Mary Elizabeth Winstead vs Adrianne Palicki (LW Title)

Renewal of a rivalry that goes back ten plus years when these two were novices – MEW dropped a KO1 on Adrianne that nearly stopped her career in its tracks. Since then, both have been lightweight champion though recent years have seen Winstead’s career take off while Adrianne’s bogged down, current win streak notwithstanding. Mary a solid favorite to retain her title – she’s been rampaging through lightweight division since the tournament, has a better record, has dominated Palicki head to head and in her last fight gave welterweight champ Amanda Righetti all she could handle.

Palicki given the proverbial “puncher’s chance” by so called experts: with the Grand Wizard cracking “Yeah … all she’s got is a puncher’s chance … but it’s a punch that could knock out a charging rhino!”

Fight Night: Palicki to ring, accompanied by head Sceej trainer Scrubby McGee and his assistants Jack Daniels and Jim Beam. Orange crocheted bikini, orange boots and black gloves.
Ring announcer, “… she’s currently ranked fifth by Tractorpull magazine … they call her the ‘Chin-Checker” … Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaadriane Palicki!!!”

MEW to ring in navy bikini and boots, white gloves, accompanied by Jennifer Garner, reveling in that introduction “… and undisputed FCBA lightweight champion of the worrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrld … Mary … Elizabeth … Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinstead!!!”

“Never get tired of hearing that!” she whispers to Garner in corner.

Round 1: Tactical feeling out first round. Both fighters upright, guards high, trading jabs, looking for the opening. Working the perimeter, circling. Palicki throws straight right and Winstead skips back, Palicki feigns jab and again throws straight right. Redhead slips punch and comes up hooking, slapping shot to Adrianne’s jaw that stuns tall girl momentarily. MEW looks to follow up but patient, feigns lead right and is able to land thumping left to ribs. Palicki late with the right hand receipt. Palicki backs off and circles … probing with jab which Winstead picks off with gloves. Round 1 to the champ.

Round 2: Again, high guards, both girls seem a little cautious to commit – wary of opponent’s power. Trade of jabs slowly favoring the lanky Palicki; Winstead has to alter the fighting distance. Crouches and bobs, works inside and punishes tall girl’s torso with a left right … and is caught by left uppercut - Winstead STUNNED! Champion stumbles back … and jaw is just barely kissed by long right hand of the challenger – Winstead HURT! Earmuffs with gloves and backs into ropes … only about twenty seconds left in the round! Crowd on feet. Palicki lashes left then right to the midriff, drawing groan form MEW, then splits gloves and bangs right hand off champ’s forehead. Mary looks ready to go as bell rings. Palicki back to corner waiving glove above head.

Between rounds, Garner working ice on the champion’s neck. McGee looking to calm a jacked up challenger, “Stay on her … but stay smart, Addie, stay smart!”. McGee remembering all too well 2009 bout where Palicki dropped Winstead in the 10th … only to be knocked out herself in the 10th!!!

Round 3: Measured aggression from the challenger. Hounding MEW around the perimeter of the ring. Finding her with the jab then looking to pound to the temple with right, or hook chin or ribs with the left. Winstead relying on legs to keep her circling, using abrupt changes of direction to disrupt big girl’s stalking. Champion survives the 3rd round and is getting her legs back and head cleared.

Round 4: Mary shows her champion’s heart. Rights the ship and starts to take the fight to big Adrianne! Girls at center ring throwing heavy leather. Left hook Palicki to the chin. Winstead back with right upper cut that lifts challenger’s head and pounds left right to ribs. Palicki fires back – straight right that glances off top of Winstead’s head. Back and forth action until late the round – Winstead just imposing will and finally it is Palicki who is forced to step back and disengage. Bell rings and MEW let’s out with an emphatic “Yeah!” as she stomps back to corner.

