BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE CH SHAY MITCHELL VS ASHLEY GREENE
Writing: Archer     Results: Lookout
Shay: 29 YO, 5’7 ½ (1.71 m), 17-17-0 since 2011, Pretty Little Punchers
Ashley: 29 YO, 5’5 (1.65 m), 15-13-0 since3 2010, Odds & Ends Fight Studio

Before: Curious pre-fight undercurrents to this title fight. Shay and Ashley seem to be getting along just fine in the pre-fight, but social media abuzz with rumors concerning resentment with the two from their own stablemates. In Shay’s case, it’s Troian Bellisario, the #1 Bantam Contender making snarky comments about Shay’s choice in opponents. “Shay has the right to pick her challengers. I’m just saying it’s a shame to waste one just to get back at a third party—one I beat in 2015, I should add.” The “third party” seems to be Ashley O & E teammate Claire Holt. Not many remember back in 2015 when Claire became annoyed at Shay and put a “bounty” on her head. Nothing much came of it—except that Shay Mitchell apparently did not forget and offered the title shot to Ashley. “I am disappointed that Ashley went along with this cheap scheme to twist the knife just because I had a disappointing 2016,” Claire has texted.

“Claire is entitled to her opinion,” says an irritated Ashley, “I don’t know a fighter in the FCBA who would turn down a title. I am honored that Shay selected me and I’m letting Claire take her lousy 2016 record out on me!”

“I am glad that Troi remembers I am champion and get to choose my opponents,” Shay says sounding irritated herself. “I suggest Troi worry more about Danielle Panabaker and less about who I fight. I think Ashley is an underrated talent and expect this is going to be a tough fight for me. When it’s over, there will be no question about why I picked her for this fight.”

When Fight Night rolls around, Ashley is in a sexy black bikini with a halter top. Shay has gone with a white one piece with large green fern leaves on it. Black gloves for Ashley, hair in a ponytail, and black boots. Ashley in green boots and gloves with white lacings. Champ’s hair in in a long French braid down her back. Both fighters look serious and with both Claire Holt and Troian Bellisario at ringside, Shay and Ashley appear to feel they have a lot to prove in this bout.

R1:  Ashley and Shay both quick out of their corners and start firing away as they circle at mid-ring. Ashley going for the gut with her punches., Shay trying to get some overhand shots into Ashley’s head and she’s landing some good smacks into the bridge of Ashley’s nose. Ashley trying to get more evasive, but Shay’s cutting her off, now mixing in some body shots and finally a hard right to the center of Ashley’s forehead. Ashley getting more cautious as the round goes on and Shay grows her pressure (more to the body with some attention to Ashley’s impressive chest just as the round ends.) Shay Mitchell takes the first round wide.

R2: Ashley quicker on the punch as this round gets started. She lights up Shay’s chin with a darting uppercut that has the champ going backwards with a stunned look on her. Ashley quick to follow up with a swarm of hooks into the leafy green fabric across the belly of Shay’s suit. Shay looks shaken as she continues to try to back away from the on-coming Ashley, but Ashley keeping up the pressure as they slide along the ropes. Shay struggling to get her jab going, finally shifts the action out to mid-ring where she manages to stabilize the battle to the bell. However the round is clearly in Ashley’s corner as the judges fill out their cards.

R3: Shay not liking being chased around by Ashley stands her ground as the O & E fighter comes at her again. Circling movement first clockwise, the counterclockwise as the two bob and weave, trying to get an opening. Ashley going after Shay’s breast-line with retaliatory  hooks that have the champ grimacing as she jabs back at Ashley’s bigger rack. Jugmugging delighting crowd, but action then shifts to respective breadbaskets and then Shay smacks Ashley hard with another overhand shot to the bridge of the nose. Ashley knocked back on her heels and then eats a Shay hook in the gut. Ashley on the defensive, though she shows good jab to keep Shay under some degree of control to the bell. Judges give to Shay, but its close.

