Michelle Williams vs. Maddie Ziegler

BEFORE:

Blonde/brunette battle offers plenty of contrasts and intrigue, as 42-year-old Hall of Famer Michelle looks to break a two-fight losing streak and turn back 20-year-old "Mad Dog." Ziegler, who's won ten of thirteen since joining The Dollhouse and has worked her way into the top ten. But, none of that bothers Mishy, who, as always, exudes confidence. "This is the problem with the flyweight division," Williams says with a sigh. "It's just a PARADE of these young wannabees who'll never amount to anything. Ziegler's just the latest. And, she's going to end up JUST like the rest."

"Mishy's day is done," says a hard-eyed Maddie. "It was done YEARS ago. The next generation is here...and I'm leading it."

ROUND ONE:

Excellent boxing from both blonde and brunette to start this one. Maddie has a little reach, but that doesn't bother an experienced tactician like Michelle. She can get to her spots and get off. She can also disrupt Ziegler's timing, which offsets much of the brunette's advantage in speed. Maddie has her moments, mind. She puts together some combinations in spots and tosses the blonde over to the defensive, but it's mostly tactical boxing, and those aren't terms you're often going to beat Michelle Williams on. To her credit. Maddy keeps it close, very close, but, when the bell sounds ending the opening stanza, it's Mishy who claims the points and the 10-9 lead.

ROUND TWO:

Mad Dog ups the aggression. She's not going to play Mishy's game. Instead, she starts coming forward behind the jab, sitting down on follow-up right hands. Williams not going to hang in there and slug with the younger woman. She gives ground, moves laterally, works to get space to get her box on. Blonde effective when she can get that room, while the brunette is effective when she can press forward. Result? Another competitive round with nobody hurt and both fighters scoring well in spots. There's plenty of action for the fans, and plenty of skill on display for the purists. As far as the judges are concerned, the points are in doubt all the way, but it's the brunette who claims them to even things at 19.

ROUND THREE:

Ziegler getting rolling. She's finding with that left and forcing Williams back with right hands. Mad Dog's firing on all cylinders from the opening bell, landing some good right hands and, generally, out-fighting the veteran. Mishy has her moments, of course, moments when she lands solid counters and follow on with flurries, but she's mostly on the defensive in this stanza, as Maddie gets off lusty again and again. Michelle's been here before, of course, so she's managing all of this, and Ziegler, pushing her 20th FCBA fight, has enough experience to stay sound and not press things too far. But, when all is said and done and the bell rings, Maddie's taken it wide to pull into a 29-28 lead.

ROUND FOUR:

MIshy goes to one of her best weapons, the jab, to settle things down. The blonde's doubling up on it now, using it to preempt Ziegler and keep her at bay. Maddie's seen this game before, so she looks to work past, but she's being frustrated in the attempt. Williams is too skilled, to accurate, her geometry and timing perfect. Again and again, she stops the brunette in her tracks, then follows on with hard right hands that force her to cover up, and, sometimes, to back up. By late in the round, it's Michelle who's coming forward. She's got something going here and she's exploiting it, keeping Maddie off balance and reducing her to occasional counters. At the bell, it's Michelle convincingly, and we're even at 38.

ROUND FIVE:

More of everything from Maddie, more movement of head, hands, and feet, and even more aggression. She's working to pick of that jab now, or slip it, and, when she can, the brunette gets forward behind a sharp left of her own, again backing up Mishy with hard right hands. It's the third round all over again, with the younger woman taking control. Again, Williams isn't hurt. Again, the blonde manages and manages pretty well. But, it's Mad Dog who's piling up the points and landing not just more but harder punches. Final seconds sees a sharp exchange in which Ziegler backs Mishy up with two solid right hands, and, when the bell rings, she stares down the older woman before stomping to her corner having taken the points wide and pulled into a 48-47 lead.

ROUND SIX:

Ziegler applying the pressure. Michelle giving some ground, working the feet, playing the angles, snapping that jab, trying to...BOOM! Right hand, WILLIAMS and Ziegler is HURT! Michelle walks the brunette into a NASTY right hand and Maddie's knees do a shimmy! Blonde quickly over to the offensive, backing the blonde up with flurry after flurry of heaving leather. Ziegler in a high guard, taking shots from seemingly everywhere, eventually backed to the ropes, where she puts the body on sale...and the blonde BUYS IN BULK. Williams DIGGING to the ribs and belly. Brunette crouching, trying to protect herself. UPPERCUT, MICHELLE and Ziegler is on rubber legs. Ref about to...BELL! The bell rings saving Maddie from an almost certain stoppage! Mishy takes the points wide and evens things at 57, but the brunette survives.

ROUND SEVEN:

Williams determined to end this thing. She's right after the brunette, reefing hard shot at her with both hands. Ziegler still buzzed, giving ground before the onslaught. RIGHT HAND, MICHELLE and DOWN GOES MADDIE! A straight right dumps the brunette beauty to her back! Williams quickly to a neutral corner to watch and wait. But, Maddie's not done. She sits up at five, stands at seven, takes the mandatory. And, the ref WAVES ON MISHY! Williams clinical, working the left, backing Maddie up, trapping her on the ropes, and then EMPTYING THE MAGAZINES ON HER! Leather coming from everywhere as Maddie tries to cover up. GOOD right hand, Michelle and Ziegler's knees turn to rubber and IT'S OVER! The ref steps in and it's OVER and your winner by TKO7 is Michelle Williams!

AFTER:

No doubt MIshy looks like she's been in a fight, but she's done what she set out to do. "It's like I said," the blonde says with a nod, "This girl is just another young wannabee who'll never amount to anything, another GIRL who finally ran up against an actual WOMAN. To paraphrase management here, another pan that's already flashed. Now, it's time for her to fade away like so many others have done. Bye, bye, Mad Dog!"