Adrianne Palicki vs. Kelly Brook
(Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!)

BEFORE:

Two of the FCBA's big hitters getting together for this one, and, like most of the people in the audience and the expert observers, neither fighter is counting on this going the distance.

"Everyone knows Adrianne can hit," says Kelly with a nod. "But, so can I. And, the difference between us is in the chassis. I plan to go body on her from the first minute of the fight and make this into a war of attrition. And, there's no way a girl built like HER is winning a war of attrition against ME."

"Well, Kelly's definitely sturdy," says Palicki with a hint of a smile. "And, I'm sure she's going to want to slug with me. But, here's what she's forgetting. When you're in the ring with me, it can all be over in an instant. I don't need attrition. Just one punch."

ROUND ONE:

Brook forward with the guard high and the head tucked. Brit wants to crowd Palicki, bang with her, not allow her to extend on punches. Adrianne wants distance, and, at time, she gets it. When that happens, it's Palicki who's in control. The long reach, the accurate jab, the hard right hands, all of those things combine to give The Chin Checker the advantage. At other times, though, Brook gets in close and creates that war of attrition she talked about before the fight, working body, wrestling around, banging the odd shot to the head. And, it's here where the Brit has the edge. She's able to move Palicki around some, and to get plenty of scoring done to the ribs and midsection. Nobody gets all of what they want, and, in fact, nobody gets enough of what they want, but both fighters get some, and the result is a close round. At the bell, it's narrow for Brook, who leads 10-9.

ROUND TWO:

Kelly now getting past Adrianne's jab regularly, and, as a result, Brit taking control of the fight. She's right in Palicki's grill, banging heavy, shot to the body. The American works to get the range she wants, shoving off, tying up, but Brook's strong, sturdy legs keep her from being dislodged and her upper body strength allows her to work out of a lot of the clinches. Palicki a bit frustrated by the middle of the round. Kelly leaning on her, making her take weight, pinking up her rib cage, doing all the things Brook promised to do in the pre-fight and doing them all very, very well. Down the stretch, Brook backs up the taller fighter with a series of heavy barrages. Adrianne's not hurt, but she's feeling the power behind all that leather. The bell comes as a relief to the American, who's lost it wide and now trails 20-18.

ROUND THREE:

Palicki embraces the brawl. Instead of trying to keep Brook at range, Adrianne decides to get into the phone booth with the busty Brit and bang with her. Result is a grinding round that sees very little movement and a ton of body work. Both fighters digging hard to belly, ribs, any legal area of flesh below the bust line. Kelly has the edge early, using her shoulder to lever the American, unbalance her, create openings, but Adrianne adjusts to that, keeps her feet set, rallies in the second half of the round, beating Brook at her own game. By the final thirty seconds, there's not much in it at all. Then, Adrianne backs Kelly up with a hard uppercut to the chin and lands a pair of solid flurries that are enough to get her just past the Brit at the finish line. It's Palicki by the slimmest of margins, and, after three, Brook's lead is 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:

Brawling over. Having fought on Brook's terms in the last round, Palicki decides the next one will be on hers. Rangy beauty begins a jab and circle routine the likes of which you don't see much at this weight. But, Adrianne's plenty athletic enough to move like a smaller woman, and that's exactly what she does. She gets the long left on target, keeping Brook at bay, then drops in those hard rights, touching up the beautiful Brit and scoring heavily. Kelly mostly frustrated the entire stanza. She can't close and is getting suppressed. Unable to get off, her own heavy shell stays in the magazines while Palicki peppers her with fire. By the final minute, Brook's getting backed up and Palicki's actually coming forward, piling on the heavy rights. At the bell, it's Adrianne wide and the cards are now even at 38 a piece.

ROUND FIVE:

Brook adjusts nicely. She's getting her own feet moving now, tucking the chin, keeping the gloves high, moving the head, working past Adrianne's jab again to close and bang. We're almost where we were in the first, with Palicki scoring well as Kelly moves forward, while Brook has the advantage when she gets in close and gets physical with her rival. Brook's again using the shoulder for leverage, unbalancing Adrianne in close. Palicki's clinching, forcing breaks, getting Kelly back outside where Adrianne can extend on punches and score points with the left jab followed by those heavy rights. It's close into the final minute and then...BOOM! DOWN GOES KELLY! It's the big right hand from Adrianne and Brook is blown to her back! Palicki to a neutral corner to watch the count, but it's a formality! Kelly's an unmoving Maltese cross in the middle of the ring! It's OVER! And your winner by KO5 is The Chin Checker, Adrianne Palicki!

AFTER:

Adrianne feeling good in the post-fight, and also, as usual, plenty classy. "She's some kind of fighter," she says of her fallen opponent. "Hits like a truck and physical as all get out. But, like I said coming in, attrition is a tactic that isn't going to work against me...because I only need one punch. Just one. And, that's all I'll need against you, too, Adriana. Just one."