Jennette McCurdy versus Hayley Orrantia
(Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!)

BEFORE: 

This battle between two of the FCBA's most talented young flyweights is hotly anticipated. Both have shown signs of having what it takes to compete for titles in the ultra-competitive flyweight division, especially McCurdy, who has already put together an impressive run to the JMD Titles and owns a win over Ashley Benson and a pair over Michelle Keegan. Orrantia started by shocking veteran Christina Ricci, and, while the results, as you might expect, have been uneven since, there's little doubt Hayley has the goods. And, neither of the young fighters is lacking in confidence, either.

"I've beaten better girls than Hayley," says Jennette with a nod. "And everyone, including Hayley, knows it."

"See, here's where Jennette's making her mistake," says Orrantia without a hint of a smile. "She THINKS she's beaten better girls than me. She hasn't. And, tonight, she's going to find out just how good Hayley Orrantia is."

ROUND ONE:

Any viewing of video on these two fighters would make clear exactly what was likely to happen at the bell. Both blonde and brunette like to fight in close, bang, work body, and, with both fighters wanting the same terms, you'd expect those terms to quickly be agreed upon. And, you would not be wrong. This isn't exactly phone booth stuff, mind. And, both fighters are moving the feet, head, hands. But, the idea here is to get in the other girl's grill and thump her. And, that's exactly what this pair of 24-year-olds does from the opening bell. There's body work. There's work to the head. There's a little clinching and some wrestling around. But, mainly, it's good, solid boxing at short and middle distances with both fighters playing angles and distance and neither being able to gain any control or much of an advantage. As the round goes along, McCurdy starts to get the better of things, but only just. It's enough, however, for her to claim the first close and take the 10-9 lead.

ROUND TWO:

Right back to banging, and now things are getting hot and heavy. This is about who's going to punk, and neither fighter plans to be the one to do that. Hard shot is met by hard shot. It's still sound stuff, mind. There's defense being played and no one's getting sloppy, but, as the round goes on, more and more bombs are flying, and, slowly but surely, it's McCurdy who begins to gain the advantage. Jennette's landing cleaner, and, as a result, she begins backing up the brunette. And, then all that JMD experience takes over and the blonde goes RACK and in a big way. Orrantia's clearly surprised by this turn of events and actually drops the guard to protect her bust line. Which is JUST what Jennette was hoping for. A short right hook and Orrantia is HURT! Guard comes up quickly now, but the damage is done and McCurdy's on the rampage, working body, head, rack, for all she's worth. Hayley shabby, forced back to the ropes and given a thorough thrashing right to the bell. When it rings, Jennette's claimed the round wide and leads 20-18.

ROUND THREE:

McCurdy looking to finish now. She's after Hayley from the opening seconds. Orrantia, though, shows a lot more savvy than a girl of her limited experience should have. She backs, covers, plays the counter, slowly bogs down the McCurdy offensive. Soon, the brunette has stablized her front and she's back on even terms. McCurdy trying to press the issue, wants to get back on the offensive, gets a little sloppy as a result, and Orrantia begins having the better of things, taking advantage of openings and nailing Jennette with some hard shots. McCurdy quickly reigns herself in and gets back to work. What happens next isn't exactly artistic, but it's plenty effective. This is good, solid banging at short and middle distances. Head. Body. And, oh, yes, now that the blonde has crossed that Rubicon, rack, too. Right to the bell, it's good, two-way stuff. And, when the smoke clears, there's nothing it it. It's an even round, leaving Jennette up 30-28.

ROUND FOUR:

Young flys right back at one another, neither hard to find. Just look up, and your opponent will be right in your grill. Again, both fighters determined to impose will here, but neither willing to have it imposed. Then, all that changes. It's one punch. A short right hook. That slams into Jennette's rack. McCurdy gasps and freezes, and Hayley goes to work, letting the hands go and sending Jennette staggering backward under a barrage of heavy leather. It's all the blonde can do to stay on her feet as Orrantia opens up with everything she has and begins emptying the magazines. McCurdy taking and taking, doing almost nothing in response. By the final minute, she's rope bound and taking a thumping even worse than the one she handed out in the second. Referee looking closely, but the blonde's doing enough to stay alive. That's all she can manage, however, and, at the bell, it's Hayley wide and Orrantia's cut the lead to a single point, 39-38.

ROUND FIVE:

Now, it's Orrantia looking to finish. The brunette very, very clinical for a fighter who hasn't reached double digits in FCBA fights yet. She works the left hand, fires rights on behind, backs Jennette up, keeps her on the back foot, and sends plenty of heavy leather flying. McCurdy tries to stabilize, like Hayley did in the third and Orrantia goes rack AGAIN, thumping a vicious, short combination into Jennette's jugs that gets the blonde desperately clinching. Orrantia shoves off, backs McCurdy up with more hard shot to the head, then goes right back to the rack. Jennette drops the guard to cover up the assets and the brunette makes her pay with a short uppercut that sends the blonde STEPPIN' IN FENCE POST HOLES! And, Hayley's on her like a pack of crazed dogs. Orrantia letting everything fly, rocking Jennette with combinations to the head before DROPPING HER WITH A BRUTAL RIGHT CROSS TO THE JUG! Jennette goes down on her face, cradling her rack and Hayley's quickly to a neutral corner to watch the count. McCurdy tries twice to push to her knees, but she CAN'T. She settles back to the mat, gloves at her chest as the count passes her by. It's OVER! And your winner by KO5 is Hayley Orrantia!

AFTER: 

Hayley flashing that beautiful smile for all to see. "I knew what she'd do," the triumphant brunette says, her chest still heaving. "She's all about banging and getting physical in there, but, what she DIDN'T know is, I'm stronger and sturdier than she is. She was playing a losing game with me. She didn't know that. But I did. So, I was more than happy to play it."