Missy Peregrym vs. Taylor Cole
(Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!)

BEFORE:

Not much hype needed for this one, featuring a pair of the top lights in the world sporting eight titles between them. And, as one would expect from ladies of this caliber, both plenty confident coming in.

"I beat her once," says Missy with a smile. "Took her title, too. I know how good she is and how hard she hits. But, I also know the blueprint I need to follow. And, I'll follow it right to having my hand raised again."

"Been waiting awhile," says Taylor with a smile of her own, "To get her in the ring again. I should have had her the last time. Might have pruned her at light right there. Didn't get that done, and it's way too late now. But, I CAN still beat her, and that's exactly what I'm going to do."

ROUND ONE:

Taylor wants to set up and get the gun platform stuff going early. Missy's been here with the rangy Texan before, and she's not afraid to go there again. She gets into a half-crouch, tucks the head, moves the feet, looks to box with. BOOM! Cole's been here before, too, and she's laid a trap. She snaps out a hard jab, and, when Missy slips it by moving her head to the right, Cole BLASTS home a right hand and Peregrym's HURT! Less than a minute into the first the Canadian's on wobbly legs and the Texan's all in. Cole batters Missy back into the ropes and lets her have it with both hands. Peregrym game, hanging on, rolling with, trying to counter, but it's Taylor who's piling on the hurt, keeping the referee's attention on a reeling Missy. Final half minute of the round an absolute nightmare for Peregrym, who takes so much heavy fire that the only question seems to be if she'll go before the ref steps in. Neither happens. The bell rings first. But, it's shutout, Taylor in the first stanza.

ROUND TWO:

Cole all about the clean up, charging across the ring to get after Missy early. Peregrym defensive, giving ground. Cole gobbling it up in huge chunks. BOOM! TAYLOR'S hurt! Another trap laid and perfectly so! Peregrym gets Cole stepping forward and bombs her with a lightning right hand and now it's COLE who's steppin' in fence post holes and Missy who's letting the hands go looking to end this thing immediately. Peregrym reefing punches at the reeling Texan, forcing her back, back, back, finally pinning her to the ropes. And, then we get the reverse of what happened last round, as it's Missy piling on the punches, piling on the hurt, and Taylor reeling along the ropes, trying to hang on. Again, the referee's patience is tested as Cole takes big shot after big shot, but Taylor's doing enough, JUST enough to keep him at bay. When the bell finally rings, Cole's still on her feet and Missy's won via shutout, evening things at 19.

ROUND THREE:

Now it's Missy with clean up thoughts. Peregrym forward aggressively, but soundly, working Cole with both hands, backing her up, landing hard shot. Taylor giving ground grudgingly, trying to stabilize her front, slowly having some success until...BOOM! A short left hook and DOWN GOES MISSY! Just seven minutes in and the fight turns a third time as the Texan catches the Canadian a good one and sends her to her knees. Peregrym up at seven, but looking more than a little unsteady. Ref at least thinks about waiving it off during the mandatory, but, instead, waives Cole forward. Tall Texan all business when he does, quickly stepping to, driving Missy before her with volley after volley of heavy leather, pinning her to the cables and then working her over for the remainder of the round. Again, one of the two brunettes is taking and trying to survive late, and managing to do it. But, Cole's grabbed the round 10-8 and leads 29-27.

ROUND FOUR:

Texan looking to finish the Canadian now. Peregrym still buzzed and unsure of the legs early and Cole takes full advantage. Taylor banging away lusty, forcing Missy to back and cover. Peregrym on the defensive, looking to counter here and there, trying to stay in the thing while Cole looks to put her away. A minute and forty-five seconds in, BOOM! And down goes...COLE??? It's a scintillating counter by the girl from Montreal and Taylor's dropped to her back. Crowd going nuts. Missy slow to get to a neutral corner, still a little fuzzy herself. Cole, meanwhile, unmoving for a count of seven, but, somehow manages to get to her feet at nine. Again, ref thinking of a stoppage, but, instead, allowing the fight to continue. ON COMES MISSY! Peregrym just LAYING INTO COLE with everything she has. Taylor rope-bound, battered, legs shaking with each flurry from the Canadian. Cole hanging on in a high guard, looking to run clock...BUT THE REF STEPS IN! He's seen enough and he bundles Taylor to safety, and your winner by TKO4 is Missy Peregrym!

AFTER:

Peregrym definitely looking worse for the wear, but there's a weary, pained smile under all of that. "Some fight, huh?" the Canadian says with a shake of the head. "She had me in trouble there for awhile, but, that's what I've been talking about all month. I'm as good as any lightweight on the planet. Have been for years and still am. Even when I get in trouble, I can still come back and beat anybody in this division. Anybody. Period. Because that's who Missy Peregrym is."