PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dee Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Morris Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Payne has chosen Kardinal Offishall Ft. Elephant Man - Clear (Official Remix) as his entrance music. The key to victory for Dee Johnson has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Johnson
vs
Payne

189 cm
23
153 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

185 cm
23
145 lbs
7 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Hell's Kitchen Lab Corp
BEST NUTRITION,no doping

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dee Johnson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Morris Payne!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Daniel Blasius and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Payne fails to land with a series of punches.
Johnson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Johnson is looking to clinch.
Payne misses the shot to the body.
Johnson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Payne checks it well.
Johnson throws out a loose jab but Payne uses good head movement to avoid it.

Payne closes the distance and clinches.
Payne stalling against the ropes.
Payne has Johnson pressed against the ropes, preventing Johnson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Payne holding his opponent close, against the ropes.

Payne pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Payne clinches.
Johnson can't break the clinch.
Payne stalls.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Payne is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Johnson throws a nice looking combination but Payne bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Johnson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Payne misses the shot to the body.

Payne clinches up with Johnson and pushes him back against the ropes.

Payne pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson wants to clinch but Payne slips to the side
and Payne counters with a solid body kick.
Johnson lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Payne at a distance.
Johnson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Payne counters with a body kick.
Payne pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johnson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Payne has closed the distance and engaged Johnson in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Johnson.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.

Payne has Johnson up against the ropes in a clinch.
Payne lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Payne keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Johnson's efforts to push away.

Payne breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Payne throws a sloppy body shot
and Johnson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Johnson misses with a double jab

and Payne counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Payne.

Payne's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johnson tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Payne counters by moving into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Payne breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Payne looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Payne lands a head kick!

It looks like Dee Johnson has been cut.
Johnson misses with a few strikes there.
Payne doesn't manage to clinch there - Johnson circles away.
Johnson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Johnson misses with a double jab
and Payne counters with a nice low kick that buckles Johnson's knee momentarily.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Jab by Johnson.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Payne!
Payne pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne misses with a head kick.
Johnson misses with an uppercut. Payne saw that one coming.
Payne has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Johnson finds it's way round the side to connect with Payne's head.
A low kick from Johnson misses

and Payne counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Payne looking to slow down the pace here.

Payne's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Payne scores with a push kick.
Payne takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Payne throws a head kick that misses.
Johnson misses with an attempted mid kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Morris Payne dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dee Johnson's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Johnson darts in trying to clinch
and Payne counters with a thumping low kick.
Johnson wants to clinch but Payne slips to the side

and Payne counters by moving into the clinch.
Johnson is trying to break free.
Johnson letting Payne take a breather here.
Johnson is trying to stall.
A body shot lands from Payne.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Payne's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johnson wants to clinch

and Payne counters by clinching up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnson tries to circle away but Payne has him pinned against the ropes.

Payne manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Johnson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Payne was well out of range. Poor timing from Johnson.
Johnson looks to clinch

and Payne counters by clinching up.
Payne presses Johnson against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Payne leaning his opponent against the ropes.
Johnson just leaning against Payne, taking a breather.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Johnson is trying to force a seperation but Payne has the dominant position.
Johnson presses Payne against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Johnson lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Payne works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Johnson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Payne escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Payne misses with a double jab
enabling Johnson to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses the shot to the body.
Johnson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Payne.
Payne works Johnson's body with a nice hook.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Payne in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Johnson throws a head kick that Payne semi-blocks.
Johnson misses with a double jab
and Payne counters with a nice leg kick.
Johnson looks to clinch
and Payne counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Payne goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Payne scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne drops his hands momentarily and Johnson takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Johnson tries to clinch but Payne moves away
and Payne counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Johnson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Payne counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Johnson is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Payne misses with a double jab

and Johnson moves into the clinch.

Payne escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Morris Payne seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Payne closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.

Payne breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Payne circles away from the clinch attempt
and Payne counters with a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson clinches but Payne breaks the clinch

and Payne counters by moving into the clinch.
Payne leaning against his opponent.
Johnson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Johnson can't find room to land a body shot as Payne controls the action.

Payne breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Payne tries to keep at a distance but Johnson has taken the fight into the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Payne.
Johnson can't break the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Payne.
Johnson looking to slow down the pace here.
Payne content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Payne breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Morris Payne showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dee Johnson's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Johnson throws a sloppy head kick
and Payne counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A slapping leg kick lands for Payne.
Johnson looks to clinch
and Payne counters with a head kick. That will keep Johnson thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Payne tries to bum rush Johnson with a series of wild strikes but Johnson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Johnson tries to clinch up
and Payne counters with a thumping low kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Payne misses with a two punch combination.
Payne throws a nice outside leg kick.
Payne tries to close the distance and clinch but Johnson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Payne misses.
Johnson misses with a double jab
and Payne counters with a series of strikes. Johnson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Payne is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Johnson rather than just go for the knockout.
Johnson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Payne backs up against the ropes.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Johnson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Johnson is trying to stall.

