CAGE fighter Michael Bisping proved you can 'Count' on him to keep his word when he scored a first round TKO of American submission expert Charles Chainsaw' McCarthy.

The Clitheroe Ultimate Fighter made his middleweight debut on Saturday night in front of 22,000 fans at UFC 83 in the Bell Centre, Montreal, Canada.

And he sent a clear message to the rest of the 185lb division: "I am here and I mean business!"

Bisping - also known as The Count - used a series of Muay Thai knees and follow-up ground and pound on McCarthy, although it briefly seemed the American was saved by the bell at the end of the round.

But, when he was unable to get off the canvas and back to his corner, the Brit took his impressive mixed martial arts record to 16-1.

Bisping, 29, had previously fought at 205lb as a light heavyweight but switched division after a controversial loss to top contender Rashad Evans last November.

Going into his middleweight debut, Bisping and McCarthy exchanged verbal blows, with the latter dubbing the former St Augustine's High School pupil "an average fighter who does nothing particularly well".

But the American Top Team veteran was soon in the firing line of Bisping's excellent boxing. And although McCarthy did threaten at times with fast counter right hands, Bisping had them well scouted.

The father of two had to escape from a precarious position, though, in the middle of the round after McCarthy scored a thunderous takedown and came very close to locking in an armbar.

But Bisping kept cool and used his own significant BJJ skills to escape back to his feet where he went - in his own words - "Muay Thai knee crazy".

Grasping the 27-year-old around the back of the head, Bisping slammed in over a dozen knees until McCarthy collapsed to the canvas. The follow-up ground and pound sealed the Brit's first win in his new division.

After the fight, Bisping paid tribute to McCarthy, who may had suffered a broken forearm as he desperately sought to defend against the knee strikes.

He said: "To be fair he covered up very well and wasn't absorbing too much at first.

"Eventually, though, the knees started getting through and I am surprised the ref didn't stop it as soon as he hit the ground."