It was Nick Diaz vs Carlos Condit’s epic war that got Payton Hayes interested in fighting himself back in 2012. He and his grandfather bonded over their love of mixed martial arts and his mother eventually threw him into a UFC gym to begin training shortly after. His professional debut was riddled with unideal circumstances including an opponent change and a jump up in weight which led to him dropping that fight and going back to the drawing board.

After some mixed success in MMA, he came across BKFC 6: Malignaggi vs Lobov and knew that BKFC was where he needed to be. Hayes reached out to a good friend and gym partner in Jenny Savage who told him to reach out to DJ Tony whom Hayes pays all the credit in the world to for getting him the chance to toe the line.

With a focus on striking, Hayes wrestled in high school and has a well-rounded MMA game but looks to continue to sharpen his hands. He says that his first love was boxing and the Clarksville-based striker possesses a kill or be killed fight style that shouldn’t allow for a fight to go the distance.

Hayes travels an hour to and from Nashville MMA Gym to meet with Dustin Ortiz and grind after working his carpentry job. He enjoys a life with his wife and three step daughters as a proud girl dad and he looks to change their lives together with more fights and more importantly, bonuses! After feeling let down multiple times throughout his fight career, Payton Hayes has the opportunity to do just that and be a part of the fastest growing combat sport in the world.