BEFORE:



"Look," says a hard-eyed Nikki, "I'm an indie, so I've had to take whatever fights I can get. So, no, I haven't won in the FCBA yet. But, I can win at this level, and I'll prove it tonight."



"This girl is no pushover," says Chloe. "It would be a mistake to underestimate her. But, that's a mistake I didn't make."



ROUND ONE:



O'Dell: "We're back at ringside and that's 'Get The Girl Back'..."



McCarthy (singing): "You've gotta get the girl back, get the girl back..."



Tess: "I take it you LIKE this one, Mac..."



McCarthy: "It's kind of catchy..."



O'Dell (sighing): "And, down the aisle comes the singer of said tune, the lovely Nikki Reed. Reed into the ring and helped off with the robe to reveal an aqua bikini and a toned body, and that's..."



McCarthy: "TERRIBLE! Just like I say every time Weirdo plays this infernal NOISE over his sound system!"



O'Dell: "...'Uh Oh', and that can only mean that the singer of THIS song, 'The Next Big Thing', Chloe Bennet, is on her way to the ring."



Cassie: "Bennet, of course, has developed more quickly than any fighter in the history of Front Street. She's a Top Twenty bantam now and has definitely crossed the line from prospect to contender in just 14 fights..."



O'Dell: "Bennet into the ring and helped off with the robe by Jewel and Neve. She's wearing that blue two piece she likes...and the crowd likes it even more, if the reaction is any guide. And, we're about ready to go. Time for some picks. Tess favors Chloe. Mac?"



McCarthy: "Please run the tape of my comments from the last fight where I pointed out that we were seeing yet ANOTHER typical Dancing Hooker opponent with NO FCBA wins. Bennet."



O'Dell: "Cassie?"



Cassie: "I agree with Tess."



O'Dell: "Unanimous once again. Let's see if the ladies are right. Chloe looking to probe forward early. She's working the left jab, stepping in behind it. Nikki firming up immediately and firing back some hard shot. She's not going to give any canvas away. Reed plenty sturdy as she's proven in previous FCBA action..."



Tess: "She's shown she can hit and can take a punch, that's for certain."



O'Dell: "Bennet slows the roll a little. Willing to stay at middle distances, work from there. Nice little exchanges developing now as the two brunettes settle into some slick boxing. Good right hand, Bennet, BOOMING RIGHT HAND REED! Chloe rocked and DOWN SHE GOES after a blistering flurry!"



McCarthy: "Three punches in that flurry all landed and they dropped Bennet to her knees!"



O'Dell: "Count at three. Four. Five. Six. Chloe looking up at the referee. Seven. Eight. Gets up at nine. Going to take the mandatory. And the ref waives Reed forward. And HERE COMES NIKKI! She's all OVER Bennet, firing a blizzard of leather. Chloe backed quickly against the ropes and taking. Nikki trying to finish here and the ref looking in VERY closely. Ten seconds left. Good right hand Reed, but there's the bell! Bennet escapes, but a HUGE start for Reed!"



Cassie: "10-8, Nikki."



ROUND TWO:



O'Dell: "Second begins with Reed on the offensive. She's after Bennet in a big way now, but doing so intelligently, just as she did in the last round. Nothing sloppy like you might expect from an underdog trying to 'shock the world'. She's working very soundly, setting up punches, backing Bennet up and giving her a beating."



Cassie: "This has got to be shades of Alice Eve for Chloe. That early knockdown and a big round following that really took her out of that fight, and that's exactly what Reed's working toward right now."



O'Dell: "Indeed, she is. Reed dominating this round. Bennet still buzzed, doesn't have much in the way of legs, and Nikki taking full advantage of that. She's pressing that advantage everywhere she can, piling up points, piling on damage. Bennet playing defense, countering in spots, but not getting much done."



McCarthy: "This girl just needs to keep working and not do anything stupid and she's going to make a name for herself tonight."



O'Dell: "No doubt that's Reed's plan. She's sitting down on punches, banging away at Bennet. She finally gets Chloe to the ropes with about thirty seconds to go and turns up the heat. Reed REEFING punches at the younger fighter, touching her up in a major way as we head down the stretch. Ref looking in closely again, but there's the bell. Nikki wide in the second."



