(Thanks to FightFan for this repost)

Posted by simguy on 7/27/2007, 7:24 am.

Before: Stacy beaten badly by Charlize - it's classic strategy to make that loss good by battering Cat. Bell struggling to maintain her rep in the face of an avalanche of brash newcomers - herself aching from a recent thrashing at the hands of Charlize - knows she can keep pace with Theron by decisively beating leggy Keibler. "A lot of people are wondering if I've still got it," Cat tells press, matter of fact in pre fight. "A fight like this goes a long way to reassuring folks that I'm still championship material. I know Stacy's hungry to get a win, so it'll be extra tough, but I can't shy away from the Keiblers of the division. If Stacy's ready to beat me, I think we both need to know that." Cat in electric blue bikini; shiny black shoulder length curls and bangs - she's definitely solved her JAG-era hair problems; white gloves. Stacy in sleek low blonde ponytail, royal blue bikini with big white polkadots; white gloves. Keebs very serious during ring instructions, but her serious face is kind of comical: Bell starts laughing - enraging Stacy: fight delayed as Keibler looks to start early and Cat earns a yellow card for taunting.
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During R1: Stacy frowning - right hand up and out to the side a smidge: she's pumping her jab! Keibler looking a little rigid - legs stiff as she's setting herself, pushing off the back (right) big toe to get a good ramming poke onto Cat. Bell batting her mitts when outside, then stepping in - very workmanlike - spotting her jab tummy and chin; dip-rolling to her right with Stacy's right hands, then coming back slinging right counters. Good rangy stuff - neither girl hurt or rocked - Keibler's busy, stiff jab probably the decisive factor in a technical first.

R2: Pace was a little quicker in the first than Cat would like: she takes steps to slow things down a bit. She's stepping in a hard jab, scoring to Stacy's face - then Cat's using the extended left to casually pull Keibler's head forward. Bell with head-control, working Stacy in close with right uppercuts and clubbing rights to the cheek - heads in close together as leggy beauties fight short. Ref slapping at Cat's arm to free Stacy - but Keibler continually getting herself pulled into the half neck clasp and worked over inside. Keebs still landing - even galloping to Cat's ribcage with both dukes when Bell's pulling Stacy's head down - but Cat dictating with simple hold and hit.

R3: Stacy showing Cat something when there's room to work. Keibler snarling intensely - pumping that stick: Cat's head kicking back, startling Bell. Keibs pivoting to her left, working stiff: only mistake is she's holding that right out a little wide - Cat able to time the odd counter-hook in clean to Stacy's mouth as the girls fence midring. Cat looking more relaxed, moving her jab body and head, bending her knees: Stacy busier, carries the round with sheer output as girls work behind their left hands in the third.

R4: Cat imposing will - nice and easy: pleasure to watch a professional ply her craft. Bell employing that nonchalant tug with her left hand behind Stacy's head: blonde compliant, falling forward, allowing herself to be clouted as Cat cuddles in close, works away righty. Bell subtle, holding Stacy enough to win initiative and pile up a couple of points, then she'll push Stacy out to arm's length with her left still cupping the blonde behind the neck, holding her steady for a more meaningful right on the kisser. Then Cat will pull Stacy in close, work her over right uppercuts and clubbing rights upside the head while turning Keebs in the grasp. Stacy scowling, knows she's getting scuffed up, doesn't seem to have any answers. Ref grumbling warnings, slapping at Cat's left hand to free Stacy, but he can't save Keebs from a shut out fourth.

R5: More of it - Cat flat-footed, jabbing-with lanky Stace, then sneaking the left hand round behind Keibler's head to pull her in/boss her around. Stacy allowing too much of this - falling forward, getting scuffed up - she does better when she remembers to move her hands to Catherine's ribcage inside. Keebs galloping nicely - long tanned limbs lashing heavily against Bell's ribs in spots, but not nearly enough to deny Bell tactical control. Stacy pouting at the break, cranky - she knows she's getting her ass kicked, just isn't sure how it's happening.

R6: Stacy's head kicking back from Cat's hot jab: Bell really starting to ring her blonde up. Cat stepping foward, leaning into right hands down onto Stacy's rigid sternum, then looping the left hook so as to wrap Stace 'round behind her head and pull her forward. Cat pulling and turning Stacy, working the body more with batting rights out of the grasp, then shoving waning blonde away to walk her down for more. Stacy wobbly butt, lips parted, on her heels - she's getting beat up in increments, picked apart, muscled and bullied as Cat slowly tightens the noose. Final minute rough for Keibler: Cat body-walks blonde to ropes, then starts to beat her in straightforward terms. Bell pulling Stacy's head forward with the left, slugging her brutally amidships with the right; clobbering her a right upside the head to break her own clinch, then reaching lefty to pull Stacy's head back down where it belongs. Brutal, hardhearted, textbook brunette beatdown: Stacy a shambles, long legs quivering when she finally droops to all fours. Keibler blubbering, shuddering - she sits back on her haunches, gloves still forward on the canvas as her body hums with hurt. KO6 Cat Bell as Stacy can't get off her knees.

After: Wow - systematic drubbing a typical lesson in Cat Bell efficiency. Bell the consummate sportswoman helps Stacy to her feet, guides her to her corner as Keibler's crying from the beating: mic actually picks up Bell giving Stacy POINTERS about denying the ol' head clasp in future! "Stacy's got so much raw ability," Cat allows in postfight, "so much physical presence that the fight becomes a question of taking those things away from her rather than trying to compete straight up with her. I don't know if I can box at range with Stacy anymore - she was jabbing my lights out in there - but she's got a lot of holes in her game which are easy to see and exploit. It's tough - she got beaten and ridden by Charlize, then she gets worked over by me: that's disheartening for a young fighter to see established girls slamming the door like that."

sim

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