Adrianne Palicki vs. Christina Hendricks
(Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!)

BEFORE:

Hendricks is just about as physical as any woman in the FCBA, and the redhead isn't at all concerned about having to deal with the power of "The Chin Checker". "Give Adrianne credit. She's always been willing to step up to girls with welter power. But. She hasn't felt power like mine. Not all night long. But, she will tonight."

"Yes, she can hit," says Adrianne. "But, it's not like I haven't been in with girls who can hit before. Thing is, she's never stepped in the ring with a girl with my one-punch power before. And, she's about to find out why that matters."

ROUND ONE:

As you might expect in a fight featuring two girls that hit like trucks, everyone shows plenty of respect early. Palicki goes to the jab and uses her length and reach advantage very well. Christina keeps the guard high. She works forward, but, only to a point. She's not closing, instead stepping just inside Palicki's jab to ranges where the redhead can punch. Hendricks moves quite a bit and shows pretty good feet for a girl with her build. She also shows plenty of slickness, slipping punches and showing angles, all in the name of fouling up Palicki's sights. And, that high guard is plenty effective, allowing Christina to pick off punches and frustrate the taller woman's attempts to get her offense going. Neither fighter gets punches put together very effectively, and neither gets a ton of scoring done, but, despite the excellent defense shown by the redhead, Palicki gets enough work done with the long left to grab the round close and lead 10-9.

ROUND TWO:

Hendricks a little more aggressive now. She's got her recon in and she's now moving into the fight plan itself. She's working forward, closing, banging body. Lustily. Palicki trying to be surgical with the jab, and, at times, she succeeds. When she does, she leaves Christina hanging outside where the younger woman can follow on with nice flurries. But, when Hendricks can work past, the redhead takes control, getting very physical and showing anyone watching exactly how you go about the inside game. She drops her level, hooks every inch of available body, uses the shoulder to lever, shoves out of ties, and generally makes life miserable for the lovely Adrianne. Palicki bangs back as best she can, and doesn't get overwhelmed, but this is Christina's game, not hers, and that's very apparent when Hendricks is dictating. At the bell, it's close, as Adrianne's done enough at range to offset some of Hendricks' interior work, but not all of it. Hendricks claims the points and evens things at 19.

ROUND THREE:

More pressure from Hendricks. Christina still being sound, still keeping the guard up and moving the head, working past the jab instead of trying to walk through it, but she's definitely turning up the heat. She's found something that works, and she's doubling down on it, getting right in Adrianne's grill and banging. Palicki trying to tie up, trying to shove off, doing anything she can to get some space, but, none of it works. Christina's taking control of this thing and giving Palicki's body a terrific beating. As the round goes on, Hendricks begins working upstairs more, and she's landing shot solid enough to back Palicki up in spots. Sceej corner shouting for their girl to move, but Hendricks is smothering her, and there doesn't seem to be a thing "The Chin Checker" can do about it. Things are pretty grim down the stretch, with Adrianne taking a pounding to the bell. It's Hendricks wide and the redhead now leads 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:

Hendricks right back at it, coming forward aggressively and working body. Palicki tying up, trying to force breaks and get some space that way, but Christina able to shove her off and keep working. Finally, about 45 seconds in, the fighters are so tangled that the ref restarts. AND PALICKI STAGGERS HENDRICKS! It's a picture perfect one-two. A hard left jab that stops the redhead and a nice right cross that buckles her knees. And, this thing's turned completely around. Christina now covering up, taking fire from a fired-up Palicki. Adrianne all gun platform now, extending on her punches, throwing shell with both hands. Hendricks being forced back. Palicki stepping into the breach, but maintaining gunnery range. She's looking for the finisher, but Hendricks defending well and her sturdy legs are able to withstand the shot that gets through. She takes a pounding to the bell, however, and, when it rings, Adrianne's got it wide and we're even at 38.

ROUND FIVE:

Palicki looking to follow up now, getting off early with both hands. Hendricks, however, seems to have shaken off most of the damage from last round and she bangs right back. Result is a nasty 45 second firefight that sees both women landing bomb after bomb as both attempt to impose will and neither is able to do it. At that point, Palicki gets back to boxing and Hendricks begins working forward again. Adrianne counters that with a slow circle with a drop step, creating a little distance and making it more difficult for the redhead to get into phone booth range. Doesn't stop Christina from doing it in spots, though, and, when she does, she tenderizes as much body as she can before Adrianne can tie her up and force a break. It's good, back and forth stuff into the final minute, with both fighters getting some of what they want, but neither getting all of it. Then, Palicki gets all of Hendricks. It's another beautiful one-two. A jab to snap the head back and a perfectly-timed right cross in behind the left glove of the redhead. And. DOWN GOES CHRISTINA! Hendricks crumples into a heap at Adrianne's feet. Palicki quickly to a neutral corner, but, there's no need to rush. Hendricks is OUT, unmoving through the count, chin completely CHECKED. It's OVER! And your winner by KO5 is Adrianne Palicki!

AFTER:

Hendricks brought slowly around. She fought very well against a very good fighter tonight, but, the danger of facing a girl with the kind of power Palicki has is, things can go from great to massive suckitude in record time. Adrianne all smiles in the post-fight. "Look," she says, "There's no question I'm an elite lightweight. I just need to work regularly to keep reminding everyone. Well, I'm doing that now, and, if anyone's sleeping on me, they're in for a rude awakening."