BEFORE:



"She's one of the better girls I've fought to this point in my career," says Jennette with a nod. "But, this isn't a step up in class for me. I've been in the ring with Keegan and Wilkinson and Hale. I can fight and beat top flyweights. And, that's what I'm going to do tonight."



"She's only been fighting for a few years, and she's already held a championship," says Leighton. "So, clearly, this girl can fight. And, so can I. So. Strap in. It's going to be quite a ride."



ROUND ONE:



O'Dell: "Back at ringside and that's 'Stronger', by the lovely young lady making her way to ringside right now, Jennette McCurdy of Beever's Babes!"



McCarthy: "And, I'm not sure how she got an invite here, because, this girl not only has an FCBA win, she's got a good record, 7-4 career, and she's a former JMD champion!"



Tess: "Seriously, the fact that Mac did some prep work for this card is, maybe, the most stunning thing that's ever happened here at Asylum..."



Cassie: "Well, let's keep in mind that she's said something intelligent three or four times over the years..."



Tess: "Good point, BFF."



McCarthy: "SHUT. UP. BOTH. OF. YOUUUUUUUUUUUUU!"



O'Dell: "Well, the audience is going to be pretty close to blind drunk soon, but, drink up, boys, as Jennette climb into the ring and is helped off with the robe by the Beever's Babes corner crew. Fills out that gray bikini quite nicely..."



McCarthy: "A little skinny to be a Playmate, but, not bad."



O'Dell: "And, that's 'Somebody To Love' you hear pounding through the arena, and that means 'The Marco Island Mauler', Leighton Meester, is on her way to the ring."



Tess: "Big fight for both of these girls tonight, but, maybe bigger for Meester. She's kind of broken into the top level of flyweight this year with that win over Brenda Song, and, if she could follow up with a win over McCurdy tonight, she's going to be heading into title shot territory."



O'Dell: "Right now, she's headed into the ring, where she's helped off with the robe by Jewel and Neve to reveal that pink and red two-piece she likes. And, we're about ready to go. Time for some picks. Tess likes Leighton. Mac?"



McCarthy: "Like I said, this McCurdy kid isn't the typical Dancing Hooker opponent. But. Meester IS a typical Dancing Hooker. Jennette!"



O'Dell: "Cassie?"



Cassie: "I agree with Tess!"



O'Dell: "Split panel. Let's see who's right. McCurdy wants to close and get physical early. No surprise from a former JMD champion. Jennette not the biggest flyweight, but she's a swarmer who's not afraid to get in and bang with anyone. Meester, on the other hand, likes to create space and box..."



McCarthy: "This is the REAL reason why Front Street doesn't fight JMD. It's not about any of the other stuff. Weirdo's girls don't have the guts to stand and bang."



Tess: "Says the woman who got BABIFIED standing and banging with Neve Campbell and Allison Mack..."



McCarthy: "SHUT. UP. WALMARRRTTTT!"



O'Dell: "I can't IMAGINE anyone is going to be conscious by the time this card ends...and that might include ME. Anyway, IN the ring, we're seeing that contrast of styles as Jennette tries to work in and Leighton uses that good left jab of hers to try to keep the shorter woman at bay. So far, both woman having some success..."



Cassie: "And, the winner of this fight could well be determined by which of them is able to better dictate terms as we go along."



O'Dell: "Could well be. We're into the final seconds of the first round now. McCurdy bobbing forward, works a little body. Leighton shoves her off, works the left hand, moves the feet to keep distance, and there's the bell. Close first to Meester, who'll definitely be happy to claim the 10-9 lead in what promises to be a good fight."



ROUND TWO:



O'Dell: "McCurdy tucking the head and bobbing forward again as we start the second. Blonde determined to take the fight to Meester and Leighton just as determined not to get into a slugfest with the former JMD champion. Leighton using a back slide step to create angles and distance. Jennette working hard to counter the former, close the latter..."



McCarthy: "I like what I'm seeing from this kid. She's got guts AND smarts."