Tess: "20-17, Reed. But, the real question is, can Bennet recover?"



ROUND THREE:



O'Dell: "Third round and more aggression from Nikki Reed. Confidence has to be brimming now for the 28-year-old. She's taken the fight to a top twenty fighter for two rounds and has a nice lead and a wobbly foe to show for it. Bennet firming up a little now, though. Giving ground more slowly, countering more."



McCarthy: "Reed just wants a steady pressure now. Don't fall into any traps or get too aggressive. Slow and steady."



O'Dell: "And, that's exactly what she's doing right now. Bennet engaging in the fighting retreat, giving ground but exacting a price for it. Reed fighting lead, Chloe the counter. Bennet a good right hand there, best punch we've seen from her since the first round. Legs seem to be coming around..."



Cassie: "They do, but Reed still able to maintain the offensive. Bennet in this round, unlike the last one, but Nikki still having the better of things."



O'Dell: "No question about that. But, the edge is narrower. Chloe holding her own in the exchanges as we come down the stretch. Reed keeping the pressure on. Not going to allow Bennet any time to breath. Ten seconds left in the third round. Good, sharp exchange there! And there's the bell. Reed again, but close this time."



Tess: "But, the cards are looking pretty ugly for Bennet at the moment. She's down 30-26 after three."



ROUND FOUR:



O'Dell: "Fourth begins with Nikki forward again, and, again Bennet banging back. Chloe holding her ground now, not giving canvas at all, and we settle back into the mid-range stuff we were seeing in the first, before the big right hand from Nikki. Bennet keeping the gloves high, bobbing the head, snapping out the left, dropping home rights."



McCarthy: "And, Reed doing the same. This is good stuff from Nikki right now. Didn't quite manage to take Bennet out, but she didn't blow herself up trying, didn't get sloppy and make mistakes, and she's now settling into her fight plan."



O'Dell: "Couldn't agree more, Mac. Reed showing some of what we've seen in the past, that she can box and she can hold her canvas in the face of hard shot. Bennet hooking a little body now, and that's something that's mostly been missing in this one so far. Almost all the work has been upstairs."



Cassie: "Not surprising because of the start, but both of these girls have shown that they like to work the body in the past."



O'Dell: "And, just as you say that, Nikki responding in kind, digging to the midsection, hooking some ribs off a nice left jab. Bennet a SOLID combination to the head right there. Best punches of the fight for the younger woman. Sent Reed back a step. Ten seconds to go in this one. One more solid exchange and there's the bell. Close again. But Bennet's on the board."



Tess: "And, none too soon. 39-36 with four in the books."



ROUND FIVE:



O'Dell: "Fifth starts the way the fourth ended. The fighters at middle distances, working their jabs, hooking body or crossing to the head off them. Both fighters showing excellent defense. Moving their heads and shoulders well, keeping the gloves high, picking off shots. But, plenty of solid leather getting through."



Cassie: "Sharp stuff, too, Jenny. Plenty of power behind those punches."



O'Dell: "Good right from Reed. Backed Bennet up a step. Nikki stepping in, but takes a nice flurry from Chloe that forces her to cover up. Reed retaliates to the body, hooking some ribs and then landing a nice uppercut. Good, professional stuff now, Mac, and both fighters getting some work done."



McCarthy: "And, again, it's Reed who's impressing. This is a girl with three FCBA fights who's standing in very well with a girl who's been promoted as some hot prospect."



O'Dell: "Indeed, she is. And, with about a minute to go in the first half of the fight, she's not only standing in very well, she's having the better of things. Reed bearing down on the body now, and Bennet banging back to her midsection. Ten seconds to go. Good right hand from Reed backs Bennet up and there's the bell. Close for the third straight round. Nikki."



Tess: "And, at the half, Reed a big 49-45 lead."



ROUND SIX:



O'Dell: "Still boxing at mid-range to start the sixth. Bennet working more body now. Hooking off that left jab. Reed responding in kind, not backing down an inch in the physical department. Nikki blasting leather to midsection and rib, and Bennet thumping meat right now, bringing down Reed's guard then going upstairs."



