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27 April 2018 Michelle Ryan vs Taylor Hill

Page history last edited by caspian2 4 years, 1 month ago

Michelle Ryan vs. Taylor Hill
(Words: FS / Results: Lookout!)

BEFORE:

Interesting contrasts abound in this welter battle. Ryan, a veteran who's been fighting in the FCBA for nine years and has worked her way to the top levels of the division by beating former champions like Henstridge, Lancaster, Nolin, Gemma Atkinson and Theron, against Hill, who just turned 22 and is still a month from her first anniversary in the FCBA. But, if Taylor's giving away a lot of experience to Michelle, it hasn't affected the brunette beauty's confidence. "She's good, and she's rugged," says Taylor with a nod. "But, a lot of girls in this division are good and rugged. I have to be able to handle girls like that. And I can."

"Handle me?" Michelle says with a smile and a shake of the head. "She can't BEGIN to handle me."

ROUND ONE:

As we mentioned, Hill is barely 22, and, while she'll likely fill out into a full welter as her career goes on, she's more of a big light at the moment, and, thus, she's not as physical as the shorter Ryan, and Michelle knows it. So, while Hill tries to use her length to advantage early, the Brit's having none of it, walking through Hill's jab, crowding her, banging her body, wrestling around with her, and, generally using her advantages in weight and strength to control things. Taylor tries everything to slow the older woman down. She ties up, but Michelle powers out. She gives ground, but Michelle finds ways to close anyway, and she tries to bang for respect, but Ryan shows her none. Result is the older brunette spending three minutes taking the younger to the woodshed, banging and shoving her around the ring and grabbing the first wide.

ROUND TWO:

Ryan back after Taylor. Hill managing it better now, though. She's moving laterally more than in the first, not getting lined up or backed up. Michelle's still getting inside, sure, but the younger fighter's making her work to do it and scoring points while she does. Taylor accurate with that long left jab, and, added to the lateral movement, she's able to create time and space for work at range. Eventually, though, Michelle gets past the defenses and inside, where she can work body, leverage the taller girl, and shove her around. Brit very, very good on the inside. Knows all the tricks and has the power to make them pay. Hill again, tying, this time trapping the head as much as she can, since, when she does so, the referee is forced to break. Youngster's adjustments pay off, in a fashion. She's not getting dominated now, but Michelle's still getting more done. Ryan takes the round close and now leads 20-18.

ROUND THREE:

More of the same. For stretches, Hill finding ways to create space, and, when she does, we see why so many see so much potential in this girl. She's got great length and a hard, accurate jab. When that gets on, when opponents are left hanging out on the edge of it, everything else works. But, the veteran Ryan is too strong and too slick to be kept outside for long. Instead, she works in, gets to middle distances or into the phone booth and bangs. And, while the Brit does that, she's got the advantage. She works body, thumps short hooks to the head, and shoves Hill around the ring. For the second round in a row, it's all about who gets more of what they want, and, for the second round in a row, it's a near thing, but it's Michelle who's able to score more points. And, when the bell rings, she's got the youngster behind the eight ball, in that dreaded 3-0 hole, down 30-27.

ROUND FOUR:

More of the same. Hill rangy, jabbing, moving the feet even more now, turning, angling, drop stepping, creating space any way she can. Ryan coming forward, moving the head and the feet, looking to...BOOM! A BLISTERING right hand from Taylor Hill and Michelle is HURT! Ryan's knees wobbled as she's caught clean and HERE COMES TAYLOR! Hill letting the hands go, backing up the older woman, throwing barrage after barrage of leather at her. Youngster getting sloppy at times, missing on some wild ones, but she's landing enough to keep Michelle on the defensive and suppress any attempts at counters that might make her pay for the wildness. By the end of the round, Ryan's on the ropes getting absolutely thrashed, but the Brit is plenty sturdy and she ships the shell and remains afloat. At the bell, it's Taylor wide, but Michelle's still up 39-37.

ROUND FIVE:

Hill hears it in the corner, and, as a result, settles down. And, that's bad news for a still-wobbly Michelle. Taylor's still after her in a big way, but she's much sounder in the attempt now. She's working that left, setting up her punches, moving her feet, moving Ryan around the ring. Hill sitting down on her right hands in a big way, but making sure to remain solid defensively, not giving Michelle openings for the big counter that could turn the fight around. Instead she patiently, clinically works the Brit over in a way that's beyond both her years and experience. She batters Michelle with both hands, works her to the ropes several times, and gives her a solid thrashing when she has her there. It's complete domination from the first seconds of the round to the final bell, and, when that bell rings, Ryan has blood trickling from her nose and Hill has a shutout victory that cuts Michelle's lead to 48-47 at the half.

ROUND SIX:

Hill just keeps coming. She's had Ryan on the back foot for over five minutes now, and the younger woman continues to keep her there. Michelle's legs seem to be coming back now, but she can't get out of reverse, as Taylor continues to strafe her with accurate fire and force her to remain on the defensive. Brit's corner wants her coming forward, but, try as she might, Michelle can't make that happen. And, then, BOOM! Another of those long left jabs from Taylor sets up an overhand right and DOWN GOES RYAN! Taylor quickly to a neutral corner. Referee begins counting over Ryan, who's been dropped to her back and now stares with glassy eyes up at him. Count continues to mount with no meaningful movement from the Michelle. Finally, the Brit drapes an arm across her eyes and the count passes her by. It's OVER! And your winner by KO6 in comeback fashion is Taylor Hill!

AFTER:

By far the biggest win of Taylor's young career, and the brunette beauty's all about lovely smiles in the aftermath. "She's very physical," Taylor admits. "And, I knew she'd try to bully me in there. But, if girls are going to come at me with that strategy, well. They're going to get what Michelle got. You aren't going to shove Taylor Hill around. You just aren't!"