Round 5: Not so fast! Just when it appeared the champion has taken control back, here comes big Adrianne! Scrubby McGee admonishing her in corner “Addie, let yer hands go and put dis goil to sleep!”. Palicki grim faced out of corner … jab jab jabs the redhead … and this is not the rangefinder jab, it’s that punishing Foreman-esque telephone pole! Knocking the champion’s head back. Mary times one and lands hard counter right but Palicki shakes it off and toggles chin with sweeping left hook counter. Winstead game .. beckons challenger “Come on!”. And Palicki brings the pain … left to the ribs … left hook to the chin … right to the head … Winstead swooning … right to the head … Winstead clinching … hanging on desperately … Palicki furiously trying to work hands free as referee wrestles fighters apart. MEW hurt badly … fighting on instinct … looking to keep referee between her and amazon hunting her. Thirty seconds to go in the round and Palicki rings her up with right to the jaw and Winstead sags into the ropes … strong legs and legendary iron will keeping her up. Bell rings and it’s challengers turn to waive fist and yell “Yeah!” as she returns to corner.

Round 6: Garner working frantically on Winstead, gives her the “Yer blowin it …” speech. Palicki out of corner and looking at the champion like a Doberman eyeing a Porterhouse! Measuring her with jab … pushing left hand into chest .. then hammering the right home … trying to force champion out of her guard with volume of punishment. Mary absorbing too much leather, she gambles a left hook and KA-BOOM … that Hammer of Thor right hand! Palicki throws arms in air and to neutral corner. Crowd roars. Referee picks up the count … 5 ... 6 … 7 … 8 … and WINSTEAD IS UP! WINSTEAD IS UP! Crowd roaring with approval. Digging deep the champion struggles to feet. Palicki just shaking her head – girls are not supposed to get up when the Chin Checker catches them flush! Scrubby McGee in corner … having 2000 flashbacks … “Finish, Addie .. but keep yer damn hands up!” Palicki forward to finish … right hand driving Winstead into ropes … left right to gut to bring guard down … Adrianne being patient here … measuring left then the big right and PALCIKI IS DOWN!!! Crowd explodes yet again!!! Mary Elizabeth Winstead … reeling … brings right hand up from her hip and kisses the chin of the Chin Checker flush! Palicki sprawls to her back … neck craning up but eyes unfocussed … rolls to one side … trying desperately to regain feet … count at 7 … bell rings and Palicki lurches to feet. E nd of round or did ref signal she was out … momentary confusion until referee indicates she beat the count.

Round 7: Both corners with frantic work. Winstead still in a daze – Palicki worse! Ice on necks. Scrubby McGee with desperate words for Palicki, who is nodding sleepily and likely not processing any of it. Both fighters physically pulled to feet by corners and sent out for the seventh. Lot of space between them … neither eager to engage. Garner from Foxfire corner, “Now … while she’s hurt! Don’t let her breathe! NOW!!!” And it lights a fire in champion’s heart. Weary battered Winstead forward … left right combination … both land … Palicki stumbles back … legs not there. Champion pops hips right and digs left hook to the body, Palicki sags and moans. Mew doubles the hook, really digs to the liver and Palicki drops to her knees in front of her .. looks for all the world like an acknowledgement of supremacy but in reality, that’s what a liver shot will do to a fighter. Referee picks up count as exhausted MEW throws hands in the air … and then stunned look. Tears in her eyes … Palicki beats the count! Crowd roaring … tribute to the courage of these two. Winstead out of corner … no movement out of the challenger … she’s rooted to the spot. Champ takes her under arms and walks her to the ropes and just tees off … right hand to the temple .. Palicki sags to her right side into the ropes .. .right hand to the chin … right hand to the jaw … Palicki out on her feet but throws arm over the top rope to stay up … right hand to the jaw ... right hand to the jaw … and Scrubby McGee THROWS IN THE TOWEL!!! Sceej corner stops the carnage as Adrianne Palicki beaten absolutely senseless! Winstead drops to knees, tears of joy. Groggy Palicki crying … insisting she can still go on.

Garner into ring to minister to a jubilant but battered champion. Both fighters on stools for protracted period as medical staff examines them. Finally, champion to her feet and crowd standing and applauding. Classy Winstead to Sceej corner for a word with Palicki, who is sobbing inconsolably.

Post fight interview with Winstead: “I never want to do that again! Fights like that … they shave years off your career. She punches so hard … and she’s got heart … but this (she holds up lightweight belt) … this is mine … mine!!! And any woman who wants to step up and try to take it? Well, take a good look at Adrianne Palicki right now and ask yourself … is that what you really want?”