Cassie: "Getting very physical right now, Jenny."



O'Dell: "No doubt. Not a slugfest. Still good boxing. Good defense. But a lot of committing on punches as we head through the sixth round. Bennet backs up Reed with a solid right hand. Steps in, bangs some body. Nikki shoves her away, lands a nice left hook. Ladies turning, jabbing to the head, hooking to the body."



Tess: "Definitely some investment being made now, Jenny. But, I wonder if it's too late, especially with two bodies like this."



O'Dell: "I wouldn't expect this to slow either brunette down any time soon. Bennet a solid left hook and Reed responds with a straight right that sends sweat flying. Chloe backs and circles. Resets, lands a solid combination to the head. Nikki steps forward, hooks the midsection and then lands a straight right and there's the bell. Close again. Bennet."



McCarthy: "58-55. Reed still sitting pretty."



ROUND SEVEN:



O'Dell: "Bennet a big more aggressive here in the seventh. No question she knows she's behind on the cards, and she's making an effort to make up the stagger. Reed holding ground, going to the counter, looking a lot like we saw in the first round except it's BENNET who lands the big punch! BOOMING right from Chloe and Nikki's hurt!"



Cassie: "Set that up with a quick left and just put the follow on right on the BUTTON."



O'Dell: "Reed stumbles back into the ropes, and Chloe hammering away now. Bennet letting the lands go in a big way, sending volley after volley of heavy shot at Reed. No question she's looking to make the cards irrelevant and finish Nikki right now. Reed a shambles along the ropes, hanging on desperately..."



McCarthy: "Keeping the guard up, though, throwing the odd counter. Not going to make it easy on Bennet or the ref."



O'Dell: "Chloe a left hook that wobbles Nikki again! Reed looking about ready to go and the ref about ready to step in. Nikki taking heavy fire as we come into the final seconds. Older brunette in desperate shape. Only ally she has is the clock, but it's going to turn out to be a big one. There's the bell! Reed survives. Shutout, Bennet!"



Tess: "67-65. Reed still up two with three to go."



ROUND EIGHT:



O'Dell: "Bennet right after Reed. She's boring forward behind the left hand. Nikki giving ground now. Keeping the guard high. Playing defense as Bennet looks to follow up on the big round she had in the seventh. Chloe staying sound, but she's definitely turned the aggression level up to the proverbial '11'..."



McCarthy: "No question about it, Jenny. She's determined to finish here, but Reed doing a good job of managing the aggression so far."



O'Dell: "Bennet working Reed back toward the ropes. Nikki managing to stay off the cables at the moment, though, standing and fighting when necessary, then backing and circling away when she can. Reed playing for time. Bennet not going to give her any if she can help it. Reed jabbing, giving ground. Bennet stepping forward and DROPPING NIKKI WITH A BIG RIGHT HAND!"



Cassie (singing): "Turn out the liiggggghhhhtttss. The party's ooooovvverrrrrr...."



O'Dell: "Reed blown to her back, hands above her head. Bennet to a neutral corner. Referee's count at three. Four. Five. This is going to be nothing but a formality. Six. Seven. Eight. Reed has not moved an inch. Nine. TEN! It's over! Reed still out on her back as the count passes her by, and your winner by KO8 is 'The Next Big Thing', Chloe Bennet!"



Tess: "Let's take a look at that punch again. Watch as Reed circles back and left. Bennet steps forward, snaps a jab at Nikki's head. Reed moves her head to her left and BOOM! There's the follow on right, straight on the button. Nikki was out before she hit the canvas."



AFTER:



O'Dell: "Let's go up to the ring and Tess Valmore!"



Tess: "I'm with our winner, Chloe Bennet, and, Chloe, not a great start for you..."



Chloe (nodding): "She caught me, and it was a good punch. No excuses. All the credit to her. And she put me in a hole. But, it's not how you start. It's how you finish, and I finished strong."



Tess: "We talked about this during the broadcast. Was Alice Eve in your mind at all?"



Chloe: "It would have been hard not to think about it. And I was determined it wasn't going to happen again. So, I hung in there, clawed back in the fight, and found away to get the result."