Missy Peregrym vs Alessandra Ambrosio
(Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!)
 
BEFORE:
Brazilian beauty Ambrosio got a bit of a late start in the FCBA, but it's been a very solid one. She's claimed five of her first seven bouts. That being said, she's definitely stepping into some rarefied air against four-time champion Missy Peregrym, who's just about as elite as it gets. Still, Alessandra doesn't seem at all in awe of the situation or her opponent. "She's, obviously, a great fighter," says the Brazilian. "But, if I fight my best fight, I can beat her. And, that's exactly what I plan to do."

"She's not a girl to take lightly," says Missy. "I've seen what she can do. But. I also know what I can do, and that includes beating Alessandra."

ROUND ONE:

Ambrosio usually plenty aggressive, but, in a minor upset, she starts this one at range. She's got some reach, and she wants to use it on the shorter Canadian. For her part, Missy want to play the recon game. She's moving around at the edge of the Brazilian's range, moving the head and hands, picking off her jabs, not being there for any follow ups. It's a game of cat and mouse, but, the question is, who's the cat? The answer may come later, but not in these three minutes, because, for the moment at least, both fighters are content to feel out, show respect, and be very careful. As the round goes on, Alessandra begins getting some jabs home, and Missy begins penetrating for quick flurries, giving us, perhaps, a preview of what's to come as the fight goes on. But, before we get to see too much, the bell sounds. It's close, but it's Peregrym who's done more and earned the points and the 10-9 lead.

ROUND TWO:

Ambrosio getting the range a bit here. She's moving the feet more, getting square and getting her jab on. That sets Peregrym up for follow on right hands at range, and that's exactly what Alessandra's looking to do. But, if Ambrosio's scoring more from the outside, and she is, Missy's using her great feet and that patented athleticism to get to her spots mid-range, where she can land solid flurries. The result is less cat and mouse and more effort to dictate terms. And, neither fighter is entirely successful in doing so. There are times when Alessandra holds Missy outside and runs up some points. There are others when Peregrym can get where she wants to go and keep the geometry in her favor, piling up points of her own. Each is able to offset the other pretty well on the cards so that, when the bell sounds, things are, again, very close. This time, though, it's Ambrosio who grabs the points and evens the fight at 19.

ROUND THREE:

The Brazilian's beginning to make the range work for her. She's landing the left jab with more and more frequency, and that's creating problems for Missy, because Alessandra is absolutely NOT shy about following on with hard right hands. She's committing on those in a big way, and it pays off about a minute in as a BOOMING right sets Missy's knees to shaking. Peregrym's hurt and quickly covers up, but Ambrosio lets loose with a nasty combination and DOWN GOES MISSY! Place going crazy as the upstart Brazilian fairly dances to a neutral corner and watches as Peregrym struggles up off the canvas. Referee gives her the mandatory and waives Ambrosio forward, and it's an absolute blitzkrieg. Alessandra all OVER a wobbling Peregrym, pinning her to the ropes and letting her have it. Referee looking in closely, clearly ready to pounce at any moment, but Missy's a crafty veteran. She does just enough to keep him from stopping the thing and manages to survive to the bell. But, Alessandra's grabbed a 10-8 round and now leads 29-27.

ROUND FOUR:

Again, Ambrosio's no kid, but she IS a relative newcomer to the FCBA, and that lack of experience on the big stage shows up in the fourth. Now's the time to consolidate, but the Brazilian's too busy thinking about finishing. She's after Missy from the opening bell, coming forward aggressively, looking to land something big. And, Peregrym uses this to her advantage brilliantly. There are reasons Missy's a four-time champ and has been at the top of her division for the better part of the decade, and one of them is her intelligence. She understands exactly what's going on here, and how to make it work for her. She gets the guard up. She moves the feet as best she can with legs that are still a bit wonky. And, most importantly, she COUNTER PUNCHES. She allows Alessandra to fight lead, and she does her scoring in the openings Ambrosio's offense is creating. The result of this strategy is a close, two-way round instead of the one-sided romp the Brazilian wants. And, when the bell sounds, it's Missy who's not only stabilized her front but claimed the points and cut her deficit to 38-37.

