Brie Larson vs. Amber Heard (Results: Lookout! Words: Wiz)

BEFORE:

Larson stepping up to lightweight here to deal with the gorgeous Heard, who continues to show signs of putting it all together at age 35. And, while Amber might be the slightly bigger girl, Brie's brimming with confidence. "I've beaten better girls than HER. In fact, I've beaten a LOT of girls who are better than her. Amber's got no chance tonight. None."

"Brie doesn't realize it," says Herd with a shake of the head. "But, she's stepping up in more than weight tonight. She's stepping up in CLASS. And, it will NOT go well for her."

Same again. Brie all movement all the time, using her excellent feet to, at times, circle, and, at other times, pop forward where she can land solid shot to both the head and body of her fellow blonde. Heard, meanwhile, continues working the left hard to limit those opportunities, and she's able to do that, just as she did in the second. As a result, just like in the second, it's a near-run thing. No one can gain any sort of control here, as both fighters are getting some offense going in spots and being frustrated in the attempt in others. Nobody's hurt, but both blondes land some solid shot throughout the stanza, especially late, when the fighters double down to try to grab the points. When the bell rings, it's very close again, but, this time it's Brie, who goes back on top 29-28.

ROUND ONE:

Amber looking to use her length, box at range, but Larson not having it. Brie using her speed and feet to slip the jab, get inside, work some body, slip back out. Circle, then pop back forward with a quick flurry before slipping back out again. Heard trying to find with the left, but she can't get it done. Brie too quick and too slick. What she doesn't slip, she blocks, meaning none of it slows down her offense, much of which is concentrated on the older woman's body. Amber's never hurt, but she's definitely frustrated. She can't find her rival, can't get anything going. She manages to land here and there, but it's all one-punch stuff. No combinations. While Brie's landing punches in bunches for the entire three minutes. At the bell, there's no doubt about it. It's Larson. Wide. And up 10-9.

ROUND TWO:

Heard starting to get this figured out. She's doubling up the jab now in the name of throwing more obstacles in her rival's path...and it works. The extra leather slows Brie...enough. Enough to allow Amber to get some work done from range, scoring in combination for the first time in the fight. But, while Brie's offensive is slowed, it's not stopped. Larson's still finding spots to pop forward for quick combinations, to work a little body. Add it all up, and you have a good, two-way round, with both fighters working very hard to get as much as they can as far as terms go. And, while neither gets as much as they want, both get enough to be effective, and, into the final seconds, it's a near run thing. When the bell rings, there's very little in it, but it's Amber who gets the points and evens things at 19.

ROUND THREE:

Same again. Brie all movement all the time, using her excellent feet to, at times, circle, and, at other times, pop forward where she can land solid shot to both the head and body of her fellow blonde. Heard, meanwhile, continues working the left hard to limit those opportunities, and she's able to do that, just as she did in the second. As a result, just like in the second, it's a near-run thing. No one can gain any sort of control here, as both fighters are getting some offense going in spots and being frustrated in the attempt in others. Nobody's hurt, but both blondes land some solid shot throughout the stanza, especially late, when the fighters double down to try to grab the points. When the bell rings, it's very close again, but, this time it's Brie, who goes back on top 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:

Even more of the same. It's all about the terms in this one, and, fact is, both fighters are finding ways to get what they want, just not consistently. Result is times of dominance, when, for example, Amber's got the jab in Brie's face, is keeping her at range, landing nice combinations on her, or, when Brie's slipping punches, bouncing inside and getting off quick flurries before slipping away. At other times, the blondes are working to create the fertile ground for their offensives. But, when you add it all up, once again, nobody's able to grab control and things are very, very close. Into the final seconds of the stanza, the result is in doubt, but, when the bell rings, for the second time in three rounds, it's Amber who's managed to eke out the points and even things at 38.

ROUND FIVE:

Pattern set. Amber at range, Brie on the move. And, both fighters have shown well to this point in the bout, demonstrating that all the stuff in the brochures isn't fluff. These two ladies can fight, and they're giving a fine demonstration of same for the fourth round in a row. Until. BOOM! Brie pops forward and POPS HEARD! Amber wobbles, covers up, and Larson unleashes hell! Brie just winging away with everything in the arsenal until it all becomes too much and Amber POOLS AT HER FEET! Brie quickly to a neutral corner to watch and wait as the referee counts down on Heard. Amber makes it to one knee at seven, but an attempt to stand leads to her toppling forward to her face and it's OVER! The count passes Heard by and your winner by KO5 is Brie Larson!

AFTER:

"I'm going to admit something," Larson says with a smile. "She's actually better than I gave her credit for. However. As I told everyone pre-fight, she is NOT as good as me let alone good enough to BEAT me. But. There's a lot of that going around, you know?"