Post by Benny on Apr 6, 2017 16:23:40 GMT -6
Anna Kendrick vs. Natalie Portman
(Flyweight Championship)
Anna: “Natalie Portman has 116 fights. That… certainly means something. There’s a reason they call her Queen Natalie, but that many rounds also takes their toll on someone. It’s a matter of gaining the experience without losing the physical gifts. But you can tell just by looking at her, that Natalie Portman hasn’t lost any physical gifts. So it’s going to be a fight. But I’m the champion for a reason. I win fights. Even way up here at the top of the flyweight division. Well, I guess the Queen here makes it the tippy top. The tippy… tippy top.” After an awkward silence, she adds hurriedly, “Butit’sgoingtobeagreatfightandPortmanisagreatfighter.” Kendrick punctuates her statement by directing her nervous energy towards staring at her shoes. (In her defense, the shoes are cute.)
Natalie: “Experience counts for quite a bit in the ring. It’s the difference between theory and practice. It’s something Kendrick will learn once she puts in the rounds. All the time in the gym. All the wins and losses. If they don’t break you, they turn you into a better fighter. Someone who can handle whatever is across from them in the ring. That experience is why I’ll win and have the championship belt again. But at the end of the night, Anna Kendrick will get to go a few rounds with an elite flyweight, so it’s kind of a win-win... Of sorts…But yeah, I’ll knock her out.”
Portman dressed in an athletic red two-piece with white gloves and boots. Kendrick in her conservative royal blue attire, with black gloves and boots. Single, no-nonsense battle braid on both girls. As they meet at center ring, Natalie stares bullets at the champion, while Anna looks right through Portman with a thousand yard stare. Professional touch of gloves and we are set for ten rounds in the flyweight division.
Round 1: Natalie known to be a skilled tactician and she emerges from her corner with textbook form. Kendrick not willing to get picked apart on the outside, so she’s diving in. Setting up combinations that conclude with hard body work and escaping at angles. Portman focusing on evading and slipping punches. She’s fine letting Anna dictate the action early. No one is better at making adjustments than Queen Natalie. While the sound of Kendrick’s gloves smacking off Portman’s skin brings a smirk to Anna’s lips, it’s difficult to say if Portman suffered any real damage. But the early points belong to the champ.
Round 2: Adjustments? Queen Natalie has already got them. She’s changing the distance on Anna, moving quick and clean to make Kendrick’s gloves find nothing but air. The high motor on the champ keeps the attack coming, but it’s ineffectual at best. Portman’s eyes lighting up each time she sees Anna overextend. Late in the round, Natalie starts counterpunching in those spots. Kendrick doing all the work, setting up the combo, lunging in to slam the big shot, and Portman lands the best punch of the exchange. She’s catching Anna clean on the cheek or uppercutting to the chest. Kendrick scruffed and grumpy as Nat is all smiles.
Round 3: Does the counterpunching make the champ gunshy? Of course not! Anna Kendrick’s heart on display, as she doubles down on the infighting and body offensive. Natalie taking shots on tucked elbows, the price she’s paying to land her counters. But now Kendrick is staying inside, her own guard tucked in tight as she starts walking Natalie back. Bumping and slugging to find space to slam punches home. Portman rolling with the worst of it, picking her spots to slug bag and tagging Kendrick to cheek. Anna dictating terms with the close quarters fighting, but Natalie just a bit sharper. Timing things perfectly. Carving out just the right space to set up her punches. Both girls breathing heavy at the bell. Hard, focused stares as the girls pass back to their corners.
Round 4: As much as Kendrick loves to swing to the body, Portman’s skill forces Anna to reconsider. The champ comes out light on her feet, dancing and managing range with her jab. Nat prepared for another stanza of head on shoulder slugging. It takes her a while to adjust to the new terms. Anna looking very comfortable here, stabbing out that jab and following up with hard leather crashing through Portman’s guard. She’s spooking Natalie out of the pocket and forcing Portman to fight off the back foot. Kendrick picking away, landing that lead jab to tummy and following up with solid shots upstairs. Natalie managing best she can, working the ring to avoid being trapped in a corner. In the final minute, Portman decides to stand her ground. She’s hammering back! Surprising Kendrick with stiff resistance, it’s Natalie landing clean punches and twisting Anna’s head! It forces Anna to come back harder with crushing body hooks and dynamite uppercuts that pick up Portman’s chin clean! Bell barely heard over the rising cheers as both girls stumble to corners.
