PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robert Harper (ranked 4339 p4p, 461 weight class) and Leo Bain (ranked 3048 p4p, 364 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Harper
vs
Bain

190 cm
20
210 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
214 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Robert Harper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Leo Bain!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Daniel Blasius and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bain has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Bain there as he acknowledges the shot.

It looks like Leo Bain has been cut.
Robert Harper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice shot lands for Harper.
Harper scores with a nice head shot.
Bain takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Harper steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bain.
Harper half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Harper fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Bain on the side of the head.

Harper shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Bain napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Bain is rocked!
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!
Bain is looking for a sweep.
Harper advances nicely into full mount.
Bain looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Harper will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Harper is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Bain has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Harper goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Bain turns into him and now he's in Harper's guard.
Harper looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Harper is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Harper is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bain sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harper is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Bain actively working from the bottom here.

Bain looking for submissions off his back.
Bain tries to get to full guard but Harper has control of the leg.

Harper wants to work for an arm triangle but Bain is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

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

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Harper is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two 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.

Bain looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bain wants to improve his position but Harper is controlling well.

Harper is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Harper tries to pass to full mount but Bain defends it.

Harper looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Bain wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Harper dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Leo Bain's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Harper ducks under a wild hook from Bain.
Bain takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Harper scores with a nice right hand.
Bain looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Harper ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Harper lands with a shot to the body.
Harper lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Bain on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Harper looks to score with a jab to the body but Bain is just out of range.
Harper scores with a hook to the body. Bain takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Harper scores with a decent looking hook.
Bain ducks under a wild hook from Harper.
Bain takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Harper catches Bain napping and connects with a big right hand that sends Bain to the canvas!
Bain is still in real trouble! Can Harper finish him?

That has opened up Leo Bain's cut even more.
Harper tries to free his leg and advance position but Bain is retaining full guard.
Bain seems to have recovered his senses.

Harper is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Bain is breathing heavily.

Harper has gone for a leg lock! Bain slips out almost immediately though and dives into Harper's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper looking for a sweep. Not yet Harper, not yet.

Bain drops back looking for a leg! Harper is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Harper manages to kick Bain off! Bain jumps back into Harper's guard.

Harper had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bain defends it easily.

Harper working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bain doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bain manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Harper is on top in guard.

Harper is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Bain is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Bain has escaped and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bain trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Harper keeping moving, preventing Bain from controlling successfully.
Harper keeping full guard, as Bain tries to pass.
Harper manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bain manages to get himself to full guard.

Harper has gone for a leg lock! Bain slips out almost immediately though and dives into Harper's guard.

The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bain tries to free his leg and advance position but Harper is retaining full guard.
Harper manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bain manages to get himself to full guard.

Harper drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Harper jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Harper dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Leo Bain's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Bain pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Harper lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Bain takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Harper is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Harper scores with the left hand. Bain knows he should have avoided that one.
Good standup being displayed there by Harper as he connects with a hook.
Harper looks to land a right hand but Bain moved out of range.
Harper dips to his left and cracks Bain with an uppercut!

Harper bobbing and weaving well here. And he's unloaded with a massive right hand that drops Bain! He dives into his guard looking to finish!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Harper drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Bain manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Harper has Bain in his guard.

Harper wants to sweep here but Bain controlling him for the moment.
Harper can't keep his opponent in guard - Bain advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Bain frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Leo Bain has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Robert Harper overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Harper wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

Bain looking for the RNC.
Harper is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Harper breaks Bain's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Harper drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Bain manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Harper has Bain in his guard.

Bain wants to pass the guard but Harper is keeping the position.
Harper tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harper lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Harper drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Harper seems to have locked his on tight now - Bain screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Harper, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Robert Harper!
During a confident post fight interview, Robert Harper thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.