Kate Upton versus Danielle Herrington (Welterweight Title)

BEFORE:

The welterweight elite is and always has been small and exclusive. Herrington has never managed to gain entry. But, such a small grouping means champions sometimes have to step outside that elite for title defenses. Enter Danielle, who, while she fell to Blake Lively her last time out, managed a win over one of the elite, Hilary Rhoda, in her previous outing. And, the brunette beauty is plenty confident she can make it two for three and take the straps from Kate Upton. "No doubt Kate's a measuring stick at welter," Danielle admits. "And, I'm about to measure up."

"She's not bad," Kate says with a smile. "But, she's not in MY league, as she's about to find out."

ROUND ONE:

Danielle finds out. Upton aggressive early, stepping in behind the left jab, sending the brunette to the back foot and keeping her there. Herrington trying to get some space, wants to work at range, but the blonde simply not having it. She's walking her rival down, dropping hard right hands on her, dominating the proceedings thoroughly for the first two minutes. Third minute sees Herrington adjust some, getting off square, getting her jab working. Kate's still getting the better of things, but the challenger is at least competitive, something she couldn't say in the first two thirds of the round. At the bell, there's no question about the points. It's Kate wide and with the 10-9 lead.

ROUND TWO:

Better for Herrington. She's able to get the jab on, create space with the left and the feet, make Kate work to find and get forwar...BOOM! Right hand, DANIELLE and UPTON IS HURT! Champ staggers, nearly goes down. Challenger goes all in, firing away with both hands, forcing the blonde back to the ropes and having at her in a BIG way. Kate in the high, tight guard, taking, putting the body on sale. Herrington buying, but only at times, mostly concentrating upstairs as she tries to finish this thing. But, despite the brunette's best efforts, the champion hangs on to the bell. When it rings, Upton's cut over the eye and Herrington's taken the points wide to even things at 19.

ROUND THREE:

Corner crew closes the cut, but Herrington's right back after it, trying to reopen as we start the third. Kate still a little buzzed and Danielle takes advantage, controlling things early with the long left jab and solid follow on rights. At about the halfway point, Upton's legs firm up, and the blonde gets back into the thing. She's not coming forward, but boxing with, and doing so pretty well, giving as good as she gets and landing some good power shots. Late round sees two sharp exchanges and both result in Herrington being forced backward. At the bell, Danielle's early dominance still plays and she takes the points narrowly to lead 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:

More of the same. It's mostly ranged boxing, and that's playing to Danielle's strengths. The rangy challenger likes the gun platform stuff, and, when she can keep the champion out on the end of her punches, she's able to pile up points. At times, though, Kate's finding ways forward, using the left to set up hard right hands and force the brunette back. When she can do that, the champ offsets what the challenger's doing at range. It's good, two-way stuff the entire way, but it's Danielle who's getting more of the terms she wants, and, as a result, at the bell, Herrington grabs the points narrowly again to lead 39-37 after four frames.

ROUND FIVE:

Upton gets it rolling. Blonde coming forward behind the left consistently again, backing up the brunette as she did in the first round. Danielle countering in spots, but not managing much more than that. Kate has the range, and she's calling in artillery strikes, punishing the brunette with heavy leather to both head and body. Danielle's never hurt, but she's definitely feeling the weight of shot the champion's tossing at her. Late in the round, Kate lands a pair of heavy combinations that force the challenger to cover up. Again, Herrington isn't hurt, but the blonde's spent the entire round piling up both points and punishment. When it ends, the champion has the points wide and trails 48-47 at the half.

ROUND SIX:

Kate pouring forward, pressing her advantage early, determined to impose wi...BOOM! Right hand, DANIELLE AND DOWN GOES UPTON! Herrington walks the champion into a BLISTERING right and the blonde is flat on her back as the challenger bounces to a neutral corner. But, this thing is not over quite yet. Kate struggles to her feet at eight and takes the mandatory...and the ref waves on Danielle. Herrington ALL IN in a BIG way, as she's pouring fire on the listing S.S.Upton. Kate rope bound and taking, hanging on desperately, doing just enough to keep the ref at bay. When the bell rings, the blonde is still standing, but that cut is open again and Herrington's grabbed a 10-8 round to lead 58-55 with four to go.

ROUND SEVEN:

Champion still looking buzzed, eye still trickling blood. Corner's telling her she's got to get this thing finished before the ref takes action on that cut. So, the blonde gets moving forward. She's got the hands up, and she's getting punches out and back. She's picking off what she can, taking the rest, determined to bring power to be...BOOM! Right hand, UPTON and Danielle is HURT! Herrington rumblin', stumblin', fumblin' across the ring on noodle knees as Kate tosses in the reserves looking to finish this thing. Final thirty seconds see Herrington trapped on the ropes and taking in a full 180 from the last round, but the challenger hangs on to the bell. When it rings, the champ has the round wide, but still trails 67-65.

ROUND EIGHT:

Upton pouring on the fire, pouring in the last of the reserves. She's using up a ton of energy here, all in service of trying to finish this now, with that cut still leaking blood and the scorecards showing the challenger ahead. Danielle's legs still not back, and Kate taking full advantage, throwing everything in the magazines at the challenger and DOWN GOES HERRINGTON! It's not one punch, but a three-punch combination, right hand, left hook, right hand, and Danielle splashes to her back! Kate now to a neutral corner to watch and wait. Herrington rolls to her belly at six...but gets no further! The count passes her by and it's OVER! And your winner by KO8 and STILL Unified Welterweight Champion is Kate Upton!


AFTER:

Kate scuffed and bleeding, looking like she's been in the kind of fight she's been in. But, she's smiling in the post. "She caught me one," the blonde admits. "Happens, especially at this weight. Everybody can hit. It's ABOUT if you can get up from it. I've proven again and again that I CAN. She COULDN'T. And, that's the difference."