Willa Holland vs. Laura Chiatti
(Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!)

BEFORE:

"You know," says a head shaking Willa, "I had to do a lot of research to find out just what a Laura Chiatti IS. I mean, I don't know where they're GETTING these girls. But, I'm not going to worry about it. The Thrilla's just going to go out there and thrill the fans. Like always."

"Well," says a hard-eyed Laura. "She's never heard of me? Well, all of Italy, all of Europe, in fact, has never heard of HER. But, after tonight, she'll know who I am. I'll be the girl who just whipped her a**!"

ROUND ONE:

No surprise that we see a bit of a feeling-out first. For Willa, the Italian is not just an unfamiliar opponent, she's a girl you can't exactly get a lot of video on, considering she has no fights at all in any of the elite organizations. And, for Laura, it's her first time on any of the big stages. So, neither fighter comes out of the corner steaming. Instead, it's tactical, probing stuff, with both bantams working the jab, moving the feet, doing some serious recon. Willa, rangy, likes the ranged stuff, so these terms are to her liking. The Italian seems to be comfortable as well, getting her left out and back, moving her feet, scoring some points. It's, frankly, a pretty solid first round for a girl in her first FCBA fight. Holland, meanwhile, gets into a pretty good rhythm by the final minute, showing that good stick-and-move we've seen from her before. She puts a bit of distance between herself and Laura and claim the first close.

ROUND TWO:

Laura more aggressive in the second. She's coming forward on Willa, committing on her punches, backing the American up. Holland definitely surprised by this, and Chiatti using that to her advantage. She's spooking Holland with power Willa didn't suspect was in the package, not allowing the American to set up or get off. Willa's not hurt, but she can't get out of reverse. Laura, meanwhile, slowly pressing down on the gas, upping the aggression more and more as the round goes on. She's missing plenty, but hitting enough to pretty much suppress Willa, who's able to counter at times, but that's about it. Laura even begins banging a little body late, clearly getting comfortable working on the front foot. Inexperience comes out in her inability to get Holland against the ropes, and in some sloppy misses, but this is, again, pretty solid stuff for a girl making her debut. It's Chiatti clean and we're even at 19.

ROUND THREE:

BOOM! And an immediate BOOM! In the very first exchange of the round, Chiatti catches Holland with a right hook that shakes Willa and has her stepping in fence post holes. And now the Italian goes all in. Chiatti may lack big stage experience, but she well knows this is a huge opportunity. She can end this thing right now and BURST onto the FCBA stage with an upset pay-per-view win. And, she's determined to do just that. Again, some inexperience shows. She's a little too aggressive, a little too wild. She misses a lot. But, again, she lands enough. Lands enough to back Willa up, and, this time, to trap her against the cables. And, when she does, she cleans up like a veteran, taking body when it's offered, but spending most of her time upstairs looking for that magic switch marked 'off'. She shakes Holland more than once, but, she doesn't find it. To her credit, Willa hangs in and hangs on, surviving the round, but losing it wide and now trailing Laura 29-28.#

ROUND FOUR:

Laura all in from the opening seconds. She's, again, effectively wild, winging away with both hands, forcing Willa onto the defensive and into retreat. She's missing plenty, but, again, landing enough to keep Holland suppressed. Willa trying to counter at every opportunity, but she's not getting very many. Then, again, sometimes it only takes one. That's the thing about missing a lot, it DOES create openings. And, Willa's able to fill one of those with a straight right hand that turns the round 180. It snaps back the Italian's head and sends her stumbling back three steps. She's able to keep her feet and cover up, but Holland's immediately on her, stepping into everything and battering Laura back into the ropes with barrage after barrage of heavy fire. Chiatti, like Willa before her, plenty game. She's hanging on and even jabbing back in spots, but she takes a terrific beating for nearly two full minutes. When it's over, the Italian is still standing, but Holland's won it wide and evened the fight at 38.

ROUND FIVE:

Holland with some light pressure early. She wants to test the Italian's legs. It doesn't take her long to realize they aren't all the way back, and, smelling said blood in the water, The Thrilla turns up the head. She's immediately got Chiatti moving backward, fighting off the back foot, and, soon enough, pinned to the cables. Holland hooks some body, bunching her rival up. And, then she straightens her with an uppercut that unlocks the knees. Laura begins to fold forward and Willa CRASHES a right hook into her chin. DOWN GOES CHIATTI, puddling at Holland's feet! Willa races across the ring and leaps into a corner, standing on the second rope, pumping her fist at the fans. She's not watching the coun, because she doesn't need to. She knows exactly what she's done. There's no movement at all from Chiatti as the count rolls forward, and she's still in the same position when it reaches ten. It's over, and your winner by KO5 is Willa "The Thrilla" Holland!

AFTER:

Willa all smiles. Had a little more trouble than maybe she expected tonight, but she came away with a victory, and, at this stage of her career, an important one. "She was a puzzle to solve for awhile," the brunette says with a nod. "Didn't know much about her coming in, and that's always tough to deal with. But, eventually, I got it all down, and then I put HER down, and gave the fans their Thrill, just like always!"