Sydney Sweeney versus Hailee Steinfeld

BEFORE:

Whom the gods wish to destroy, they first call "promising". And, not many fighters entered the FCBA with more promise than Hailee Steinfeld, who burst onto the scene as a 19-year-old back in 2016 with tools and talent for miles. And then...nothing much happened. Over the 2016 season and the six that followed, Steinfeld compiled an 8-13 record, and managed exactly ONE FIGHT, a crushing loss to Kira Kosarin, over the entire 2022 campaign. And, yet...Hailee is still just 26 years old, not even in her prime. The tools and talent...the promise, are still there.

Meanwhile, Sydney Sweeney isn't QUITE a girl who's REACHED her level of promise, but she's shown plenty, compiling a 15-7 record and a JMD Title run while beating girls like Minka Kelly, Bella Thorne, Demi Lovato, Nina Dobrev, and, most recently, Elizabeth Olsen. And, that most recent victory has definitely set the blonde beauty up for a run at another title, the lineal bantamweight straps. So, it's no surprise that Ms. Sweeney is confident heading into this one. "Yeah, she's a bigger girl than me," Sydney admits with a shrug. "Well. The bigger they are, the harder they fall."

"Someone's going to fall hard tonight," says a hard-eyed Hailee. "And, it's NOT going to be me."

ROUND ONE:

Steinfeld has reach and wants to use it, but she's barking up the wrong tree with the blonde. Sydney's a pressure fighter, skilled at getting past defenses and getting inside where she can use her power, and that's exactly what she does in this frame. The blonde is ALL up in the brunette's grill, working her body, hooking ribs and tummy and then coming upstairs with hard shots. Hailee's moving the feet, shoving off, tying up, doing anything she can to get space, but nothing works. Sydney's getting where she wants to be and doing what she wants to do, all while piling up both points and punishment. Final seconds see Hailee headlocking Sweeney while looking to her corner for help. At the bell, there's no doubt about the points. It's Sydney wide and with the 10-9 lead.

ROUND TWO:

"YOU'VE GOT TO PUNCH IN THERE!" That's what Hailee heard over and over again in the corner between rounds. And, so, she does. She also moves the feet more in the second stanza, giving a little ground, moving laterally, making it harder for the blonde to close and bang. When Sydney's working her way in, the brunette is able to score to both head and body, and this offsets a lot of what Sweeney does on the inside, those powerful hooks to ribs, head, and midsection. And, Steinfeld also "PUNCHES IN THERE!". She is nowhere near as effective as Sweeney on these terms, but she IS able to score some to the head and body, and, in the end, it makes a difference. Because, when the bell rings, it's very close, but it's Steinfeld who takes the points to even things at 19.

ROUND THREE:

More of the same. Two way stuff with Sydney coming forward and Hailee trying to maintain space but staying aggressive inside when Sweeney is able to close. It's a war of attrition for most of the round, as it's spent on the blonde's terms. Again, Steinfeld stays in it scoring from range and then fighting back on the inside. For the second consecutive round, it's close throughout, with neither fighter gaining a real advantage, but both seemingly happy with what they're able to accomplish. Final minute sees some serious grinding inside, with bodies being plundered at every opportunity, but, while Hailee is grimacing at the work Sweeney's putting in there, the brunette hangs on and bangs back right to the bell. When it rings, Sweeney's claimed the points close and gone back into the lead 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:

And, still more. And, here's the fairly impressive thing. Sweeney's mostly, not completely, but mostly, dictating terms here. But, despite that, Hailee's hanging in there pretty well with her. She's scoring some on the inside and finding ways to gum up the works when she isn't. She's tying up, wrapping around the head, shoving off, anything she can do to slow down Sydney's offense. For her part, Sweeney is, as always, resolute. She's going to bang in there and she's going to bank on the other girl's body giving out before hers does. She'll take those odds every time. And, history shows that she absolutely should. Add all this up, and, once again, there's not much in it. At the bell, it's very close for the third round in a row. And, for the second of those rounds, the points go to the brunette, who evens things at 38.

ROUND FIVE:

Same yet again. Ladies at close quarters most of the time, Sweeney working body, Steinfeld banging back as much as she can, trying to shorten the exchanges with tie ups that force breaks. And, again, there's not much in...BOOM! Right hook, SYDNEY and Hailee is HURT! Steinfeld GOBSMACKED as the blonde lets the hands go, hammering her back against the cables and then tenderizing tummy and ribs with both hands. Hailee wants to keep the guard high, but all this body work is adding up. She tries clinching, but Sydney levers and HURTS HAILEE WITH ANOTHER RIGHT HOOK! Ref looking in closely. Steinfeld hanging on desperately, as the blonde tries everything to get her out of there...tries...and fails. Hailee hangs on to the bell. When it rings, though, Sweeney's got the points wide and takes the 48-47 lead at the half.


ROUND SIX:

Sydney pushing all the chips in. She's attacking the brunette, looking to get her out of there. Hailee backing and covering, backing and covering, backing and...BOOM! rocking Sydney with a right hand counter! Steinfeld catches the blonde coming in with a BLISTERING shot and Sweeney's rumblin', stumblin', fumblin' around the ring. Takes a couple of beats for the still buzzed Hailee to get in gear, and that gives the blonde time to form the tight earmuff. Sweeney being backed to the ropes by a barrage of leather, head buffeted from side to side when she gets to the cables, but the blonde blocking and rolling with most of the stuff upstairs. So, Steinfeld goes down and starts tenderizing tummy. Sweeney crouching with tight elbows trying to protect the body. It's grim stuff, but the blonde rides it out, and, when the bell rings, she's still on her feet. But, the brunette's got the points wide and we're even again at 57.

ROUND SEVEN:

Hailee now the one pushing the chips to the center, determined to finish this thing. Sydney, still plenty wobbly, giving ground, keeping the guard high, playing for time. Steinfeld able to use that reach now, line the blonde up with the jab, then drop NASTY right hands on her. Sweeney is shaken again and again as the bigger girl brings her power to bear, but, still the blonde won't go down. She's hanging on desperately, but she IS hanging on. BOOM! Right hand, HAILEE AND DOWN GOES SYDNEY! A VICIOUS overhand right swivels the blonde's head and sends her crashing to the canvas on her right side. Steinfeld to a neutral corner. Sweeney not moving at ALL as the count continues. She's not just down, she's OUT! It's OVER! And your winner by KO7 is Hailee Steinfeld!

AFTER:

Steinfeld JUBILANT. This is a huge win for her and she knows it. "Told you I could get her out of there," she says with a smile. "Just had to keep fighting my fight and the knockout would come. It did. And, now I'm going to build on this and work my way into the title picture! Count on it!"