PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cassius Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ian Murdock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Payne comes to the cage accompanied by DMX: Where the Hood At . Cassius Payne has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Payne
vs
Murdock

176 cm
23
158 lbs
11 - 1 - 0

174 cm
23
149 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

:: Happy Pills ::
LHK Clothing

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 11 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Cassius Payne!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ian Murdock!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Patrick Alders and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Payne closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Murdock quickly recovers to half guard.
Murdock is looking for a sweep. Payne is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Murdock blocking the ground and pound attempt from Payne.
Murdock pushes Payne off looking to stand but Payne dives back in and keeps control.
Payne thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Murdock's head.

Payne is working for a kimura but Murdock is defending it quite comfortably.
Payne 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.
Payne looks to land a strike but Murdock avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Payne is pushing down on Murdock's leg trying to pass to half guard. Murdock is fighting to maintain full guard but Payne has managed to sneak the leg through.

Payne is working for a kimura but Murdock is defending it quite comfortably.
Payne looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Murdock with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Payne throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Payne thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Payne not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Payne seems to be working for a kimura but Murdock defends the submission attempt.

Payne is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payne works his foot free and advances to mount.

Payne has control of Murdock's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Murdock regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Murdock holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Payne tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Payne throws some wild stikes that Murdock manages to avoid easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Murdock is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Payne unloading with bombs!
Payne throws some wild stikes that Murdock manages to avoid easily.
Payne trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Murdock wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Payne misses with a head shot.
Payne postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Murdock looks a forlorn figure.
Murdock is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne breaks from Murdock's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Payne raining down hammerfists from mount.

Murdock is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Murdock wants to control but Payne is having none of it.
Murdock is still in real trouble! Can Payne finish him?
Payne lands a big elbow - Murdock is in trouble! More strikes from the mount and Murdock is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:41 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Cassius Payne!
Cassius Payne is the new featherweight champion!