Priyanka Chopra versus Hailee Steinfeld (Bantamweight Title)

BEFORE:

A pair of brunettes on terrific runs meet for the Unified Bantamweight Championship, with challenger Hailee, who's blossomed under new management at Lookout! having won twelve of fourteen while champion Priyanka can do that one better, having won twelve of thirteen including an impressive SIX title defenses. But, if Steinfeld's impressed by any of that, she's not letting on. "Tonight," says Hailee, "Is the night. I've been working VERY hard for this, and it's all about to pay off with GOLD around my waist."

"I'll admit," says a hard-eyed Priyanka, "That she's developed into a good fighter over the last year or so. But. I've already defended against better girls than Hailee. And, I'll probably be defending against a better fighter next month, when I'm STILL champion."


ROUND ONE:

Brunettes go right after one another, stepping to and getting busy, sitting down on punches, putting together solid flurries, and, quickly, the champion takes control. She's backing up the younger woman, preempting her with hard, accurate shot. Soon enough, Hailee is completely on the defensive, taking a ton of heavy fire, backing and covering before being trapped on the ropes. Steinfeld's not hurt, but she's taking a beating as Priyanka digs to body, then goes back to the head. By the final thirty seconds, Hailee's managed to get off the cables and into open canvas. That helps, some. But the champion remains in control to the bell, claiming the first wide to lead 10-9.

ROUND TWO:

Second begins with Hailee wanting to work at range. Younger woman is bouncin' and misbehavin' now, snapping that jab in her rival's face, moving laterally, stepping forward to get off, then slipping away to avoid counters. The adjustment is paying immediate dividends, as the challenger wrests control completely away from Priyanka. Chopra's still working hard, but she's not getting much done. She can't locate and is spending too much time covering up when Hailee's firing flurry after flurry. Final ten seconds sees things turn on a dime. Chopra lands a BOOMING right that sends Hailee wobbling, but the bell rings before the challenger can follow up. Steinfeld's claimed the round wide, but she's plenty unsteady on the way back to the corner. We're tied at 19, but it's clear Priyanka has the advantage.

ROUND THREE:

Chopra pressing. Steinfeld still looking buzzed and the champ is looking to finish her. Hailee giving ground, keeping the gloves high and GOING DOWN AFTER A BIG ONE-TWO FROM PRIYANKA! Steinfeld crashing to her back as the champion stalks to a neutral corner. Hailee looking both down and out, but somehow rolls to belly at six, pushes to hands and knees at eight, and gets to her feet an instant before ten. Ref thinks about it giving her the mandatory but decides to let it continue and ON COMES PRIYANKA! Champ a buzz saw of punches, driving Hailee into the ropes. Younger woman clinching, hanging on in every sense of that word. Ref looking in closely as Chopra's trying to apply the finishing touches...but the bell rings before she can do so. It's a huge 10-8 round for Priyanka, though, and she leads it 29-27.

ROUND FOUR:

Chopra bringing the pain. She's stepping forward behind the left hand, sitting down on rights, punishing the younger woman while forcing her to back and cover. It's an effective clean up, but that's not what the champion wants. She wants a finish, and Hailee continues to deny her that. Younger woman effective defensively. She's taking fire, but she's rolling with, blocking, staying off the ropes. As the round goes on, she's firming up the legs, firing back. By the final minute, Steinfeld is holding her own. Priyanka stops pressing, knowing the opportunity has passed. When the bell rings, the champion's taken the round wide to extend her lead to 39-36.

ROUND FIVE:

Closely run thing. Steinfeld all the way back into the fight now, so she's able to fight Priyanka on even terms. Chopra coming forward behind the left, looking to use her physicality. Hailee not willing to play by those rules. She's moving laterally, jabbing, circling here and there, looking to angle to spots where she can get off in combination. Result is good, two-way stuff and plenty of action that has the fans engaged throughout. Result is also nobody being able to take control or grab any kind of lead in the stanza. When the bell finally rings, both fighters have gotten some work done, but Hailee's back on the board, grabbing it close to cut the champion's lead to 48-46 at the half.

ROUND SIX:

Ladies getting after it to start the sixth. Champion still coming forward, Hailee looking to slip and counter, but she's hanging in longer now, taking a few more chances to land a few more shots...BOOM! Right hand, STEINFELD AND DOWN GOES CHOPRA! A perfect one-two from Hailee as she snaps back the champ's head with a jab and follows behind the glove with a right. Priyanka down on her right side as Steinfeld bounces to a neutral corner to watch and wait and hope and...NO LOVE. Priyanka up at eight to take the mandatory and ON COMES THE CHALLENGER. Hailee a ball of fire, tossing everything in the magazine at a reeling Chopra. Priyanka rope bound as Steinfeld hammers away. Right hand, HAILEE and the champion stumbles along the ropes and IT'S OVER! The ref leaps in and bundles Chopra to safety and it's OVER and your winner by TKO6 and NEW Unified Bantamweight Champion is Hailee Steinfeld!

AFTER:

Place going nuts and Steinfeld giving that Tom Brady after his first Super Bowl win look. This is a fighter who was a combined 2-3 for 2021 and 2022, and, barely into 2024, she's now Unified Bantamweight Champion. "I knew this day would come," she says, shaking her head. "I knew it. It was just a matter of working hard and getting opportunities. And, now, I've got the gold. And, I won't be giving it up any time soon!"