PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Scott Cain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cassius Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Payne is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Paul Oakenfold - Ready Steady Go. Cassius Payne has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cain
vs
Payne

179 cm
32
148 lbs
16 - 6 - 2

176 cm
25
140 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI
SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI

Crushed Designs (90% return on laundry service)

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 16 - 6 - 2, fighting out of St Petersburg, Scott Cain!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Cassius Payne!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksandr Martynov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Payne gets a double leg takedown into Cain's guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Cain is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Cain is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Payne is aware though and is defending well.
Payne trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Cain throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Payne escapes and throws Cain's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Cain is looking to regain half guard here but Payne keeps moving and retains side control.
Cain is working hard here to advance position.

Payne is trying to get an arm triangle but Cain is defending well.
Payne throws a strike aimed at the side of Cain's head but Cain avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cain is not content to let Payne control the position.

Payne looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Cain tries to buck Payne off but Payne is having none of it.
You can see the frustration on Cain's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Payne trying to control the action but Cain is working from the bottom.
Payne throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Payne throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cain tries to bench press Payne off him but Payne keeps the position.
Cain manages to get back to half guard.
Payne wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cain keeps working.
Cain wants to control but Payne is keeping busy.
Cain is looking to improve his position.
Cain is trying to control but can't.
Payne is pressing down on Cain's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cain is holding on for now.

Payne is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cain defends it well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Payne is looking to take a break and control but Cain is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cain moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cain keeping moving, preventing Payne from controlling successfully.
Payne is looking to work some ground and pound but Cain has wrist control.

Payne got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cain has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Payne has managed to get both his arms back between Cain's legs - danger averted.
Cain looking to control.

Cain is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Payne defends well.
Payne wants to control from the top but Cain keeps moving.
Cain lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Payne stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cain swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Payne is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cain manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Payne sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Cain perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Payne is refusing to be controlled, as Cain sits in half guard.
Cain trying to mount his opponent but Payne defends it.
Cain wants to take a breather but Payne is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Payne wants to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Scott Cain.
Cain throws a nice inside leg kick.
Payne with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cain counters with a left to the body.
An inside leg kick lands from Cain.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Cain dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Payne looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cain is fending him off so far but Payne persists. Nope, Cain circles away and we're back to standing.
Cain throws a head kick that misses

and Payne counters with a shoot takedown. Cain fights it but they end up in guard.
Payne tries to free his leg and advance position but Cain is retaining full guard.

Payne avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Payne stopping the sweep attempt from Cain.
Payne landing some decent shots from guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Cain looking to hit a scissor sweep but Payne is one step ahead there.
Cain manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Payne manages to get himself to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Payne tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Payne has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cain can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Payne working a defensive guard here.
Cain advances to half guard.
Cain sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Cain is thwarting Payne's attempts to control the position.
Cain passes to side control.
Cain scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Payne's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Payne is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Cain's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Payne moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cain tries to free his leg and advance position but Payne is retaining full guard.
Cain advances to half guard.
Cain moves nicely into side control.
Cain trying to control the action but Payne is working from the bottom.
Payne wants to control but Cain postures up.
Payne being controlled for a moment.
Cain passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Payne!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne is looking to get to half guard.
Cain is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Payne is in real trouble.
Cain is riding his opponent, not letting Payne buck him off.
Cain wants to control but Payne is keeping busy.
Cain somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Payne is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Cain off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Payne tries to escape but Cain has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Scott Cain overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Payne turns into Cain and is now in his guard.
Payne passes into half guard.
Cain has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Payne is working away from the top position though.
Cain is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne content to control rather than advance.
Payne is keen to just control but Cain is a slippery customer.
Cain tries to get to full guard but Payne has control of the leg.
Cain manages to get to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cain working a defensive guard but Payne passes into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Payne is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cain sees it coming and defends easily.
Payne thows a huge punch but Cain dodges it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Scott Cain will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Payne throws an overhand right that lands on Cain's shoulder, as Cain tries to avoid the shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cain. Payne does a little dance to reset his feet.
A solid leg kick lands there for Cain.
Cain throws a jab when Payne was well out of range.
Payne tries to clinch up.
Payne doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Payne shoots for a takedown but Cain saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Payne tries to keep at a distance but Cain has taken the fight into the clinch.
Payne drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Cain wants the takedown. Payne is fighting it off but Cain persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Payne's guard against the ropes.
Payne looking to control.
Cain stands and throws Payne's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Payne tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cain advances to full mount.
Payne can't escape the position.
Cain tries to control but Payne wriggling away.
Payne can't escape the position.
Cain tries to control but Payne wriggling away.
Payne is trying to escape the mount but Cain keeps good control and instead manages to take Payne's back.

Payne is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
A lull in the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cain looking for the RNC.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A lull in the action here.

Cain is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Payne defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Payne turns into Cain and is now in his guard.
Payne is pushing down on Cain's leg trying to pass to half guard. Cain is fighting to maintain full guard but Payne has managed to sneak the leg through.
Payne trying to advance position but Cain counters by regaining guard.
Payne wants to control from the top but Cain keeps moving.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cain keeping moving, preventing Payne from controlling successfully.
Cassius Payne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Payne lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Cain had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Payne defends it easily.
Payne postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cain is trying to control the position but Payne postures up.
Payne trying to control the position from guard on top but Cain is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cain manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Payne manages to get himself to full guard.

Payne is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cain slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Payne is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Cain off and has taken his back!
Cain turns into Payne and is now in his guard.
Cain controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Payne looking for a guillotine here but Cain defends easily.
Payne takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cain stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Payne swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cain postures up and lands a big shot to Payne's brow.
Payne keeping moving, preventing Cain from controlling successfully.
Cain landing some decent shots from guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Scott Cain showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cain has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scott Cain!
A very excited looking Scott Cain made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.