Natalie Portman versus Jenna Ortega

BEFORE:

Brunette battle with some interesting contrasts as veteran Hall of Famer Portman faces off against 21-year-old hot-prospect Ortega, who managed a title shot in her sixth FCBA fight off an impressive five-fight win streak to start her career. Since that hot start, however, Jenna's won twice and lost five times, albeit against top competition, while Natalie's on a three-fight winning streak that has her right in the thick of the title picture. And, none of this has escaped Natalie's notice. "I'm not sure what the booking philosophy is over at GBS," says Portman. "But, trying to break a slump against ME is a rather curious choice."

"First off," says a hard-eyed Jenna, "I'm not IN a slump. And, second, I'm going to whip Natalie's a**!"

ROUND ONE:

Let the a**whippings commence! Ortega goes right after Portman and immediately throws Natalie onto the defensive. Older brunette can't get anything started, as she's spending all of her time defending against barrages of punches coming from the younger. Jenna's aggression is plenty sound, too. She's not taking unnecessary chances, she's just taking the fight to the older woman and giving her a thrashing. By the final minute, Natalie adjusts, gets her feet set, holds some canvas, begins boxing with. It's far too late to matter for the first, which goes to Jenna wide, but it does get something established for the Hall of Famer, who trails 10-9 after one.

ROUND TWO:

Two-way stuff in the second. Natalie's boxing, using her slickness and wiles to offset the quickness advantage Jenna has. Ortega, meanwhile, working to reestablish the dominance she enjoyed in the first, but can't manage to do it. Natalie too smart, too good with the tactical stuff. She's controlling tempo with the jab and her mastery of geometry. Still, however, Ortega's able to get work done, showing just how much talent, physical and otherwise, the younger brunette has. There's not much in it the entire way, and a final thirty seconds that sees both fighters land a couple of solid shots does little to create space. At the bell, Portman's got it narrowly, though, and we're even at 19.

ROUND THREE:

Third beings the way the second ended, but, not for long. BOOM! A right hand, JENNA and Natalie is HURT! Portman wobbles and quickly covers up, signaling Jenna to call in the artillery. Ortega reefing punches at a reeling Natalie as the Queen finds herself trapped on the ropes and taking. Portman keeps the guard high, puts the body on sale. Jenna buys, but just a bit. She's concentrating upstairs, looking to finish this thing. Ref on high alert as he watches Natalie hang on desperately, but Portman's doing enough to keep him at bay. By late in the round, the Hall of Famer's shaken some of the damage and worked her way off the ropes, but, when the bell rings, Ortega's got it wide and she's back in the lead 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:

Fourth round begins the way the second ended. Portman's got the legs back, and she's back to getting her box on. Ortega again holding her own impressively on these terms. She's not getting the better of Natalie, but she's not getting taken to the woodshed, either. Instead, it's good, two-way stuff as the fighters move feet, heads, hands, looking for openings, looking to create openings, then filling all and sundry with hard, accurate leather. It's the kind of round the purists love, and, once again, there's not much in it at all. At the bell, however, Portman's once again taken it, albeit narrowly, to even things at 38 after four stanzas.

ROUND FIVE:

More of the same. Good boxing from both brunettes, as Natalie again controls tempo with her jab and feet and Jenna proves she can hold her own on these ter...BOOM! Right hand, PORTMAN and DOWN GOES ORTEGA! A sneaky cross from Natalie and Jenna's deposited on her rump! Portman to a neutral corner, but she doesn't have to wait long. Jenna, shaking her head, is up at five. She takes the mandatory and ON COMES NATALIE! The Queen clinically taking apart the wobbly younger woman now, driving her back to the ropes and battering her with a barrage of heavy leather. Ortega holding on grimly, wobbled by a straight right and IT'S OVER! The ref steps in and it's OVER and your winner by TKO5 is Natalie Portman!

AFTER:

Natalie all smiles in the post. She's done exactly what she expected to do in this one, prove to yet another up-and-comer that the road to the top of this division goes through Natalie Portman. "She's actually not a bad fighter," the Queen admits. "It's just that, so MANY of these girls think they're going to waltz in here and take over. And, it's up to me to teach them some manners."