O'Dell: "Meester lands a solid combination, stops Jennette in her tracks. McCurdy right back forward, ducks a whistling right and STAGGERS LEIGHTON WITH A LEFT HOOK! McCurdy springing up to land that left hand and Meester GOBSMACKED! The blonde quickly all in after the older woman, winging away with both hands..."



Cassie: "Getting a little wild here, but she's effectively wild. She's suppressing Leighton and backing her up with the volume, even though she's missing quite a bit."



O'Dell: "And, she's doing plenty of landing, too. McCurdy's finally got Meester on the ropes and she is WORKING her OVER right now. Leighton tying up, but Jennette shoving off, working some body, then going back upstairs. Meester countering in spots, but it's McCurdy romping right to the bell, grabbing the second wide."



Tess: "And we're all even at 19."



ROUND THREE:



O'Dell: "McCurdy putting on the pressure to start the third. She's swarming Meester, who's giving ground, circling with that drop step, trying to maintain distance. Jennette not having it. She's walking through everything Leighton's throwing off the back foot, letting the hands go when she gets into range."



Tess: "I'm going to echo a little of what Mac said last round. Very impressed with McCurdy tonight. That JMD belt isn't going to be the only one she ever wins...as long as she moves up to bantam and doesn't have to fight Cassandra Lynn, of course..."



McCarthy: "I just threw up in my mouth a little..."



O'Dell: "McCurdy continuing to pressure. Meester doing a better job of parrying now. She's got those legs back under her, and she's using the jab very well to slow the blonde down. Jennette resolute, though, just keeps coming, getting leather on at every opportunity. She's getting plenty of body work done now."



Cassie: "Again, no surprise for a girl who's fought a representative amount of JMD."



O'Dell: "Definitely not. Final thirty seconds of the third round. McCurdy stalking, Meester boxing. Leighton trying to establish that jab length distance, where she can follow on with right hands. The blonde doing a good job of slipping and blocking, sliding by punches to get into range. And, there's the bell. Close. McCurdy, who's now up 29-28."



ROUND FOUR:



O'Dell: "Pattern set here, but terms still under negotiation. Each fighter getting some of what she wants, but neither getting enough. Jennette bobbing, weaving, slipping a left hand, working the midsection. Meester standing in and banging back now, getting into it with the younger fighter inside the proverbial phone booth..."



McCarthy: "Meester doesn't want to be in here with Jennette..."



O'Dell: "AND THERE'S A RIGHT HAND AND MCCURDY STUMBLES BACKWARD AND NEARLY GOES DOWN! A short right hand from Meester and Jennette is HURT! Now, Leighton coming forward and the blonde ceding canvas rapidly. Meester coming in behind the left, backing Jennette up with hard right hands..."



Cassie: "McCurdy really glassy eyed right now. If Meester can find another big one..."



O'Dell: "Jennette on the cables and taking. She's keeping the guard high, putting the body on sale. Leighton hooking some ribs, tenderizing some midsection, then working back upstairs with a solid right hook that shook Jennette again. Referee looking in closely, but McCurdy going to survive it, because there's the bell. Meester wide."



Tess: "And, we're even at 38 after four."



ROUND FIVE:



O'Dell: "Meester now on the attack. The Front Streeter doesn't want space, she wants to close and finish Jennette. McCurdy in a fighting retreat, banging back as best she can but unable to stop Leighton's offensive at the moment. Meester using that left hand nicely, putting Jennette in positions where she can drop hard rights..."



McCarthy: "Jennette playing this smart, though, she's making Meester pay a price but not taking more punishment than she needs to."



O'Dell: "RIGHT HAND, MCCURDY! A whistling counter from Jennette and now MEESTER'S hurt! McCurdy immediately to the offensive, showering Leighton with shell. Meester backing and covering, taking fire from seemingly everywhere as Jennette just buzzsaws the older woman back into the ropes..."



McCarthy: "I LOVE this kid!"



