Maddie Ziegler versus Dafne Keen

(21, 5’6, 22-9 FCBA, The Dollhouse)

Vs.

Dafne Keen
(19, 5’1, 10-2 FCBA, Girls’ Friday)

Results: Lookout!; Story: Caspian & The Dollhouse

BEFORE:
"People told me that taking on Dafne after losing my last fight is not the best idea…” Maddie Ziegler first says from the press podium. There’s a determined look on her face, one that’s hungry and focused on rising to the top of the FCBA Flyweight division. “And I can kinda sorta see it... Dafne is really good. She’s very tough and she DID beat Emma (Roberts) at the start of the year… who is our current champion. So, I know what I'm getting myself into, but I always want to keep challenging myself and that means beating the best girls in my division. Especially the ones around my age group. I feel like losing to Millie made me even more driven to win today and that’s my plan. Me and Dafne are both two of the best rising boxers in this division and it's going to be a great fight, I'm sure. And she better bring her best on that beach cuz I'm going to go mega hard today!" Ziegler ends her segment with a coy smile directed at Keen, sitting on the other side of the table.

Since joining the FCBA, Maddie’s always been the most measured of the top Dollhouse flyweights. But say what you want about girls like Avril and Emma, they know what they freakin’ want and aren’t afraid to tell you all about it. Some would say Maddie could use a little bit more of her co-workers’ rowdiness, but one still can’t doubt her very ambitious nature despite her respectful demeanor. This young girl wants to be the best at everything she does and it shows.

Her opponent is a rising starlet in Hollywood, the British-Spanish actress having recently starred in Disney’s The Acolyte, playing a goddamn jedi for christ’s sakes. Can you blame her for thinking she’s at the pinnacle of celebrity stardom? Coming off a huge win against the always dangerous Florence Pugh, Dafne has a lot to be confident about coming into today’s fight.

“I love Maddie’s work,” Dafne begins, smiling back from across the table. “I grew up watching her dance videos and remember admiring her dedication and skill. I know she’s also been getting into acting lately, and she’s pretty good at that too honestly, so I’d say we’re on a similar path now, even though I might be slightly ahead,” Keen smirks and casts a glance towards her opponent. “But Hollywood is Hollywood. And the ring is the ring. I have big plans for both, and that means beating Maddie today. I think I’m stronger and tougher than her, and yeah she might have almost 5 inches on me, but I think I know how to deal with that. I think it’s only a matter of time before I’m way ahead of her in the rankings, and I’ll prove it on the sand today.”

Girls square off at the podium and sure, Keen took on the current Flyweight champ and won earlier this year, but Ziegler’s four-inch height advantage might just make up for that shortfall today. Both fighters look competitive but cordial, each maintaining a safe distance with their fists up and balled, firm smirks plastered on their faces. In a rare show of sportsmanship, they nod and shake hands before departing the stage for their final preparations.

Later, we’re in the ring and Mad Dog Maddie is gearing up for one of the biggest fights of her career thus far, looking to prove she’s still one of the best young stars in the division after a recent defeat at the hands of Millie Bobby Brown, and perhaps even a worthy contender for her stablemate’s title belt. Maddie’s clad in a neon green bikini, light blue gloves on her hands, her dark brown hair in a long ponytail as she effortlessly bounces up and down on the sand ready to rumble. Across the ring from her, Dafne Keen has gone for a classy purple bikni top and black short tights, black gloves, her dark hair in a braid. She smirks and waves to her fans before settling into her fighting stance, banging her gloves together as she stares menacingly at Ziegler from across the ring.


The referee signals for the opening bell and HERE WE GO with ten rounds of sandy Flyweight action!

ROUND 1:
Maddie’s looking a little more aggressive than usual as she dots those keys, uses her reach advantage to land competitive lefts and rights to the arms straight, then dodges out of the way easily whenever the bulkier Keene tries to sock her back. No go for the Brit as her jabs mostly smack into Maddie’s arms, having trouble putting in power behind her shots, much less scoring clean to the face or body. Ziegler, getting cockier by the second, uses her dancing background to leap left and right to disorient the actress before packing leather into her cheeks to worsen the score by the end of the first minute. But Keen not taking the fight lying down. She surprises her back with feints to retreat before suddenly pivoting on her heels and CHARGING forward, her fists flying in mad, and Maddie has mere seconds to block and scramble before she takes several stiff shots to her own nose and lips. Keen may be shorter but there’s plenty of fire in that form, as she continues to surprise. Maddie punches back enthusiastically, but on aggregate, is beginning to lose out on the sheer number of hits taken on return. Dafne bites her way back into contention by the time the bell rings, landing another stinging one-two straight to the Doll’s chin that jolts Maddie’s head and torso to the side, all the while also sticking a fist of her own into the Brit’s face. Not enough for the taller brunette to make up the difference however, with a good start ending badly, as Keen squeaks out the opening win.

