Katheryn Winnick vs. Nicole Scherzinger
(Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!)



BEFORE:

It might be strange to say that a fight between two women with a combined age of 79 and a combined ranking of 140 is a big fight, but, this one just might be. First, it's the 50th FCBA fight for Scherzinger, but there's more to it than that. Nicole is 39 and it's been seven years since the big win over Jessica Alba that was supposed to launch her into the upper echelons of the bantamweight division. Instead, she lost to the likes of Halle Berry and Amanda Peet and has spent those seven years as a .500 fighter who hasn't sniffed a title shot. Winnick, meanwhile, started her FCBA career just shy of 40, and is coming off a shocking upset loss to Kim Kardashian. So, no, the winner of this one isn't going to be catapulted into the title picture. But, the loser might well find herself on the unemployment line, though neither fighter seems to be thinking that way in the pre-fight.

"Look, the Kardashian fight is in the past," says Katheryn. "And, I've got to leave it there. I have another opportunity tonight, and I have to take advantage of it."

"People have been writing me off for YEARS," says Nicole. "I lost my first three fights and didn't get another one for almost two years. They wrote me off THEN. But, I'm still around and I'm not going anywhere any time soon."

ROUND ONE:

Contrast in styles apparently. Nicole, as usual, wants to get leggy. Brunette still plenty athletic at 39, and she's showing that as she circles, popping the jab. Winnick wants to get physical. She's stepping forward, looking to cut the ring and bang the brunette. It's a style she likes and also one that's proven effective against her opponent. And, while Scherzinger is able to stay in open canvas at times, the blonde is able to run her to ground at others. When she's in motion, Nicole has the advantage and rolls up points, but, when Winnick creates sustained battle, is Katheryn who gets the better of things. Result is a close, competitive round that's in doubt heading into the final seconds, when Winnick cuts the ring and lands a couple of nice flurries before Nicole can escape. Those are the difference on the cards, with the blonde claiming the round close to take the 10-9 lead.

ROUND TWO:

More of the same. Both women finding some of what they want, though not nearly enough to suit either. Instead, it's small bits, bits of Scherzinger on the move, jabbing, circling, stopping to pop a quick combination. Other bits of Winnick cutting the ring, closing, working some of the tawny body and landing a couple of good shots to the head before her rival can slip away. Again, things are very, very close throughout, with the blonde offsetting the brunette's work on the move with her own in close. Final thirty seconds is the difference again, and, this time, it's Nicole who's able to get what she wants, landing a couple of quick flurries that force Katheryn to cover up, escaping, and, when Winnick tries to close again, landing another sharp combination at the bell. Those points push the brunette ahead and enable her to claim the points and even the fight at 19.

ROUND THREE:

Nicole getting in rhythm now. The final thirty seconds of the last round was just a preview of the third. She's getting Winnick's timing down, beating her to spots, not allowing herself to be run to ground. Instead, the brunette ranges across the ring, jabbing, keeping the blonde at arms length, making her chase, and then punishing her with combinations when she gets too close. Watching Scherzinger now, you see what all the fuss was about all those years ago. THIS girl looks like a champion. She's so quick, so fluid. She moves so well. You see how she absolutely humiliated Pam Anderson back in 2010, how she out-quicked Alba, beating the former champion to punches all night. And, you wonder how it all went wrong, how it never HAPPENED, because, again, what you're seeing here is championship material. At the bell, it's Nicole wide, and Scherzinger's up 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:

And, then you see why. BOOM! Just twenty seconds in, Winnick cuts the ring and lands a short right hook and NICOLE IS HURT! Scherzinger stumbles into the ropes, covers up, in deep trouble, and the blonde lets the hands go. And, here's the Viking warrior you've read about in The Dollhouse brochures. Katheryn sitting down on punches, hammering glorious leather into Scherzinger's exposed body, then working upstairs, buffeting Nicole along the ropes despite her high guard. Referee looking in closely, ready to pounce at any second. Veteran Scherzinger, though, doing enough to keep him at bay, jabbing here and there, keeping the mitts up, leaning back into the ropes, taking the body punishment without dropping the guard. Last thirty seconds of the round are absolutely brutal for Nicole as Winnick hammers away, but, at the bell, Scherzinger's still standing. The blonde's claimed the round wide, though, and evened things at 38.

ROUND FIVE:

Blonde looking like a Viking warrior now. She's stepping to a wobbly Nicole and letting the brunette have it with both hands. Blonde sitting down on everything, just REEFING in power shots, looking for the punch that will put an end to things. Scherzinger all defense, hands high, countering in spots, but taking a thorough thrashing. Her legs aren't there, so she can't move, and that makes her an easy target for the heavy blows being thrown her way by the blonde. Still, if there's one thing you can say for Scherzinger in these situations, she's always been gutty. She never gives up, always grimly hangs on looking for a chance to turn the tide, and, that's what she does here, despite the punishment and the fact that Winnick takes more and more control of the fight with each passing second. In the final half minute, the brunette's on the ropes getting hammered to the body, but, still, she holds on and makes the bell. It's shutout, Katheryn, though, and the blonde now leads 48-47.

ROUND SIX:

Winnick still rolling. Blonde has the brunette all lined up and is reducing her apace. Nicole trying to fire back, trying to slow Katheryn down, but she can't get it done. There's still not enough in the legs for her to get off square, and she doesn't have the power in her punches to get respect with them. So, Winnick simply keeps hammering away, keeps buffeting the brunette around the ring, keeps reducing her until, finally, mercifully, DOWN GOES NICOLE. It's a short right hook that does the trick, crashing into the brunette's chin and sending Scherzinger nosing in at Katheryn's feet. Winnick's quickly to a neutral corner to watch and wait. Nicole rolls to her back at six, but can do no more. She simply drapes an arm across her eyes and waits out the count. It's OVER! And your winner by KO6 in comeback fashion is Katheryn Winnick!

AFTER:

Winnick all smiles. She knew how big this fight was for her on the heels of Kardashian, and she's both pleased and relieved to have gotten the result this evening. "This is what I've been saying", the blonde says. "I can beat good fighters in this division, and one upset loss doesn't change that. I can't wait to get back to work and get back into the ring as soon as possible."