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Lili Reinhart vs. Kaya Scodelario (Unified Bantamweight Championship)
(Results: Lookout. Words: Wiz)
BEFORE:
No hype at all needed here. Battle of two of the top bantams on the planet, British challenger Kaya, who's not only a former bantam champion, but a fighter with an impressive 48-18 career FCBA record, mainly against top competition. Kaya's won her last four in a row and is clearly in top form, and, as she's been trying to get the straps back for more than four years now, let's just say she's plenty motivated. "It's time," says the brunette with a nod. "It's time for me to get back on top of this division. And, that's exactly what I'm going to do."
Lili, meanwhile, is 31-2 career and has won nine in a row, including avenging her most recent loss with a title fight win over Olsen. And, like Kaya, she's plenty confident coming in. "Obviously, she's a fantastic fighter. She's been in the title picture for six years and she's already won it once. She's plenty good. But, she's going to step in with the best bantam in the business. That's just how it is."
ROUND ONE:
Kaya, as usual, wants to use those legs and her extensive set of skills to box here. But, Lili's seen that play and doesn't want to see it again. She's coming forward behind the left jab, looking to get aggressive early and get Scodelario out of her comfort zone. And, it works. Challenger can't get the distance she wants, can't get to spots, and finds herself reduced to fighting in counter. British beauty does that well, of course, but she's not getting nearly enough done to offset what Lili's doing on offense. Blonde champion in early rhythm, forward, forward, forward, using that accurate left to set up hard right hands. Kaya on the back foot much too much for her liking, so, when the bell rings ending the first, it's no surprise that Reinhart's taken it wide to lead 10-9.
ROUND TWO:
Second begins the way the first ended, with Lili pushing forward, but Kaya's adjusted now, giving more lateral and backward movement, making herself a more difficult target, and, about a minute in...BOOM! Right hand, KAYA and Lili is HURT! Reinhart all WOBBLY BUTT as the brunette beauty gets after her in a big way, driving her back against the cables and TEEING OFF. Lili forms the tight ear muff, rolls with, blocks, puts the body on sale. Kaya's not buying at any price. She wants to finish this now, get those belts back right here. But, Lili's got the "Off" button well hidden. Blonde is taking a beating, but she's playing good defense and doing enough in counter to keep the referee from stopping it. At the bell, there's no doubt Kaya's taken it wide, but the brunette may already be ruing a missed opportunity despite tying things at 19.
ROUND THREE:
Or, maybe Kaya's not ruing a thing. She's after Lili right off the bell, backing her up with heavy fire. Reinhart's clearly still buzzed, and the challenger knows it. She's calling in reserves, going after the blonde in a BIG way. Lili in retreat, and not a fighting retreat, either. She can't hold canvas and can't get anything done offensively. In fact, the only thing she IS managing to do is stay off the ropes, and, in the final minute, Kaya remedies that. British beauty ALL OVER the blonde now, as the ref looks in. Reinhart clinching, holding on, getting breaks, doing anything she can to run some clock while Kaya piles up the points and punishment. When the bell rings, however, the champion, while plenty scuffed and bleeding from the nose, is still standing. For her part, Scodelario's tossed a shutout and pulled into a 29-28 lead.
ROUND FOUR:
Scodelario pressuring for about the half minute, but the blonde begins holding canvas at that point, and the brunette's not going to press the issue. Instead, she's back to boxing, and doing so well. But, Reinhart's shaken the damage and now she's coming forward behind that left again, backing Kaya up at times, landing solid right hands. It's Buggins' turn now, with, at times, Kaya able to get the distance she wants and score boxing, and, at other times, Lili able to get the jab on, follow with hard right hands, back up the brunette. Add it all up, and it's a closely-run thing in the extreme. Final thirty seconds sees several sharp exchanges as both fighters try to steal the points, but no one manages to gain much of an advantage. At the bell it's extremely close, but it's Lili, and we're even at 38.
ROUND FIVE:
Lili gets rolling early and begins running a repeat of the first round, by far her best of the fight. She's ranging with that left hand, dropping hard rights behind it, throwing Kaya to the defensive again and again. Scodelario trying to angle, get to her spots, but she's mostly failing to do so. Instead, the champion gets into a rhythm and really gets things going, becoming more dominant as the round goes on. Kaya's never hurt, but there's no question Lili's not only picking up points, but piling up punishment on the older woman. Final thirty seconds sees Reinhart turn things up to eleven as she WHACKS away at the brunette, sitting down on everything. Kaya's in full retreat at that point, managing only to fire back in counter here and there. At the bell, it's Reinhart wide and the champ is back in the lead 48-47.
ROUND SIX:
Lili pressing the matter. She's determined to keep Kaya on the back foot. Scodelario giving ground, but now able to score in counter while doing so. It's no ideal, but it's working in the short term for the brunette beauty. Reinhart's working aggressively, but soundly, setting everything up, not taking any chanc...BOOM! Right hand, KAYA! Oh, a keyholed counter from Scodelario and the champ is wobbled and a RIGHT HAND FROM KAYA SENDS LILI TO THE CANVAS! Kaya leaping into the air and turning to land with her back to Lili and her face toward the neutral corner where she bounces to watch and wait. Reinhart manages to get off the deck at nine, but she's plenty shabby as Kaya pours forward, driving her to the ropes and having at her with thirty seconds to go in the round. Ref's on the hair trigger, but Lili manages to hold him off to the bell. When it rings, the challenger is up 57-56 and has the champ in DEEP trouble.
ROUND SEVEN:
Kaya determined to make no mistake this time. She's all OVER Lili right from the start, backing up the blonde with flurry after flurry, working a little body, then going right back to the head. Reinhart's legs are still a little iffy, and Kaya is well aware of the fact. BOOM! Right hand, LILI! Now, it's REINHART who keyholes a right hand counter, setting her feet for juuuussstttt long enough to do so! Scodelario staggers to her right and nearly goes down and Lili's WINGING AWAY WITH BOTH HANDS NOW! Reinhart calling in all the reserves, tossing everything into the breech and DOWN GOES KAYA! It's not one punch but the combination of a dozen punches that sends the brunette sleepily to her knees before she crumples, face down, to the canvas. No celebration from Lili. She just gets to the neutral corner to wait. Kaya tries pushing off the mat a couple of times, but she can't do it. It's OVER! The count passes the challenger by and it's OVER and your winner by KO7 and STILL Unified Bantamweight Champion is Lili Reinhart!
AFTER:
Reinhart's clearly been in quite the fight, but she manages a smile in the post. "I told you she was plenty good. That girl can find answers to just about anything in there. She's as far as can be from a one-trick pony. But, like said, I'm the best bantamweight in the world. And, that was the difference." |
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