PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mark Sibayan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Todd Hayes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sibayan
vs
Hayes

178 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mark Sibayan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Todd Hayes!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Cecil Peabody and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sibayan shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Sibayan is working for a submission of some sort.
Sibayan trying to mount his opponent but Hayes defends it.
Sibayan perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Sibayan wants to work for an arm triangle but Hayes is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sibayan seems to be working for a kimura but Hayes defends the submission attempt.
Sibayan works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hayes is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sibayan wants to control the pace but Hayes is squirming around nicely.

Sibayan jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Hayes is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Hayes and Sibayan has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Hayes prevents Sibayan from improving position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hayes can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayes prevents Sibayan from moving into mount.
Sibayan trying to control the position but Hayes is working away.
Sibayan tries to advance to mount but Hayes denies him.

Sibayan goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Hayes has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Sibayan but great work by Hayes.
Sibayan pushes Hayes away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Hayes gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hayes does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Hayes is looking to clinch but Sibayan is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hayes lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Sibayan has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Sibayan and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Sibayan slaps away a takedown attempt from Hayes, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hayes thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hayes fails with the takedown

and Sibayan counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sibayan.
Sibayan wants to control from the top but Hayes keeps moving.
Sibayan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hayes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sibayan slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sibayan scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Hayes to see if he's OK.
Sibayan tries to advance to mount but Hayes denies him.
Sibayan looks up at the clock and then as Hayes takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Sibayan smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hayes is looking to regain half guard here but Sibayan keeps moving and retains side control.
Sibayan content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Hayes is pushing Sibayan's head away, looking to escape. Sibayan manages to hold on to the position though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sibayan tries to move to mount but Hayes blocks the move with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Sibayan dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hayes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sibayan manages to avoid it.
Todd Hayes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sibayan dives in and scores a takedown into Hayes's guard.
Sibayan wants to pass the guard but Hayes is keeping the position.
Sibayan is looking to advance position but Hayes has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Sibayan wants to get back to his feet.
Hayes lands a nice shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hayes punching from mount but Sibayan doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Sibayan is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Hayes thowing shots but they're missing.
Hayes tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayes trying to control but Sibayan is having none of it.

Sibayan bucks up and throws Hayes to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!

Sibayan scores a takedown into full mount!
Hayes is bucking up trying to escape but Sibayan cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hayes tries to lock up and control but Sibayan gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hayes can't escape the position.
Sibayan pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Sibayan trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hayes has given up his back here. Will Sibayan look for the submission or keep pounding away?
Sibayan is trying to control but Hayes is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
Hayes is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Sibayan looking to control but Hayes is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sibayan 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sibayan is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Hayes is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sibayan takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Sibayan biding his time, looking for the opening.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hayes tries to escape but Sibayan has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Hayes is breathing heavily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Sibayan is looking for the choke from the back position but Hayes is controlling his hands well.

Sibayan is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Sibayan looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Hayes is controlling Sibayan 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Sibayan dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sibayan avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hayes dives in and grabs Sibayan's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sibayan pushes down on Hayes's head and hops out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hayes is looking to clinch.

Sibayan closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Sibayan is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hayes has escaped the position, nice work there.
Sibayan trying to control the position but Hayes is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Hayes's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hayes is looking to reverse the position.
Mark Sibayan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
You can see the frustration on Hayes's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Sibayan tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sibayan has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Hayes tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Hayes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Sibayan's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Hayes preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Sibayan.
Sibayan struggling to keep hold of the position.
Sibayan is really struggling to control Hayes but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Hayes trying to control the hands but Sibayan won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sibayan somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.

Sibayan is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Hayes defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Sibayan has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Sibayan looking for the choke but no joy.
Sibayan not allowing Hayes to control his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sibayan has the hooks in and he's looking for a rear naked choke here. Hayes is defending well but eventually Sibayan manages to get an arm under the chin and he's locked on the RNC! Hayes has no choice but to tap now! He does! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mark Sibayan!
During a confident post fight interview, Mark Sibayan thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.