R4: Ashley tries to get an offensive rolling as the round gets started. She strikes hard at Shay’s body, but Shay shows some neat footwork as she slides away and fires some straight shots into Ashley’s head. Ashley ducking down, swinging around and trying to get back in. Shay keeping ahead of her and maintaining a steady punching pressure to Ashley’s shoulders and head. Ashley trying to duck down again and bring an uppercut into Shay, but the Shay slips to one side and lunges in to bring a blasting right into the side of Ashley’s head. Ashley trips forward and sprawls on her face! Shay steps back with a look of satisfaction as Ashley pushes herself up with a blank look of shock on her face. The referee moves in and starts to count. Ashley now on all fours looks ahead and apparently sees Claire Holt at ringside, arms crossed and a disgusted look on her face. Ashley shakes her head and stands up to break the count. Fight resumes with Ashley now showing a solid jab and keeps Shay at bay for the rest of the stanza. Still, knockdown assures Shay wins the round.

R5: Ashley not letting the knockdown discourage her. She is again on the attack and she is moving better to block Shay’s slick footwork. Shay finds herself engaged in close-in battle of hard hooking to the breasts, ribs and belly. Punching rates seem about equal, but Shay starting to sag under Ashley’s body bombardment and finally manages to pull back,. Champ quickly comes back and clouts some shots off Ashley’s head to keep the challenger off balance. Circling movements and then Ashley bores in again, driving her leather into Shay’s midsection and making the champ back off. Shay jabbing and then tries to come in herself with a body attack. Ashley getting her rack shelled again, but finally halts Shay with jabs that give the champ’s face a good scrubbing. Ashley awarded a closely-fought round.

R6: Ashley has taken a definite liking to Shay’s body and brings more leather crashing into it as the second half of the fight gets underway. Shay doubling up with a gasp and Ashley sees a chance brings a hammering hook into champion’s jaw. SHAY GOES DOWN! Shay’s head knocked back and her knees buckle as she pitches forward into Ashley’s legs. Ashley has to scramble back as Shay comes toppling face-first onto the canvas! Crowd goes crazy as Ashley goes skipping to the neutral corner (she shoots a triumphant look at Claire Holt who is at ringside with her mouth hanging open in shock.  Camera also catches Troian Bellisario her hands in her hair looking like she’s about to start tearing it out!) However Shay not done as she rolls to one side and pushes herself up with her right hand while using her left to make sure her jaw is still there. She takes an 8-count and then stands up. She’s pale and shaken, but firm in wanting to go on, Ashley wastes no time trying to build on the knockdown, but Shay’s willing to surrender the rest of the round for the chance to recover. Ashley keeps attacking from around the perimeter, but can get in no finishing shots. Still, it is a big knockdown for the challenger and Ashley secures the round for her side of the cards.

R7: Shay seems determined to answer the knockdown with a fresh offensive of her own. She seems to aiming to knock Ashley’s head around, but this proves to be a feint as she actually concentrates her leather on Ashley’s torso. Shay’s elbows churning like pistons as she tries to hammer Ashley’s body with her punches. Ashley starts moving and swatting back hard at Shay’s head. Shay not liking having her head struck repeatedly grows more defensive. Ashley shifts into offensive mode and gives the champion more body banging. Shay jabbing back hard to counter even as she tries to work away around Ashley, but Ashley moving with her and the back and forth punching gathers in intensity as the round goes on. Ashley finally able to make Shay back off late and she is able to gain a narrow win on the judges’ card as the round closes.

R8: Shay coming out swinging in this round. Ashley trying to duck under these punches and strikes back,. Becomes an odd sort of dance between them as they bob and weave for position. Then Ashley bites on a Shay Mitchell feint and gets caught off balance as Shay’s hard right-left combo light up her guarded jaw. ASHLEY GOES DOWN. Ashley caught hard on the jaw spins away and then toppled hard onto her side. She lays there stunned as the crowd roars and Shay scampers to neutral corner. Ashley pulls herself into a kneeling position, then slowly rises in time to beat the count. Fight resumes with Ashley keeping behind her jab while she tries to recover. Shay trying to get at her challenger ends up eating a number of shots to the mouth and chin. Shay slows down as the effects of these punches spread through her body. Ashley remains on the defensive and lets time run out. Second knockdown assures Shay she won the round, but she’s looking almost as woozy as Ashley as they go their corners.