Cassie: "No question she's impressive. Still well short of 20 fights, but she is DANGEROUS in there..."



O'Dell: "And, if you don't believe us, just ask Leighton after this one's over. Jennette's turned this thing completely around and is taking the fight to Meester. Leighton in the high guard, trying to counter here and there, but mostly tryin to get out of this round. McCurdy just POURING it on in the final seconds, but there's the bell. Meester still standing, but Jennette the winner wide."



Tess: "48-47 for McCurdy. We thought we'd see a good one. We weren't wrong."



ROUND SIX:



O'Dell: "The back and forth continuing here as now it's McCurdy applying the pressure and Meester in retreat. The blonde trying to consolidate after a big fifth round. Leighton using that jab, slowing down Jennette's approach some, but McCurdy working her way past the defenses, banging some body..."



Tess: "Meester looks to have shaken off the worst of the damage from last round. Moving pretty well, even if it's mainly in reverse."



O'Dell: "And, in reverse it is. Because Jennette's coming forward steadily, forcing the pace right now. Going back to the body. The blonde very comfortable working there. Meester giving ground with that slide step, trying to keep distance established, but the blonde not allowing it. She's closing at every opportunity."



McCarthy: "More good stuff from this kid. Got to love a blonde with a name like hers!"



O'Dell: "McCurdy closing, working body again and GETTING ROCKED BY A RIGHT HOOK! Meester CLOBBERS Jennette with a short hook and McCurdy stumbling backward and DROPPED WITH A STRAIGHT RIGHT HAND! McCurdy pounding the canvas in frustration. Meester to a neutral corner. Count at three. Four. Five. Six. Jennette to her feet at seven. Referee gives her the mandatory and HERE COMES LEIGHTON. Meester going all in now, battering McCurdy with a big flurry that sends her to the ropes, but there's the bell! End of another action-packed round!"



Cassie: "And we've got another lead change. The 10-8 round sends Meester on top 57-56."



ROUND SEVEN:



O'Dell: "Leighton looking to consolidate now, as the back-and-forth continues in this one. Meester working the left hand. She's not coming forward, not applying a ton of pressure. Instead, she's back to boxing at range. Are you surprised by this, ladies? Surprised Meester isn't going for the finisher?"



Cassie: "Not really. McCurdy's legs looked pretty good coming off the stool. And, with as many big punches as we've seen, now might be the time to settle this down."



McCarthy: "That and the fact that, as I mentioned before, Weirdo's fighters don't like to mix it up."



O'Dell: "McCurdy boxing with right now, not taking any chances herself. She's working forward a little, slowly slipping past Meester's jab, but definitely not forcing the issue at the moment. And, these being Meester's terms, no surprise she's having the better of things, but, not by a lot. McCurdy's shown she can play this game..."



McCarthy: "Again, I like this kid a lot. There's a lot she can do. In fact, I think she might be as good as any flyweight in the world!"



Cassie: "I wonder where Brenda Song is right now. Could be ANYwhere..."



McCarthy: "You two little pipsqueaks wouldn't DARE..."



O'Dell: "Calm down, Mac, and let's concentrate on the final seconds of the round. Leighton with that good left jab, doing a pretty good job of controlling Jennette with it down the stretch. McCurdy bobbing, weaving, closing, taking some body, and there's the bell. Close one to Meester, who pads the lead a bit."



Tess: "67-65 with three to go. Not an insurmountable hole, but McCurdy needs to get busy."



ROUND EIGHT:



O'Dell: "Jennette looking to get busy. She's upping the pressure a bit now, working forward with more urgency, not going to box with here in the eighth. Meester managing with the left, slowing the blonde down with it. McCurdy keeping after it, though. She moves very well, and is plenty slick when it comes to getting past defenses..."



Cassie: "And, that's something you DON'T learn in JMD, where there's not a lot of defense played."



