Tate McRae versus Gigi Hadid

BEFORE:

Hadid a girl who looked like a comer in the mid-teens, showing her bona fides by blasting out Kajlich, a welter contender at the time, and taking Upton into the tenth before falling in a title fight. Since, however, things have not gone nearly as well, with the rangy beauty fighting top competition, but struggling to get results. That definitely hasn't affected her confidence, however. "I keep hearing about how Tate's this great athlete and all that. I've been in with DOZENS of girls better than her. She's not beating me tonight. She's not."

McRae's been in the FCBA just over a year and put together nine wins, but this is her first time on the big stage. And, she's also confident coming in. "This isn't too big for me," says Tate. "And, neither is Gigi. I'm better than she is. And I WILL take her out of there."

ROUND ONE:

Gigi has the edge in height and length and she's using it early, setting up at gunnery range and putting punches together. Tate, who's known for her movement and athleticism, is curiously static. She's moving the head, angling some, but she's mostly staying in front of the taller woman, allowing Hadid to get her box on, extend on her punches, take control of the proceedings. This is looking like exactly what Gigi's people drew up as far as the fight plan goes. Hadid's getting the long left on, following with right hands, staying on the offensive and reducing the brunette to counters. McRae lands in spots, but that's all she can do, as the older woman dominates from the opening seconds to the final bell. When that bell rings, Hadid has taken it wide to lead 10-9.

ROUND TWO:

McRae hears it in the corner and she gets moving. NOW the athletic brunette is bringing those dance chops to bear. She's here, there and everywhere, making it hard for Gigi to find with that long left jab. This isn't jab and circle stuff, mind. It's in and out and here and there and find me if you can. The blonde mostly can't. But, Gigi's length still plays in an important way. Tate's forced to slip inside that jab to really get off, and it limits what the brunette is able to accomplish against a much more experienced girl. Things are nip and tuck the entire way, with both women having moments of being able to get some points scored and nobody doing enough to create any space. At the bell, it's very, very close, but McRae grabs the round and evens the score at 19.

ROUND THREE:

More of the same. Pattern is set now. Tate's on the move, bobbing the head, bouncing on the balls of the feet, popping forward here and there to let the hands go. Gigi more flat footed, left foot in front, snapping that long left jab, looking to locate, and, when she can do it, stopping McRae with the jab and dropping follow on right hands on her. It's good stuff from both fighters, and, while, once again, there's not much in it, there's plenty of action for the fans to enjoy as both blonde and brunette land some solid stuff at times, though nobody's hurt. Late round sees Gigi put together two nice combinations that throw Tate onto the defensive, and those flurries play. They're enough to push Hadid ahead when the bell rings, giving the blonde the points and the 29-28 lead.

ROUND FOUR:

Tate moving, bouncing, popping forward to land some nice, crisp combinations. Gigi flatfooted, working behind that long left jab, dropping some solid right hands behind it. Again, good stuff from both blonde and brunette as the ladies find ways to score in a third-consecutive good, two-way rou...BOOM! Right hand, TATE and DOWN GOES GIGI! McRae bounces forward, drills a left hook to the midsection and then BLASTS the blonde with a right cross that sends her CRASHING to her back in the middle of the ring! McRae quickly to a neutral corner as the referee counts down on Hadid. No movement at ALL from the blonde as the numbers get higher and the count passes her by. It's OVER! That quickly, it's OVER! And your winner by KO4 in lightning strike fashion is Tate McRae!

AFTER:

Tate clearly excited about her first PPV win, but, she's trying to be matter-of-fact in the post-fight. "I knew I'd get her," the brunette says with a nod. "She's got length and a lot of experience, so she created some problems, but I solved them, and, once I did, well. She was going down. It was just a matter of time."