R9: Shay seems determined she’s going to take Ashley down, but the challenger continues to make it hard. Ashley’s defensive jab making Shay pay every time she tries to force her way in. Shay is getting her shots into Ashley midsection and lighting up Ashley’s rack once again with punishing jugg jabbing. Ashley standing her ground and making Shay’s breasts and body feel her vengeful leather. Both fighters driving their tired, sweat drenched bodies on and on as the minutes tick away. Shay minds Ashley’s chin with some hard shots late in the round. Ashley covering up as Shay goes to the belly as the time runs out. Shay wins a close one, but she looks very tired as she sees Ashley battered but still standing.

R10: Ashley knows she’s behind on the cards and goes for broke with a last ditch blitz attack at the opening. Shay finds herself pounded back into her corner and her belly worked over hard as she writhes against turnbuckle. Shay desperately clinches to bring in referee to break this up. Ashley still fired-up and tries to take down the faltering champ. Shay knows she’s in trouble and fights back with all her ebbing strength. Ashley keeps being blocked by Shay, but she then circles and finds new points of attack. Shay forced  back to the ropes, she’s throwing out everything she has left, but Ashley still coming in hurling wild punches that Shay is just barely able to fend off. Wild blazing finish as Ashley continues her desperate efforts to win this fight by a knockout, She’s got Shay hiding her face in gloves while her belly is ravaged by Ashley’s last gasp punching, DING! DING! DING! Referee jumps in to stop Ashley’s punching and Shay sags against the ropes.
The two fighters then are led out to the middle of the ring. Comes back UD10 TO THE WINNER AND STILL FCBA BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPION SHAY MITCHELL!

After: Shay goes over and gives Ashley Greene a hug. Ashley nods her head, but she sounds very disappointed in talking to the press later.

“I realize it was that R8 knockdown that cost me the fight,” Ashley says while exchanging harsh looks with nearby Claire Holt. “I came SO close to pulling it out in the 10th. I just know if I’d had a few seconds more, Shay would have gone down and I’d be the champion. But she didn’t. It’s still hard to take. I know I had what it takes to beat her, but I couldn’t get it done. Coming close in a title fight is still a loss and it sucks to lose.”

Claire Holt just gives a sniff and walks out of sight, Ashley looks after her with annoyance, but says nothing about her stablemate.

Meanwhile Shay Mitchell is saying: “You all saw it. Ashley Greene gave me one tough fight. I said she would, but I still hung on to beat her. I won that fight fair and square. Sure she gave me a hard time in the 10th, but I was nowhere near going down. She think I was, but I know the truth and that’s I was better than her. That’s why I am still champion.”

Who is next? Someone asks.

Shay looks over at Troian Bellisario who is trying to look like this is of little interest to her. Shay gives Troian a sly smile and says: “I’ll have to think about it. There are a lot of deserving bantams out there. We’ll just see who I think EARNED the right to fight me for the title.”

Troian doesn’t seem to like  the sound of this and scowls at Shay. Shay gives her another sly smile and Troian abruptly departs the room with “No comment!”: fired at any ink-stained wretch from the press who dares to ask her about the not-so-secret conflict with the champion.

Excellent back and forth fight. Shay Mitchell did indeed say Ashley Greene would give her a tough fight and that’s just what the O & E fighter did. Ashley came very close to winning, but as she herself said, she still did not win. Look for Ashley to get some high quality fights in 2017 to see just how good she really is and for Shay Mitchell to find the challenges are not going to be getting any easier. Future opponents will likely be studying tape of this fight looking to see how they can finish what Ashley Greene could not. Meanwhile FCBA bantam fans can savor another great championship defense by Shay Mitchell.