Adrianne Palicki versus Kara Del Toro

BEFORE:

Top twenty lightweight contest features former Unified Lightweight AND Unified Welterweight Champion Palicki against the undefeated Del Toro. And, there's plenty of respect to go around between "The Chin Checker" and "The Body". "She's really made a splash since joining the FCBA," Adrianne says with a gorgeous smile. "Eighteen in a row? That's impressive. But, she's not getting to nineteen. And, that's just the way it is."

"Palicki is the best fighter I've ever been in with," says Kara with a nod, "But, that's no surprise, because she's about as good as anybody in the FCBA. She's got length and power and athleticism and a ton of skill. What do you give a fighter who's got all that? Well. In my case, I'm going to hand her a LOSS."

ROUND ONE:

Boxing at range early, and no surprise there. Ladies haven't fought before and each has respect for the other's power, so you're looking to do some recon early, look for openings, gather information for later use. Adrianne has the reach advantage, and she uses that well in the first half of the round, giving Kara some problems getting to spots. But, Del Toro slowly adjusts, working the feet and the angles, and gets into the fight. Final minute and a half sees good back and forth stuff, with both fighters landing some solid shot, but nobody hurt. Everybody's gotten pretty comfortable by the time we head down the stretch, and the ladies even begin sitting down on some punches in the very late going. When the bell rings, it's close, but it's Palicki who grabs the 10-9 lead.

ROUND TWO:

More of the same. Ladies at range and no one interested in switching things up. Del Toro comfortable now, playing the angles, working the feet, managing to offset her rival's reach. Palicki relaxed, long-limbed, using that left jab to set up hard right hands. Kara aware of that power, always mindful of the defense. She's getting the hands out and back very quickly, working hard not to give the older woman any openings for that devastating right hand. There's very little in it all the way, and, while both fighters put together some solid combinations in the final minute, neither is able to gain any real space as far as points go. And, so it is that, when the bell rings, it's a near thing indeed, but Del Toro has managed to take the round and even things at 19.

ROUND THREE:

More ranged boxing. Both women intelligently aggressive. They're working to create opportunities and pouncing when they can. But, neither is going to put the pedal to the metal here, as both have to remain aware of the power their respective opponents possess. So, intelligent aggression. Nothing sloppy, ever. Instead, it's good, sound work with hands getting out and back, feet moving, and hard, accurate shot landing. And, once again, there's nothing in it. The ladies boxing with on even terms, which, no matter how you slice it, is impressive stuff from Kara. Sure, she's unbeaten, but she's also not even had 20 fights, while Palicki is a five-time champion with tons of impressive names on her wins list. But, Del Toro isn't here to make an impression, she's here to win. And, in the third? She can't quite manage it. Adrianne takes the points close and moves into the 29-28 lead.

ROUND FOUR:

Ladies remain in the settled pattern. Both are having success on these terms and neither interested in making adjustments. Del Toro keeping that left hand high at all times, moving the head, slipping forward to spots, getting off in combination, then ducking away. Adrianne using the jab brilliantly, poke, poke, poking, dropping right hands behind it. It's back-and-forth for the entire round, with, once again, no one able to gain any sort of edge despite a lot of good work being done by both fighters. Late round sees a solid right from Palicki that backs Del Toro up a step, but Kara steps right back forward and lands her best flurry of the fight, forcing Palicki to cover up. When the bell rings, it's cat's whisker close once again, but Del Toro's got the round and she's evened things at 38.

ROUND FIVE:

Fifth begins the way the fourth ended. Ladies boxing at range, but with a bit more aggression. Both brunettes know this thing is about even at this point, and, while neither is going to throw caution to the wind to try to gain an advantage, both ARE going to up the ante just a bit. About half way through, Palicki lands her best punch of the fight, backing up Del Toro. Adrianne steps in and GETS ROCKED BY A RIGHT HAND COUNTER! Palicki rumblin', stumblin', fumblin' around the ring and KARA DROPS HER WITH A STRAIGHT RIGHT HAND! Adrianne crashes to her back! Kara quickly to a neutral corner. McCarthy screaming from the corner, all "Get up, you bum!" Ref counting down on Adrianne who rolls to her belly at seven, pushes to hands and knees at eight...and CRUMPLES BACK TO THE CANVAS! It's OVER! That quickly, it's OVER! And your winner by KO5 in lightning-strike fashion is Kara 'The Body' Del Toro!

AFTER:

A madhouse. McCarthy steaming into the ring screaming at Palicki, the referee, the Sceej corner crew, Neve Campbell and Jewel in the Front Street corner. She makes a charge at Neve and is held back by the put-upon ref, who makes eye contact with security, which swarms the ring. Del Toro, meanwhile, after checking on Adrianne and finding her doing OK, has had ENOUGH of McCarthy's antics! This is KARA'S moment, and Mac is infringing on it. Kara steps up to the blonde and gives her a shove right in the chest, knocking her into the ropes. McCarthy charges, but security is quickly between them, hauling a screaming J-Mac out of the ring, all while a smirking Neve leads Kara back to the locker room while the latter shoots daggers at the blonde Playmate. Just another chapter in the Jenny McCarthy book of "How To Win Friends and Influence People"