ROUND 2:
Ziegler is surprisingly being aggressive again, and the only problem is that her opponent also has the same idea. The two ladies CLASH in the center, and Maddie’s quick foray inwards means she also loses that reach advantage of hers, and instead allows Dafne to keep her head low and POUND away at her arms and body. Of course, Ziegler makes herself smaller, covering up and then whiffing those right and left hooks into the actress’ body, having a better time turning her hips to add additional power to each blast and fump! of glove connecting with ribcage and tummy. Slowly, Keen realizes the trouble she’s in, still swinging away wild, but also forced to take several steps back from the pressure and mounting pain. If Ziegler ain’t careful, however, she’s bound to still eat some of those wicked counter-shots from Keen, and true enough, a right hook comes sailing in the air, catching her on the side of her jawline, momentarily turning the Doll’s head to one side. But this time, Ziegler is focused and conscientious, delivering two shots for every one taken, and she has Dafne almost trapped against the ropes whilst continuing to pound her out to her sides and guard. Bell rings and it’s actually a lot closer than anticipated, with Dafne landing her own clean punches throughout, but Maddie of course dominating towards the end.

ROUND 3:
Wide HOOK from Dafne starts off the action early, as her glove sinks into the side of Maddie’s cheek and turns her about with a loud grunt and shout of surprise. Staggered off to the ropes, she quickly shakes her head and resets, just in time blocking another trio of jabs that fly in after that set-up. Keen on keener feet forward, leaping inwards and then sending flurries high and low, hoping to keep up the pressure on the Doll. Ziegler, taking fire but not too worried just yet, grunts and groans whenever leather sinks straight into her paunch and midsection, but manages to successfully protect her head thereafter. She ain’t taking any chances, folks, not this time, continuing to skirt the ropes and refusing to get pinned down. Late round and she responds with that outstretched jab straight and true, constantly poking at Keen’s eye and temple, as she advances. Only in the final seconds does Maddie go back into the fray, all-in keeping her arms firm as she soaks in more punches to deter her opponent, before scoring off Keen’s torso with a combo of double-hooks swept under the arms. Good round for either girl, but is it enough to turn the tide?

ROUND 4:
Ziegler uses some of her opponent’s own tactics here, pretending to do a retreat before surprising Dafne back with a PUMP on the brakes and a sudden barrage of punches that meets her advance. Keen looks shocked as hell as punches are sent flying towards her face, socking her clean on the lips or smack to the forehead, having to halt her steps forward and throw her arms up in disarray. But the damage is done, and Ziegler has already stepped back, her own guard fluid, lips twisted in a smile. Rinse repeat. Each time Keen tries to close in and hammer away at her body, Maddie rushes her back at the most unexpected moment, then ramming fists into the spots most open and vulnerable. Keen has HAD it by the third minute, instead of trying to defend and predict the Doll’s movements, simply PRESSES into her return shower of punches, choosing to trade leather with the taller brunette by hook or by crook. Maddie takes damage as these hooks slam into her body or the side of the arms, but at least she too knows when to cover up her chin to prevent a close-quarters backfire. Bell rings and there’s no uncertainty that she’s taken this round wide, finally celebrating the best round so far on her way back to the corner with shout and roar.

ROUND 5:
Keen still fuming as she heads out of the fifth, not about to let some taller, cockier American dancer have her way with her. Maddie tries to play another feinting tactic again, but as she surges forward, Dafne is ready and WAITING, immediately nailing the Doll with a hook to the face, another bashed into her stunned face for good luck, before a third is thrown rapidly, but by this time, misses. Still, Miss Ziegler looks shocked as a whistle, her eyes wide and mouth hanging open. She wonders how and when that went wrong, but counts it up to bad luck. And so she RUSHES in yet again moments later, this time aiming to thunder and pack leather into Keen’s body to sap the youngster of energy. But Keen capitalizes, again absorbing most of the early punches with a low guard, then waits for the most opportune moment to JOLT Ziegler’s head to the side, another snappy uppercut landing clean to upturn the chin entirely, before a right hook smacked across the face ALMOST sends the poor Doll down to the sand for the count. Almost. Keen can hear her supporters waving in victory this round when the bell rings, but one also can’t deny how exhausted she looks.