ROUND FIVE:

Ambrosio back to trying to work at range, while Missy, with the legs back, returns to her efforts to get to her middle-distance spots. Again, both women are able to get their terms at times, and both are effective when they can do so. About 45 seconds in, though, that all changes. And, again, it's a right hand from Alessandra that changes it. The Brazilian lands a sharp left jab to hold the Canadian, then drops the big right and MISSY'S HURT AGAIN! And, for the second time in three rounds, Ambrosio's all in. She's determined to finish off the former champion right now, and she throws everything but the kitchen sink at her for the next two minutes. Peregrym takes her second beating of the fight, again, needing all the tricks of the trade to stay on her feet and keep the referee at bay, and, late in the round, she's out of tricks. She's on the ropes and taking heavy leather. But, just as the ref is about to step in, the bell sounds. A frustrated Alessandra turns on the referee and gives him the what for for about 15 seconds before being ordered back to her stool. It's Ambrosio in a shutout, and she's back up two, 48-46.

ROUND SIX:

Alessandra again looking to finish, and Missy, though still wobbly, able to counter with, well, the counter-punch game. Ambrosio just has no answer for this. She wants to get after the Canadian aggressively, but efforts to do that result in a face full of leather. Corner shouting at the Brazilian to get back to the jab, box, but Alessandra wants to get Peregrym out of this thing before there's time to cue the comeback. CUE THE COMEBACK! A brilliant right hand counter from Missy and Ambrosio is GOBSMACKED! It's a perfectly-timed, perfectly-executed punch and it changes everything. Ambrosio's now backing and covering and Missy's all over her, buzzing her with heavy flurries of accurate stuff. Brazilian in full retreat until she hits the ropes, where Peregrym makes her pay in a big way. Alessandra's got the hands high putting the body on sale, and Missy loads up cart after cart, tenderizing the tummy, ripping the ribs, determined to get the guard down. Ambrosio won't drop it, so Missy splits it three times in the final 30 seconds, wobbling the Brazilian's legs each time. Somehow, the taller girl makes it to the bell, but Peregrym's pitched the shutout and the lead is back to a single point, 57-56.

ROUND SEVEN:

Peregrym stalking now. Ambrosio still unsure of the legs, keeping the guard high, giving ground. She's trying to circle a bit, make things harder for Missy, but the Canadian has such great feet, she's easily able to square up and get her shot on target. Missy in full control now, using the left hand to set up hard rights, picking the Brazilian apart like she's picked apart so many opponents before. Alessandra game. She's countering in spots, trying to slow Missy down, but Peregrym's got it all rolling now, and when that happens with Missy, it's not like a snowball coming down hill, its an entire avalanche. And, just before the two minute mark, it BURIES Alessandra Ambrosio. It starts with a solid combination that wobbles the Brazilian's legs. The rest, you need to see on replay to appreciate. Alessandra goes to an earmuff and Missy steps forward, hooks the ribs with her right hand, then hammers a right hook in behind Ambrosio's left glove. Alessandra's legs give a shimmy and Missy blasts a right uppie right between her gloves. Ambrosio's head snaps back and she rag dolls to the canvas, crashing on her back and bouncing once before coming to rest, arms and legs akimbo. Game. Set. Match. The referee counts, but Alessandra never moves. It's over. And, your winner by KO7 is Missy Peregrym.

AFTER:

Missy showing her normal good sportsmanship after the fight, goes over to check on the Brazilian, who's being brought around in stages on her stool. She's all class in the post-fight, complimenting her rival. "This girl," she says, shaking her head. "I hesitate to think how good she'd be if she'd started in the FCBA six or eight years ago. She's got a ton of talent, and, if she can build up enough experience, she's going to be trouble for even the best lightweights. She gave me a fight in there. And, frankly, there aren't a ton of girls around here who can do that."