PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Luc Bernard (ranked 4387 p4p, 5662 weight class) and Bobby Harlow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bernard
vs
Harlow

176 cm
25
152
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
150
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Luc Bernard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Bobby Harlow!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Sam Margolis and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harlow throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Harlow lands a jab to Bernard's midsection.
Harlow is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bernard sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice shot by Harlow.
Harlow connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Harlow fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Harlow misses with a jab, cross combination.
Harlow uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bernard.

Harlow gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Bernard to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bernard pushes down on Harlow's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Harlow trying to control here.
Bernard wants to pass the guard but Harlow is defending well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Harlow is trying to maintain the position but Bernard is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernard is keen to just control but Harlow is a slippery customer.
Harlow moves into full guard.
Bernard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Harlow is keeping the position for now.
Bernard missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Harlow is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bernard is aware though and is defending well.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Harlow holds on and takes a little breather.
Bernard wants to control from the top but Harlow keeps moving.

Bernard gets to his feet - Harlow follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bernard closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Bernard is trying to get an arm triangle but Harlow is defending well.
Bernard passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Harlow!
Harlow wants to hold on but Bernard pushes him away.
Harlow might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Bernard haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Harlow is squirming around, avoiding Bernard's attempts to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harlow can't escape the position.

Harlow defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Bernard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bernard can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Harlow is looking to escape.

Bernard stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
A jab from Harlow finds it's way through Bernard's defenses.
Jab, jab by Harlow - just one landing.
Harlow cracks Bernard with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Harlow throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bernard misses with a double jab.
Harlow throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Bernard drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Bernard is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Harlow has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harlow manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Harlow is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bernard tries to stand and escape but Harlow is controlling the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bernard throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Bernard is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Harlow is just riding it out for now. Bernard eventually gives up the hold.
Harlow is trying to maintain the position but Bernard is very close to passing his half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bernard tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Harlow was well out of range. Poor timing from Bernard.
Bernard takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Harlow cracks Bernard with a right hand to the side of the head.

Bernard scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Harlow is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bernard wants to take a breather but Harlow is having none of it.
Bernard is thwarting Harlow's attempts to control the position.
Harlow is pressing down on Bernard's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harlow trying to control the position.

Bernard 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.
Bernard stopping the sweep attempt from Harlow.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bernard 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.
Bernard wants to control from the top but Harlow keeps moving.
Bernard postures up.
Bernard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bernard trying to control the position from guard on top but Harlow is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Harlow throws a poor cross that misses

and Bernard counters with a takedown into side control.
Harlow can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bernard tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Bernard has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Bernard trying to control the action but Harlow is working from the bottom.
Harlow gets back to half guard.
Bernard seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Harlow does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Harlow is looking to control Bernard's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Harlow avoid being mounted?
Harlow gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bernard passes Harlow's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Harlow trying to control here.
Bernard frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Bernard sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Harlow is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Bernard trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Harlow wants to hold on but Bernard pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bernard looking to secure an arm triangle but Harlow defends it well.
Bernard is trying to take his opponent's back.
Harlow is looking to improve his position but Bernard isn't that keen on the idea.
Bernard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Harlow can do to turn this around?
Bernard misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Bernard controlling his opponent.
Bernard can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Harlow is looking to escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Harlow is working to get back to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Luc Bernard dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Bernard looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Harlow!
Bernard works to advance to full mount. Harlow defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Harlow tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Bernard goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Harlow turns into him and now he's in Bernard's guard.
Bernard keeping moving, preventing Harlow from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harlow is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Harlow passes Bernard's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bernard manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Harlow keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Harlow tries to pull guard but Bernard won't allow it.

Bernard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Harlow bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Bernard's head.
Harlow looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bernard throws a series of punches but Harlow avoids them all with ease.
Harlow lands a nice hook to Bernard's body. Bernard takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Bernard decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Bernard looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Harlow wants to improve his position but Bernard is controlling well.
Harlow is staying active underneath Bernard, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Luc Bernard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harlow trying to control from the bottom.
Bernard seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Harlow does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bernard passes to side control.
You can see the frustration on Harlow's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Bernard trying to control the action but Harlow is working from the bottom.
Harlow is looking to regain half guard here but Bernard keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bernard working away.
Harlow is looking for a sweep.
Bernard wants to lay and pray for a moment but Harlow keeps working.
Harlow wants to control but Bernard postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Bernard closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bernard lands in his opponent's guard.

Harlow working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Bernard has passed into half guard!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harlow wants to improve his position but Bernard is controlling well.
Bernard is trying to control. Harlow wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Bernard controlling the action here.
Harlow wants to control but Bernard is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Bobby Harlow has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bernard looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luc Bernard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bernard, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luc Bernard!