Millie Bobby Brown versus Jenna Ortega (Flyweight Title)

Lots of talk flying about this one, about Ortega, in just her fifth FCBA fight, getting a title shot. Of course, Jenna's won all of those fights and collected some prime scalps, Ziegler, Breslin, and, especially, Cole, along the way, but some folks are far from happy a girl in her fifth month in the FCBA is getting a shot at a lineal belt. But, a little more sober reflection will make clear what's going on here. Ortega's a brunette ingenue who's seen her profile rocket into the stratosphere as a result of a hit streaming series. Sound familiar? Yeah. This fight was coming, title or no. It's one of the most classic of FCBA moves, a pruning mission. And Millie's carrying a big old set of shears. Of course, none of that scares Jenna, who's all about making some history on this night. "Thing is," Ortega says with a smile, "Every girl who's gotten in against me thought they had the advantage. And, all of them ended up sucking canvas. Just like Millie will."

"She deserves this chance," says Brown, "No matter WHAT people say. But, she's not getting MY belts. She's getting an a** kicking."

ROUND ONE:

To no one's surprise, we see quite a bit of recon in round one. Ortega's giving up a little reach here, and she's working out ways to deal with that. Millie, meanwhile, mindful of the power that's seen Jenna take out Breslin in three and Cole in five. She's not trying to get caught early and put in a hole or, worse, put on the canvas. So, everyone is careful. Everyone is gathering information. And, nobody's committing on anything. That doesn't mean there isn't action, though. Both women are moving head, hands, and feet, bouncing around the ring, popping jabs, looking to follow up, all while probing defenses, looking for openings that can be used for later offensives. As usual in stanzas like this one, it's close throughout, and, when the bell rings, the champion's taken the points narrowly to lead 10-9.

ROUND TWO:

Ladies settle into some boxing at range and middle distances. Millie using the left to create space, following on with rights. Jenna looking to slip, dip, step forward, get off in combination. Both fighters getting some, but not enough of what they want, and the result is another good, two-way round. There's plenty of action in this frame, in inimitable flyweight fashion. The work rate is high, with lots of leather flying, and the defense, on both sides is excellent, something you don't often see from two fighters as young, and, in Ortega's case, inexperienced as these two brunettes. Add it all up, and, while there's plenty to please the crowd, there's not a lot in it. Things are nip and tuck throughout, and, when the bell rings, for the second straight round, the champ's taken it by a cat's whisker to lead 20-18.

ROUND THREE:

Brown's experience advantage begins to play. She's using the feet and the left hand to enforce distance and control Jenna respectively, and it all works like a charm in the third. Ortega's working to slip that jab, and, when she can and she can get to middle distances, she scores. But, Millie's got the range now. She's double and triple tapping that thing, working Ortega to where she wants her and then following on with hard right hands. By the final minute, Millie's in complete control, giving Jenna a beating while the older brunette is growing more and more frustrated with her inability to get anything done. By the time the bell rings, for the first time in the fight, there's going to be no doubt about it. The champion's won her third straight round, this one wide, and she's built a huge 30-27 lead.

ROUND FOUR:

BOOM! Opening exchange sees a NASTY right from Jenna and MILLIE IS HURT! Brown gets caught by that power she was concerned about and Ortega's letting the hands go, driving all before her and DROPPING BROWN WITH A RIGHT HOOK! Champ down on her right side as Jenna BOUNCES to a neutral corner. Ref counting down in Millie, who pushes to hands and knees at seven and barely beats the count. Ref thinking long and hard about this thing during the mandatory, but he waves on Ortega! Challenger makes reservations for two in the woodshed and she takes the champion there, battering her to head and body, backing her to the ropes, and PUNISHING her with hard right hands and nasty left hooks. Brown hangs on in a high guard to the bell, but Ortega's taken the round 10-8 and is within one at 38-37.

ROUND FIVE:

Brown a shambling wreck. Ortega's done PLENTY of damage to the champion, and she's determined to finish in this frame. Millie giving ground, keeping the guard high, all about defense, playing for time here. But, Jenna's not going to give it to her. Ortega playing pressure fighter now, ALL up in the champion's grill, working her body, thumping to the midsection and the ribs, trying to bring down the guard. Brown not having it. She's keeping it high, taking the punishment, clinching when she can. Final minute is GRIM stuff for Millie, as grim a minute as she's had in her brief career. She's pinned to the cables and taking to both head and body as the ref looks in. She's holding him off with the occasional counter, but, when the bell finally rings, Jenna's pitched a shutout and evened things at 47 at the half.

ROUND SIX:

Brown in retreat. Jenna pouring forward. Ortega slowing down the offensive just a bit, doesn't want to punch herself out here. Instead, she's more clinical and just about as effective. She's flurrying, backing up Brown, keeping her on the defensive. Millie countering a bit more as the legs just begin to come around, but she's still far from confident in them, and, as a result, Ortega can find plenty easily, piling up points and punishment just as she has the last two rounds. Brown manages to stay off the ropes this time around, and she's able to at least put some punches together at times, but, just as in the last two frames, this one is just about all Jenna. At the bell, Ortega's taken the points wide for the third straight time and has now pulled into the lead 57-56.

ROUND SEVEN:

More Jenna. More clinical stuff. Ortega isn't going to get sloppy or wear herself out. She's taken command of this thing, and Brown is showing zero signs of being able to change that, so the challenger just keeps on keeping on, pressuring, landing solid shot to head and body, always coming forward and forcing Millie back. Brown's got more legs now and has apparently shaken the worst of the damage, but she's still on the back foot, still unable to put much together offensively, as Jenna gets the better of things in almost every exchange. Late round sees a couple of sharp trades with heads snapping back. Best stuff from Brown since before the knockdown, but it's far too little to matter in the seventh. At the bell, Ortega's taken yet another one wide and leads by two, 67-65 with just three rounds to go.

ROUND EIGHT:

Things settling back to more even stuff now. Brown's legs are back under her and she's able to move, get the jab on, create space for ranged boxing while Jenna works to slip, step forward, work at middle distances. It's the first couple of rounds all over again, only with Brown looking plenty scuffed and the challenger with a late lead...but far from sitting on it. Jenna's still working hard, being aggressive, staying sound and GETTING ROCKED! Brown with a PERFECT one-two, jab to snap back the head and a follow on right that sends Jenna rumblin', stumblin', fumblin' across the ring. Millie after her immediately, winging away, looking to finish and DOWN GOES JENNA! A SCINTILLATING combination by the champ sends the older brunette to her back. Millie quickly to a neutral corner. Ortega sitting up at six, starting to rise at seven...and CRUMPLING BACK TO THE CANVAS! It's OVER! Jenna still down as the count passes her by and it's OVER! And your winner by KO8 and STILL Unified Flyweight Champion is Millie Bobby Brown!

AFTER:

Brown's face tells the story. She's been in a fight and come out the other end with her belts. So, there's a smile despite the damage. "Caught me one," the champion admits. "Took some time for me to shake it. But, once I did, there wasn't any doubt. I was getting her out of there. These belts are MINE. And, the likes of Jenna Ortega is NEVER taking them from me."