Taylor Hill versus Antje Utgaard

BEFORE:

Front Street past and present collide in this welter tilt between former Front Streeter Antje Utgaard, now a proud member of The Fighting Academy, and current member Taylor Hill. And Antje is nothing if not confident in her first bout against a member of her former stable. "Look, they made a mistake," says the big blonde. "They're all about 'we really want to win the welterweight titles', and then they released the best welter they ever had. And, of course, they STILL haven't won the titles and they aren't anywhere CLOSE to doing it. Mistake. And, tonight, I'm going to prove it by taking out their top welter."

"I've been in with Antje," says Taylor with a nod. "She's very big and very strong and very difficult to deal with. But. I'm the better fighter, and I'll prove it tonight."

ROUND ONE:

Hill, perhaps, has multiple things to prove tonight, considering she's coming off two straight losses, and she starts things off like she knows it. She's working the jab at range, moving the feet, boxing with. She's got a slight reach advantage, and she's using it very well. Utgaard quickly adjusts, however, and, by the second minute, she's holding her own on these terms. Taylor's landing more, the blonde is landing the harder shot. Both fighters are clearly comfortable on these terms, and on these terms they stay for the rest of the round, each scoring well as she gets her box on. At the bell, it's close, but Taylor's early round dominance plays and she takes the points to lead 10-9.

ROUND TWO:

Same again. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, and neither blonde nor brunette think anything is broken at the moment. Both like to work at range, extend on their punches, and both are doing so very effectively in the second. Utgaard showing why she was regarded as sort of a "next big thing at welter" back in her early Front Street days. Most girls with her size simply can't move the way she can. She's not QUITE as athletic or quick as Hill, mind, but, considering the difference in weight, she can hold her own in those departments pretty well. For the second consecutive round, it's close at the bell, but, this time, it's Utgaard's weight of shot that takes the points and we're even at 19.

ROUND THREE:

Weight of shot beginning to make a big difference now. Utgaard's sitting down on more punches, backing up Hill, forcing her to cover up more and more. Taylor trying to hang in here, hold her canvas, but she can't do it. Antje's got the range and that HEAVY right hand following on to that sharp left jab. It's all right there in front of everyone, all the pieces that made the big blonde the "girl most likely to" and, along with former stablemate Charlotte McKinney, gave her the moniker of "the next Kate Upton". And, for this round, anyway, she looks an awful lot LIKE the blonde Hall of Famer, using her skill and power to dominate her opponent from bell to bell for a wide victory that sends Antje into the 29-28 lead.

ROUND FOUR:

Utgaard in command. She's simply overpowering Hill right now, backing her up again and again with hard shot. Brunette's not hurt, but she's getting scuffed up by the bigger, stronger woman. Blonde's really got it going, putting together punches and looking as good as she's ever looked, even in that famous near-thing title shot loss to Righetti. For Taylor's part, she's, again, trying to hang in there, but she's unable to hold canvas and, because she's constantly backing and covering, is mostly reduced to firing back in the counter. For the second round in a row, there's no doubt about it at the bell. It's Antje and it's wide and Utgaard extends her lead to 39-37.

ROUND FIVE:

Hill making an adjustment, working the feet to stay off square now. It's all about the angles for the brunette, and, by getting the geometry right, she turns things into a two-way battle again. Antje's still scoring, mind, but she's not able to consistently line up the brunette and back her up like she did in the past two rounds. Result is competitive stuff, with both Utgaard and Hill having their moments and neither being able to take control of the proceedings. Late going sees several sharp exchanges in which neither woman get the better of things. At the bell, it's very close, but it's Hill, who manages to cut the blonde's lead to one, 48-47 at the half.

ROUND SIX:

Sixth begins the way the fifth ended, with the ladies working at range, Hill playing the angles while Utgaard works to square up the brunette and get the heavy leather on target. About a minute in, BOOM! Right hand, TAYLOR and Antje is HURT! Utgaard wobbles and the brunette goes ALL IN, winging away with both hands, landing two BOOMING rights and, after the second? DOWN GOES ANTJE! Big blonde dropped to her right side as Hill bounces to a neutral corner. Utgaard to hands and knees at seven, but she can get no farther! It's OVER! The count passes Antje by and it's OVER! And your winner by KO6 is Taylor Hill!

AFTER:

Taylor's clearly been in a fight and it's a "you should see the OTHER guy situation". The brunette's marked and puffy, but she's smiling. The brief losing streak is over and she's both relieved and happy. "I knew I'd get her," she says with a nod. "She hits as hard as anybody I've ever been in with...maybe harder. But, like I said, I'm better, and I proved it."