O'Dell: "McCurdy working some more body now. She's willing to grind and bang in there. Meester banging back, hooking Jennette's ribs. Ladies tying up, both shoving free at the same time and a SHARP exchange as they do so! Both fighters landed good punches right there. And ANOTHER big exchange follows!"



McCarthy: "This is what the kid needs. Keep this up and she'll take the Dancing Hooker out of there!"



O'Dell: "Meester drop-stepping backward, going to the jab again. McCurdy again forward aggressively. She's determined to create more exchanges like we just saw. Meester giving some ground, moving the feet, turning the blonde. McCurdy forward to grab some more body and there's the bell. Another close one. Jennette."



Tess: "76-75 with two to go. Anybody's fight, and that's no surprise as good as this fight has been."



ROUND NINE:



O'Dell: "McCurdy again wants to force the pace. She's even more aggressive now in the ninth. I'm guessing she heard from the corner between rounds that she's behind and needs these last two, and there's no doubt she's going to make every effort to get them. Meester again wants to manage, box at range..."



McCarthy: "Keep after her, kid. You'll get her. She'll fold up down the stretch like the Dancing Hookers always do."



O'Dell: "McCurdy in Meester's face working some body. Leighton a good right hand JENNETTE STAGGERS HER WITH A RIGHT HOOK!"



McCarthy: "I TOLD you! I TOLD you she'd fold up!"



O'Dell: "McCurdy with a BIG flurry and Meester back against the ropes covering up. Jennette smelling blood in the water now. She's going all in to finish this thing right now..."



McCarthy: "She NEEDS to! You can't rely on these hometown judges and referees! I was robbed TWICE here..."



Tess: "Oh, for..."



O'Dell: "Thirty seconds remaining in the ninth. McCurdy punching for glory here. Meester up against the cables, covering up, jabbing back when she can. Jennette searching high an low for that 'off' switch, but not finding it. Ten seconds left in the round. Good right hand, McCurdy, but there's the bell. Jennette wide."



Cassie: "And, we're all even again, this time at 85."



ROUND TEN:



O'Dell: "Fight hanging in the balance as we start the tenth. This thing dead even and there for the taking. And, McCurdy is intent on taking it. She's forward immediately, taking the fight to Meester, who's banging back now, standing flat-footed, willing to fight in this phone booth. Nothing subtle about what's happening now."



McCarthy: "This is McCurdy's game and Meester's being forced to play it. Exactly like I said. Just stay after her and she'll fold up."



O'Dell: "Leighton not exactly folding up. She's holding her own in close, digging body and banging like Allison Mack or Neve Campbell. Or, Jennette McCurdy, because this kid is in her ELEMENT right now. She's downstairs, up, back down, back up. Very effective in tight, moving head and hands, showing an awful lot of slickness for a girl as young as she is and with the limited experience she has..."



Cassie: "I've said it before. I continue to be impressed."



O'Dell: "SOLID right hand from Meester. BOOMING retort from McCurdy and a BLISTERING counter from Leighton and Jennette is staggered. Leighton a BIG combination and DOWN GOES MCCURDY!"



Tess: "That last right hand in there was NASTY..."



O'Dell: "Meester to a neutral corner. Count at three. Four. Five. Six. McCurdy on her back. Rolling to her belly at seven. Eight. Hands and knees at nine. TEN! It's over! Jennette can't get off her knees and your winner by KO10 after on heck of a fight is 'The Marco Island Mauler', Leighton Meester!"



AFTER:



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



Tess: "I have our winner, Leighton Meester, and, Leighton, what a fight!"



Leighton: "I'm not surprised this girl's winning fights. I'm not surprised she's won a title. She's as good as just about anyone I've fought. Keeps coming. Hits hard. Can take a punch. She's going places."



Tess: "I suspect the same could be said of you..."



Leighton (nodding): "This was going to be a big year for me and it has been. I've proven that I'm an elite flyweight and climbed to the top of the pecking order. It's my time now. The Leighton Meester Era in the Front Street flyweight division is now underway!"