Hailee Steinfeld vs. Emily Bett Rickards

BEFORE:

Interesting matchup of blonde and brunette, with Rickards, who's a mid-sized bantam, stepping up to Steinfeld, who's a full lightweight. But, if the blonde is concerned about the height and weight difference, well, you can't tell in the pre-fight. "Yeah, she's bigger," says the blonde with a shrug. But, I'm BETTER. And, that's going to be the difference."

"I keep hearing about how she's so strong and so tough," says Hailee. "Well. I'm stronger and I'm tougher and I'm going to knock her out."

ROUND ONE:

Steinfeld working at range early, which is no surprise. She has reach and she wants to use it. Rickards looking to close to middle-distances where she can get off, but the problem with that is the brunette's left jab. Hailee getting that on regularly, holding the blonde out at long range, so that Steinfeld can extend on her punches. And, that's exactly what the younger woman does, landing HARD right hands off those lefts. punishing the blonde and backing her up again and again. Steinfeld steps forward when that happens, but just enough to maintain the distance she wants, then gets back to work, and that work involves working OVER Emily Bett Rickards. Canadian is never hurt, but she does get PUNISHED, and for a large portion of the round, as the American becomes more dominant as time goes on. By the bell, the brunette takes it wide and leads 10-9.

ROUND TWO:

Rickards showing more movement now, bobbing the head, moving the feet, angling, slipping dipping, working past the brunette's jab, and, when she gets there, not bothering to stop at middle distances, but closing to bang inside. Emily reefing punches to both body and head, thumping the brunette with hard shot. Steinfeld now the one getting backed up, as Rickards turns the tables completely from the first round. Hailee out of sorts, can't seem to slow the Canadian down or get the geometry she wants. But, Emily CAN. She's got everything working just a round after nothing did, and she's making a TON of hay, banging hooks to the body and head and, near the end of the round, forcing the bigger woman into the ropes and giving her a thorough thumping. At the bell, like Rickards last round, Steinfeld's never been hurt, but she HAS been punished, and Emily grabs the round 10-9 to even things at 19.

ROUND THREE:

Steinfeld re-establishing the jab now. She's getting it on target and holding Emily at bay early. Rickards keeping the hands high, working the feet, not allowing the taller brunette to pile on follows against a stationary target. Blonde still trying to penetrate, but mostly being frustrated. But, the constant lateral movement is slowing down the brunette's offense and keeping the Canadian cutie in the round. In the latter stages, Rickards actually begins getting inside again, but Hailee's ready for her, tying up the shorter woman immediately and forcing quick breaks by the referee. Unable to do much scoring on the interior, Emily isn't able to get enough points in the hopper to offset even the sporadic offense the brunette's able to put together. Result is that, when the bell rings, it's Hailee who claims her second round of the night and regains the lead, 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:

Same again. Steinfeld working the jab and moving the feet, all about creating the range she wants. Rickards working to penetrate, always on the move, getting inside here and there, but, when she does so she's almost immediately suppressed by the clinches of the brunette. Frustrating stuff for the aggressive Canadian blonde, but Emily keeps her cool. She doesn't get flustered and she doesn't get sloppy. She just keeps working. As does the brunette. Hailee showing plenty of patience herself, willing to stay behind that long jab and not try to force any heavy leather. She takes the opportunity to land it when it's there, but, when it isn't, she's more than willing to move the feet and work the left some more. Results on the scorecards are the same. Rickards unable to get enough done inside to counter Hailee's work outside. At the bell, it's Steinfeld again and the brunette's lead extends to 39-37.

ROUND FIVE:

More of the same. Steinfeld very comfortable at range, and she's determined to fight there. Again, she succeeds at keeping Rickards on the end of her punches for stretches, and, when Emily can get inside, she quickly ties her up and forces a break. Until. BOOM! The blonde slips inside, and, before Hailee can tie her up, she lands a BLISTERING right hook and Steinfeld is HURT! Hailee stumbles backward a couple of steps and quickly covers up and the blonde is ALL IN! Rickards winging away with both hands, thumping the brunette back into the ropes and then giving her a serious beating to both head and body. Hailee hanging on in a high guard, jabbing back in spots, running clock, just trying to get to the bell. Canadian doing her level best to take the American out of there, but can't get it done. At the bell, the brunette is still standing. But, Rickards has claimed the round wide and cut the lead to 48-47.

ROUND SIX:

Hailee tries to enforce distance early, but Emily not having any. Rickards now walking through the brunette's punches, getting inside, backing her up with heavy flurries. Steinfeld's legs still not back, and the Canadian knows it. And is taking advantage of it. She's squaring up the brunette, letting the hands go, and landing a lot of hard, sharp leather. American gives ground, keeps the guard high, plays defense, looks to run some more clock. BOOM! Following a left hook to the belly that bunches up the brunette, Emily lands a NASTY right uppie and DOWN goes Hailee! Steinfeld blown to her back. Rickards quickly to a neutral corner to watch and wait. Hailee, eyes wide, staring up at the referee as the numbers get higher. At seven, she rolls to her belly, but that's all she can get done. She stays there as the count passes her by. It's OVER! And your winner by KO6 is Emily Bett Rickards!

AFTER:

All smiles from the lovely Ms. Rickards in the post-fight. "Yeah, all that range gave me a problem for a bit," the blonde admits. "But, I figured it out and got in her grill, and, when that happened, well. It was just a matter of time."