Posted 9/30/16  4:58 PM

Alicia Vikander vs. Emilia Clarke
(Words: FS / Results: Lookout)

BEFORE: 

Clarke's managed only one win across two organizations this year. She's mostly been working in the BBU, and the lone FCBA result was a KO defeat at the hands of Kendrick. Still, the brunette is a girl who's shown some chops and excellent flyweight power. And, she believes that will translate against the bantamweight Vikander. "She has some height and size, no doubt," says Clarke. "But, I'm going to come in a little curvier than normal, and I'll take the fight to her. She'll wilt. Watch and see."

Unlike Clarke, the Swede's had a pretty good year, banking a 3-2 record so far and showing signs of becoming a hot prospect in just her first season in the FCBA. And, like her rival, she's got plenty of confidence. "I know what she's about. She pressures girls, wears them down with volume. I know how to handle girls like that. And, I'll handle Emilia."

ROUND ONE:

Contrast in styles immediately evident. Vikander always starts with the jab, and, she'll either use it to create distance or as cover fire to come forward and force her rival into retreat. Facing a pressure fighter, though, she wisely decides on the former tactic, and it serves her well early. Alicia again showing a patience that's surprising in a girl with her limited experience. She takes her time. Works the left hand. Gets it on accurately. And mostly frustrates Emilia's attempts to close. Vikander, as always, moves the feet well. She's an athletic girl and it shows in the footwork. For her part, Clarke is resolute. She's determined to get forward, swarm the Swede. And, in spots, she succeeds, forcing Alicia back, grabbing the initiative. But, mostly, it's Vikander who's dictating terms, so, it's no surprise that, when the round ends, it's Alicia who's grabbed the points, albeit in close fashion.

ROUND TWO:

Clarke finding some space now. She's getting past the left hand and slipping forward, going body, then head, backing up Alicia, making her cover, generally making things miserable for the Swede. Vikander seems to have no answers once the smaller woman gets inside. Then, she finds some. She ties up, wrestles around, does whatever she can and whatever she needs to do to slow her rival down. Clarke, for her part, simply keeps working. She wrestles free as much as possible, lands as much leather as she can. She's not in rhythm, not getting nearly as much work done as she'd like, but, unlike in the first, Emilia's the one dictating terms, and it's working out just fine as far as the cards are concerned. Again, it's a close round, as Vikander mostly frustrates Clarke after the first minute, but the Brit gets the points and evens things at 19.

ROUND THREE:

Clarke forward more aggressively. She's determined to force the pace now. She's taking fire to get where she wants to be, but, she's getting there, and, when she does, she's wasting no time banging away at the head and body of the Swede. Vikander giving some ground, circling away in spots, trying to find a way to slow this down. And. She finds one. It's a straight right hand that catches Clarke coming in. Emilia wobbles, stumbles, nearly goes down. She's instantly covering up and Vikander loads all the guns and fires them at once. Shell is hitting poor Emilia from everywhere. She's staggering around the ring taking a terrific beating but refusing to go down. Referee, though, looking about to make all that academic when Clarke is backed to the ropes and absolutely HAMMERED for nearly 30 seconds. Before he pulls the trigger, though, the bell rings. It's Vikander and wide, and, while the scorecards say 29-28, Emilia's face tells a different story.
 
ROUND FOUR:

Desperate times for Clarke. The English beauty doesn't have the legs to do much moving, and Alicia knows it. She's zeroing in with the jab, using it to set up big right hands. Emilia taking the shell and staying afloat. The Brit is more than a little game, digging deep, hanging on, backing and covering, working hard to stay off the ropes. And, somehow, she manages to do it. It's cold comfort, though, as Alicia keeps piling on the leather and piling up the hurt. Vikander seems to be seconds away from stopping Clarke several times in the round, but, again, somehow, Emilia manages to stave off defeat. And, in the final thirty seconds of the round, she actually firms up her front and begins countering strongly for the first time since the early parts of the third round. At the bell, it's Vikander wide again, though, and the Swede now leads 39-37.

ROUND FIVE:

Clarke getting an earful in the corner between rounds. Told to get back in the thing or her corner will stop it. Emilia gets back in the thing. Amazingly, she finds the legs to begin coming forward again, and do so effectively. Clarke's slipping Vikander's jab, crowding her, working body, making the taller woman uncomfortable. Alicia using back steps and slide steps, actually doing some full retreating, circling away again and again to reset. And, again, she's able to slow down Clarke's offense with these tactics. And, if anyone wonders why Vikander's on the verge of being a hot prospect, just watch how well she adjusts, watch how well she problem solves on the fly. This is a smart cookie, and she demonstrates that in the fifth. Still, though, Clarke keeps coming, keeps finding space, and keeps scoring. And, she does enough to grab the round close and cut Alicia's lead to 48-47.

ROUND SIX: 

Vikander leaning on the left now. She's doubling, even tripling the jab. She's determined to keep Emilia off and leave her hanging outside on the end of Swedish punches where follow on Swedish right hands can find her. Alicia calm, cool, patient. Clinical. Not a term that's usually used in a fighter's sixth fight, but one you can safely use here. The term for Clarke? Determined. Because, through all the shell, through all the fire, Emilia is determined to take the fight to Alicia. Here and there, she gets inside and lands strong flurries to the head and body. Until. She lands one VERY strong flurry with about 45 seconds to go in the round. Vikander wobbles, stumbles, nearly goes down. And. Emilia is all IN. This is what a fighter like Clarke LIVES for. A wounded opponent. Ready to go. Turn up the head. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. Throw everything you've got. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. AND. DOWN. GOES. VIKANDER! It's not one punch, but the accumulated damage of several that sends the Swede crashing to her left side. Clarke leaps away, fist in the air, confident Alicia's not getting up. And. She's right. The count passes a slumbering Vikander by, and your winner by KO6 is Emilia Clarke!

AFTER: 

Clarke jubilant. This is a girl who's shown a lot of FCBA potential, but hasn't had many opportunities. And, she's clearly hoping that may now change. "She's big and she can hit," says Emilia with a broad smile. "But, I can hit as hard as any flyweight in the BBU OR the FCBA. I just keep coming at you. And, eventually, I'll GET you, just like I got Alicia!"