ROUND 6:
Maddie looked worse for wear in between rounds and when she’s forced off her own stool -- is she truly ready to continue the sixth? That disastrous performance last round was a mistake she cannot afford to make again, and Dafne, on the other hand, looks pumped and juiced, ready to pounce. She fends off multiple jabs to her head, using her arms to shield, her feet bounding across the extent of the ring in a couple of fast strides. But this time, Maddie’s ready and waiting, taking blows to her arms and body, before suddenly pivoting her shoulders to aim a left hand shrieking in high. Dafne spies it coming, but unfortunately, it’s a feint from her opponent, with Miss Ziegler swiftly throwing a beaut of a right hook that catches her on the cheek the other way, which JOLTS her head painfully to the side with a groan and a stream of flying spittle. Keen gets rocked about on her feet, with Ziegler deciding to go ALL IN and punish the challenger for thinking she was ever in the same league as her! She picks and chooses her shots, weaving fists in and through the arms to smack leather to nose and lips, knocking Keen about silly, before another clean shot off the bow SENDS HER DOWN! Dafne got ragdolled right there, losing her balance for a second before the momentous blow to the side of her head sends the rest of her torso following! It’s a KNOCKDOWN for Maddie Ziegler!

In the corner, Maddie has a fierce glint in her eyes, tummy pulsing in and out, resting her back as best she can on the nearby ropes. She watches as the referee begins the count, and Dafne, also made of sterner stuff, begins to push herself off the sand face-first, before steadying herself by the count of 8. Quite a scare right there for Keen’s corner with her coach Ming-Na Wen looking concerned, and we see that the British actress just hasn’t tasted much of the bitter sting of defeat, only losing twice in 12 fights thus far, much less in a hot pocket, her arms wavering at chest level, one of her eyes glued shut from a growing swelling across the temple. But she’s INSISTENT that she wants to continue, and teach this Ziegler girl a lesson. The referee shrugs and obliges, allowing a good two minutes left on the clock for either fighter to cook! Bell rings and HERE MADDIE COMES! No more missus nice gurl huh, as she closes the distance with easy strides before RESUMING her punishment on the shorter girl, who’s forced to cover up and dip her shoulders forward, making herself a smaller target. But Ziegler just waits for the right moment to throw all her force behind each punch, her gloves at times breaking through the guard entirely and hammering into Dafne’s face and chest, to the point where a third such shock to the system proves too much -- Keen’s guard breaks entirely, and she stumbles against the ropes from another wicked haymaker crashing in. Last seconds see Ziegler putting in her utmost, not wanting to lose steam like her opponent did, but also conscious of Keen’s arms slowly dipping lower and lower, growing more and more limp, especially after her gloves pack into her navel repeatedly to bend her form over in half, further aiding her descent! Another blast across the jawline has Keen COLLAPSING against the ropes, her arms now attempting to cling on for dear life, but to no avail! The referee sees the precarious situation she’s in and STEPS IN to cover her up from more punishment! It’s OVER by TKO6!

Official Decision: Maddie Ziegler defeats Dafne Keen via TKO6!

AFTER:
Huge win for the ‘Mad Dog’ Maddie Ziegler who celebrates in the immediate aftermath by raising both tired arms into the air, mounting the bottom rope at several corners of the ring and waving to the gathered fans. They came to see her immense talent on display, and that’s what they got, with the Doll’s psyche completely shifting mid-fight to give her the confidence boost she needed to finish things on a high note.

In the other corner, things are of course not as rosy: Miss Keen has to be helped to her stool by the ring officials, her faculties still tested after eating that amount of abuse in the final seconds. Her team tries to console her but Dafne is seen shaking her head and wiping off tears, clearly upset and disappointed in how the fight ended. She probably wants to keep fighting even now, but sometimes you have no choice but to swallow your pride, take the loss and come back to fight another day.

One last surprising ending to the evening: Maddie actually striding up to Dafne moments later, and for a gasping sec, the entire audience holds their breath, eager to see if the budding Doll has taken after her stablemates after all. But Instead, Maddie stands firm and extends a fist towards her younger opponent, exclaiming “Awesome fight”. There’s a look of consideration in Dafne’s eyes, but the Brit decides to extend her own fist, and the two young ladies fist bump to some huge cheers from the fans! Maddie and Dafne seen exchanging a few choice words of encouragement, before promising to do this again in the future, which, if you ask us, can’t come fast enough!

Congrats to Maddie Ziegler on her big win! Until next time!