes pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samir Mourani. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mourani uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hayes.
Mourani lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Hayes needs to keep his hands up - Mourani had a free shot at his head there.
Hayes pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mourani throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hayes tries to clinch but Mourani is having none of it.
Hayes pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Mourani appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Hayes misses with a wild body shot.
Mourani feinted with a counter takedown.
Mourani steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hayes.
Mourani half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Mourani tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hayes defends well and Mourani ends up having to push Hayes into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Mourani looks for a takedown but Hayes sprawls well.
Hayes swings for the body but Mourani moves out of range.
No joy there for Mourani, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A shot to the liver by Mourani. Beautiful body shot.

Hayes closes the distance and clinches.

Hayes breaks the clinch.
Hayes looks to land a left hand but Mourani moved out of range nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayes stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hayes wants it to stay on the feet.
A punch combination from Mourani misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hayes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mourani drops down looking for a counter takedown but Hayes sprawls and moves away.
Mourani staying out of range there.
Hayes throws a series of punches but Mourani avoids them all with ease.
Mourani staying out of range there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mourani swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hayes counters with a right hand to the body.
Hayes throws a shot from downtown. Mourani moves away and avoids it.
Mourani ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hayes throws a series of punches but Mourani avoids them all with ease.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mourani looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hayes misses the shot to the body.
Hayes misses with a right hand

and Mourani counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mourani.
Hayes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mourani is controlling him.
Mourani scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hayes keeping moving, preventing Mourani from controlling successfully.
Mourani is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hayes is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mourani working some strikes from top position.
Hayes wants to stand up but Mourani is controlling him.
Mourani scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mourani looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Mourani seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Hayes for as long as he can get away with.
Hayes wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Mourani manages to pass to side control.
Mourani is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hayes can do to turn this around?
Mourani wants to take a breather but Hayes is having none of it.
Hayes is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Mourani scores with a couple of nice shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but DeAndre Hayes will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Samir Mourani's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mourani lands a two punch combo.
Mourani moves out of range of the strikes.
No joy there for Hayes, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hayes throws a right hand that Mourani ducks under and follows up with a left that Mourani also avoids with ease.
Mourani lands with a nice combination. Hayes backs away looking to recover.
Mourani misses with a takedown attempt - Hayes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hayes lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Hayes looks to land a combination but Mourani avoids it well.
Some wild striking there from Mourani.
Hayes looks to throw the jab but Mourani is out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A punch combination from Mourani misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mourani slips a jab and a cross from Hayes.
Mourani thuds a left hand into Hayes's body.
Hayes takes a swing at Mourani's ribcage but misses.
Hayes misses with a straight right.
Hayes looks to land a left hand but Mourani moved out of range nicely.
Hayes rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Mourani counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mourani.
Mourani stands up over Hayes, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Mourani trying to control the position from guard on top but Hayes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mourani scoring with punches to the head and body.
Mourani pushing down on Hayes's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hayes is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Mourani scores with a couple of nice shots.
Mourani landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mourani seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hayes is trying to stand.
Hayes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nice strikes from Mourani there.
Mourani landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Mourani lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hayes tries to kick Mourani off but Mourani keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hayes is trying to escape back to his feet but Mourani uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Mourani 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.
Mourani working the head and body with strikes.
Mourani wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hayes keeps working.
Mourani working the ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mourani controls the position from side control.
Mourani is working Hayes over with some ground and pound from side control.
Hayes is pushing Mourani's head away, looking to escape. Mourani manages to hold on to the position though.
Mourani is looking to take a break and control but Hayes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mourani looks up at the clock and then as Hayes takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Mourani smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Mourani cracks Hayes with a big right hand but Hayes just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Mourani looks up at the clock and then as Hayes takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Mourani smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Samir Mourani overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mourani lands a nice forearm strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hayes is not content to let Mourani control the position.
Hayes taking a bit of punishment here - Mourani scoring with strikes.
Mourani is looking to take a break and control but Hayes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hayes takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Hayes taking punishment in the form of punches.
Mourani is looking to take a break and control but Hayes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mourani lands a decent elbow from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Samir Mourani showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mourani has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Samir Mourani!