Payne's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Johnson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Johnson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Come on Payne - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Johnson with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Payne breaks the clinch.
Payne misses with a head kick.
Johnson clinches but Payne breaks the clinch
and Payne counters with a big head kick but Johnson shrugs it off.
Johnson delivers a nice body kick.
Payne throws a predictable looking body shot
and Johnson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Johnson wants to clinch

and Payne holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Johnson is trying to force a seperation but Payne has the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne trying to control the position but instead, Johnson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Payne into the ropes.
Johnson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Payne is keeping busy.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Johnson as Payne tries to tie him up.

Johnson breaks the clinch.
Payne looks to throw a body kick

and Johnson moves into the clinch.
Johnson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Payne is trying to maintain a safe position but Johnson gets an underhook and turns Payne into the ropes.
Payne seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
Payne is trying to break free.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Johnson throws a leg kick but Payne checks it.
Johnson tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Payne counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Johnson as Payne tries to tie him up.

Johnson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johnson closes the distance looking to clinch
and Payne counters with a low kick, right behind Johnson 's knee.
Johnson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Payne.
Payne tries to close the distance and clinch but Johnson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Morris Payne just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Dee Johnson's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Payne closes the distance looking to clinch
and Johnson counters with a nice body kick.
Johnson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Payne throws a leg kick
and Johnson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Payne avoids a punch combination nicely.
An inside leg kick lands from Johnson.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Payne is looking to score with low kicks.
A head kick misses from Payne.
Payne tries to clinch up but Johnson circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Johnson gets a clinch.

Payne manages to break the clinch.
Johnson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Payne counters with a head kick. That will keep Johnson thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Johnson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Payne counters with an inside leg kick.
Johnson throws a leg kick

and Payne counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Johnson is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Payne wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Johnson has him pressed against the ropes.
Payne is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Johnson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Payne's efforts to push away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Payne is working Johnson over against the ropes.
Johnson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Still in the clinch, Payne scores with a nice short uppercut.
Payne is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Still in the clinch, Johnson scores with a nice short uppercut.
Payne softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Payne looking to stall.
Johnson is looking to break free of the clinch but Payne has double underhooks.
Johnson wants to get back to striking at distance but Payne won't allow it.
Johnson scores with a hook to the body.
Johnson controlling the action here for a moment.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Payne as Johnson tries to tie him up.

Payne's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Johnson throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Johnson misses with a low kick.
Payne throws a leg kick
and Johnson counters with a slapping leg kick.
Johnson darts in trying to clinch

and Payne counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Johnson lands a hook that snaps the head of Payne backwards.
Johnson lands a body punch.
Payne is looking to control Johnson's arms but Johnson gets an underhook and turns him. Now Payne has his back to the ropes.

Johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Payne takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Johnson counters with a left and a right that stings Payne.
The fight stays on the outside here - Payne looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Payne moves out of range of the body kick.
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Payne moves into the clinch.
Payne controlling the action here for a moment.
A short body shot lands from Johnson as the two fighters clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Morris Payne seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Payne.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Dee Johnson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dee Johnson's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Payne misses with a head kick.
A low kick from Johnson is predictable there

and Payne holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Johnson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Johnson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Payne.

Payne manages to break the clinch.
Johnson throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Payne moves into the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Johnson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Payne has him pressed against the ropes.

Payne breaks the clinch.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
A head kick by Johnson misses
and Payne makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Johnson really felt that one!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Payne has taken the fight to the clinch.
Johnson letting Payne take a breather here.
Payne prevents Johnson from breaking the clinch.
Johnson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Payne avoids it.
Payne wants to stall.
Johnson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Johnson wants to break free but Payne has control.
Johnson wants to break the clinch but can't.

Payne breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Payne closes the distance and clinches.
Come on Payne - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Johnson lands a nice shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Johnson.
Johnson wants to get back to striking at distance but Payne won't allow it.

Johnson breaks the clinch.

Payne has managed to clinch.
Payne has Johnson pressed against the ropes, preventing Johnson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Stalling in the clinch from Payne.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.
A bone on bone clash there as Payne blocks the leg kick.
Payne wants to clinch.
Johnson looks to clinch

and Payne counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Payne.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.

Johnson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dee Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick there by Payne.
Johnson bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Payne's head.
Johnson misses with a hook to the body

and Payne moves into the clinch.
Johnson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Come on Payne - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Payne lands a body punch in the clinch.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch but Payne keeps him there for the moment.

Payne escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Johnson closes the distance but Payne moves to the side
and Payne counters with an inside leg kick.
Johnson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Johnson throws a nice looking combination but Payne bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Payne circles away from the clinch attempt

and Payne moves into the clinch.
Johnson scores a nice knee to the body.
Come on Payne - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Johnson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Payne has Johnson pressed against the ropes.
Dee Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnson lands a good knee to the midsection. Payne won't want to take too many of those.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Payne prevents Johnson from breaking the clinch.
Johnson wants to stall.
Payne lands an elbow that stopped Johnson in his tracks for a moment.
Payne stalls.

And that's the end of the fight!
Morris Payne comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Payne has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight for Morris Payne!
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight for Morris Payne!
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight for Morris Payne!

Morris Payne wins by unanimous decision! Morris Payne retains his featherweight title!