Round 5: Portman working out the calculation as the girls close in again. Trying to game out where and when she can land her counters. But Anna is attacking at odd angles and with syncopated timing. She’s ducking, sliding, and striking at whatever Natalie leaves open. Two pops to the tummy… Portman is able to catch and slip a few punches… then Kendrick is able to tuck a few shots home to Natalie’s cheek. The Ivy Leaguer looking frustrated here. Pressure mounting and Portman just can’t seem to solve the puzzle. She gambles on a counter, guarding high and ducking low… and Kendrick TAGS her with an uppercut! It was supposed to be a body blow, but the Queen ducked right into it and she is FLOORED!! Staring at the ring lights as Anna is ushered to a neutral corner. Kendrick breathing heavy and gripping the ropes. All that constant pressure and high effort offense finally showing on her face as her chest heaves. Natalie in shock on the mat; takes a few moments to breathe and check her systems. Slow, careful rise as she finds her feet at the count of nine. Portman shy to engage for the rest of the round. Anna tries to keep up the pressure, but without Natalie looking for counters, it’s difficult for Kendrick to land anything of consequence.
Round 6: Big fight decision made in the corners this round. Kendrick could keep up the pressure, but will she gas herself before she can get the KO? Will Portman keep hunting for the key counterpunch, or will she need a new tactic? Anna’s choice is made clear as she’s across the ring quick, immediately invading Natalie’s space. It’s that same stifling pressure, steady and suffocating. Portman hangs in, not spooked by the action, but bravely catching what she can and hammering her own shots to the body along the way. She’s really investing in Kendrick’s tummy here, knowing that could slow down the assault. Anna starting to tuck her elbows in tight to her body, taking each Portman body blow with a grumpy grimace. But Kendrick is still pushing the pace here, cracking Nat clean with quick hooks to chin. Portman definitely hurt, but she stabilizes… and lands a BIG left body blow! Then comes over the top and SLAMS a right hook to chin, spinning the champ down to the ground and laying her out! Kendrick sprawled out on the deck, eyes shut tight as she tries to make sense of what just happened. She struggles to hands and knees, crawls to the edge of the ring, and hauls herself up the ropes. Anna shaky as the ref checks her over, but she gets her gloves up and gets the green light.
Round 7: Anna Kendrick hunched over as she comes out of her corner for round seven. She’s drawing to draw in air, but every breath is agony thanks to the body beating Portman gave her last round. Natalie licking her chops as she jumps right back in her rhythm. Lightning quick shots spanking off of Anna Kendrick’s weakening defenses. Each attack forces Kendrick back. Every flurry from Portman forces Anna to stumble back farther and farther before she can restabilize. Anna can feel Natalie starting to enforce her will. In desperation, Kendrick springs forward with a high combination. She’s head hunting, but the Queen ducks underneath the punches and HAMMERS away to the midsection of the champ! And that bomb EXPLODES to Kendrick’s body! Deflating her as she collapses straight down to her knees, face awash in agony as she hugs her damaged tummy! Her forehead is on the mat as she kicks her feet on the canvas, desperate to process the hurt! Somehow, she pushes up and using the ropes to climb. Her left glove hugging her body as she manages to find her feet despite a wobble in her legs. She’s begging the ref to let her keep going, tears forming in her eyes. Portman looking strong here as she bangs her gloves together, knowing this is her chance to end it. Natalie tucks in tight behind her guard, bumping and slugging as Anna just takes along the ropes. Portman works her glove inside Kendrick’s arm, prying it away from her body and creating a window… which she uses to SLAM home another body blow! Anna deflates as that punch takes all the wind out of her sails. She just curls up into a ball on the ground, clutching her violated guts as the count passes her by! And your winner and NEW champion of the flyweight division… QUEEN NATALIE PORTMAN by KO7!!!
After: Natalie Portman jubilant as she struts the ring. She has re-ascended to her rightful throne and her smile couldn’t be any bigger! She points to the belt around her waist. “It just looks right, doesn’t it? Winning a championship always feels incredible. It’s what you work so hard for, and when you finally knock out the girl that was walking around town with your championship, it feels really good. But that’s not a feeling you’re going to hear about for a long time. Because the Queen is back on her throne and no girl is getting this title away from me!”
Anna insisting that she gets to present the title to Natalie Portman personally. Tears streaming down her face as she clasps the belt around the new champion’s waist. The Queen offers Kendrick a consolation hug and a few words of encouragement. “We’ve all been there. You’re a good boxer. You’ll get it back one day, just like I did.” But for tonight, Anna Kendrick retreats from the ring and into the shadows. The flashbulbs pop and the spotlight shines on the new champion, Natalie freakin’ Portman!
If you're familiar with Hamilton at all and I have a feeling you are, you know why!
