PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Khalid Hayes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesse Custer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hayes comes to the cage accompanied by Flight of Icarus. Khalid Hayes could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Jesse Custer's chin.

Hayes
vs
Custer

180 cm
33
215 lbs
34 - 13 - 1

185 cm
31
221 lbs
29 - 8 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Pearson Specter Litt
Spartan Nutrition

Pearson Specter Litt
PWNAGE Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 34 - 13 - 1, fighting out of New York, Khalid Hayes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Jesse Custer!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice shot by Custer.
Hayes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hayes fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Hayes fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Hayes moves in looking to clinch but Custer pushes him off.
Custer appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Hayes closes the distance but Custer moves to the side
and Custer counters with a stiff right hand.
Hayes throws a big shot that misses.
Custer goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Hayes dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Hayes fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Custer sprawls well initially but Hayes persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hayes not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Custer tries to roll over but Hayes keeps him under control.
Custer moves into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Custer lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Custer landing with the ground and pound.
Hayes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Custer is stalling in the full guard.
Custer throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayes wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Custer trying to control but Hayes is working from the bottom.
Hayes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Custer sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hayes's guard.
Custer has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hayes is staying active underneath Custer, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Custer misses with a head shot. Hayes uses the momentum to regain guard.
Custer throws a strike but Hayes rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hayes with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hayes preventing the sweep.

Custer is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hayes landing with the ground and pound.
Custer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hayes is one step ahead there.
Hayes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Custer looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Custer looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hayes working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Custer's head.

Custer is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hayes is aware though and is defending well.
Custer 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.
Hayes throws a big elbow that misses.
Hayes stopping the sweep attempt from Custer.
Hayes with a flurry of punches that miss.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Custer 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.
Hayes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hayes makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Khalid Hayes will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Custer cracks the inside of Hayes's front leg.
Custer shoots in and drives through. Hayes sprawls well.
Hayes swings for the body but Custer moves out of range.
Hayes on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Hayes thuds his shin into the meat of Custer's side.
Hayes tries to clinch but Custer moves out of range.
Custer tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Hayes misses with a hook. Custer ducked under it nicely.
Custer swings for the body but Hayes moves out of range.
Custer moves forwards but Hayes connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Custer missing with a left hand there. Hayes was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Custer waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hayes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Custer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Custer lands a jab to the nose.
A telegraphed right hand from Custer misses the target.
Custer just misses with a punch to the body.
Custer misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Custer cracks Hayes with a right hand to the side of the head.
Hayes lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Custer at a distance.
Hayes moves out of range of the body kick from Custer.
A jab from Custer misses.
Jesse Custer seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Custer throws the left hand but Hayes avoids the punch easily.
Custer swings for the body but Hayes moves out of range.
Hayes throws a jab when Custer was well out of range.
Hayes throws a leg kick which misses Custer's front leg but catches the back leg as Custer tries to avoid it.
Hayes looks for the body kick but Custer saw that one coming.
Nice uppercut lands for Hayes. That snapped Custer's head back.
Custer tries to land a front kick but Hayes steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Hayes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Custer.
Custer takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Hayes misses the shot to the body.

Hayes shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Hayes was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sloppy strikes there by Hayes.
Custer tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Hayes presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Hayes looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Custer slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Hayes missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Custer is staying active underneath Hayes, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Custer tries to roll over but Hayes keeps him under control.
Custer is trying to maintain the position but Hayes is very close to passing his half guard.
Hayes moves into full mount! Custer won't be happy about that!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Custer regains half guard.
Hayes wants to pass to mount but Custer is defending the position.
Custer wants to improve his position but Hayes is controlling well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Custer manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hayes makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Custer escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hayes gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Khalid Hayes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Custer keeping moving, preventing Hayes from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hayes got a little sloppy there for a moment and Custer has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hayes has managed to get both his arms back between Custer's legs - danger averted.
Custer keeping moving, preventing Hayes from controlling successfully.
Hayes won't allow Custer to sweep him here.
Hayes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Custer is keeping the position for now.

Custer looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hayes passes into half guard.
Custer regains full guard. Nicely done.
Custer keeping moving, preventing Hayes from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khalid Hayes dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Custer misses with a looping left.
Custer takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Hayes looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Hayes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Custer drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Hayes defends it well.
A combination from Custer does no damage.
Hayes tried to counter with a leg kick but Custer avoided it.
Hayes throws a quick inside leg kick.
Custer fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hayes manages to avoid it.
Hayes wants to clinch up but Custer keeps it at a distance.
Hayes throws a head kick but Custer moves out of range.
Custer moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Custer scores with a nice head shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hayes lands a front kick.
Custer ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hayes moves away.
Custer scores with a punch to the head.
An inside leg kick lands from Hayes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hayes gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Custer counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hayes fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Hayes lands a leg kick that knocks Custer off balance momentarily.
Custer swings away with a leg kick that misses.
As Custer tries to get set, Hayes tries to push him back and clinch up but Custer manages to avoid the attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Custer. Hayes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hayes doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hayes takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Custer looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Custer looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Hayes clinches up with Custer and pushes him back against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hayes creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Custer can't find room to land a body shot as Hayes controls the action.
Hayes misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Custer.

Custer manages to break the clinch.
Khalid Hayes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayes throws a nice inside leg kick.
Hayes slips under a jab.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hayes.
Jesse Custer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Custer misses with a jab to the body
and Hayes counters with a body kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Some wild striking there from Custer.
Hayes tries a low kick but Custer avoids it.
Hayes bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Custer fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hayes.
Custer stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hayes.
A jab from Custer misses.
Custer misses the shot to the body.
Custer's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Custer takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Custer swings widly with a right hand
and Hayes counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Custer throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Hayes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Hayes shoots in and gets a takedown into Custer's guard.
Hayes wants to control from the top but Custer keeps moving.
Custer keeping full guard, as Hayes tries to pass.
Hayes postures up in Custer's guard and throws a big left but Custer blocks it.
Jesse Custer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hayes engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Hayes wants to control from the top but Custer keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Custer has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hayes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hayes trying to control but Custer is working from the bottom.

Custer looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Custer looking for a guillotine here but Hayes defends easily.
Hayes with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Khalid Hayes.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hayes, 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khalid Hayes!
Khalid Hayes was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.