1. Lily Collins vs Alexis Knapp

(Results: Lookout!, Words: Caspian)

1. Lily Collins vs Alexis Knapp

Lily:
(31, 5’5, 112, 37:12 FCBA, VIXENs)


Alexis:
(31, 5’8, FCBA Debut, Free Agent)


BEFORE:
Small wonder Alexis Knapp hasn’t made her debut in the ring after all these years, the accomplished actress looking like a natural fit for the FCBA as she smiles and waves to reporters in the pre-fight press conference. Lily, of course, not looking too happy after dropping the Flyweight belt to arch-rival Olivia Holt just three weeks ago. Screw Vanessa Hudgens, is what the VIX Flyweights are saying backstage these days - the Odds and Ends starlet has been the bane of their existence instead, having beating the likes of Fox, Watson and now Collins herself.

“Holt’s nothing but overrated. She relies on her power shots and that’s it. She has zero class. Knapp had better learn a thing or two from my title fight last month, because I ain’t making the same mistakes twice,” Lily says with a low growl.

It’s a little surprising to see Collins’ next fight against another Bantamweight fighter. Historically, she hasn’t fared well against bigger and taller opponents like Ana de Armas. Knapp knows this all too well, smirking back at the former champs’ comments.

“Let’s face it - Lily’s done quite well for herself. I may not have fought in the FCBA before, but I’ve always followed the league with interest. Even she can’t deny that everyone under the sun was surprised when she won the belt from Portman a year ago. She’s in for a real surprise tonight though - I’ve been training hard for my debut, and I plan to overpower her the same way Holt did.”

Tense staredown at the podium as Alexis’ three-inch height advantage is brought to bear. Lily’s forced to stare up into the piercing eyes of her opponent, both actresses looking like they want to win. Hours later, we’re back in the arena, and it’s a cozy atmosphere indeed: a small gym hall that’s packed to the brim with reporters and fans, flashing their cameras.

Lily’s dressed in a slick white-black sports bra and briefs, tightening red gloves over her fists in her corner. Alexis going for a blue sports bra and black long tights - white gloves for both hands. Referee waves for this opening bout to start and HERE WE GO with ten rounds of Bantamweight action!

ROUND 1:
Lily back in her comfort zone, slowly making short work of the newbie as she pounds away and circles. Short, deliberate jabs sent crunching into Alexis' face early on, drawing shock and gasps as Knapp tries to cover and run, defend herself against such a methodical attack. Perhaps it wasn't the best idea to make her debut against a former Flyweight champ, but the risk-reward was always about taking advantage of a shattered Lily Collins, who’s still reeling from her disastrous defeat at the hands of Holt. Knapp snapping some wild punches back into the Vixen’s face to end the round, but it ain’t enough to stop her foe’s advance as Lily presses in with her experience till the bell rings.

ROUND 2:
Knapp flies into the lead as she counters Collins’ aggression with some of her own. Lily more shocked and surprised WHEN her first left-right combo is answered almost immediately by Knapp, who ignores the pain to her jaw to fire back with a one-two punch combo of her own. Ladies quickly exchange fire at close range but Lily is the one who starts the retreat, probably thinking it’s best to avoid punishment this early in the fight. Bad news for the Vixen then as this only emboldens Knapp further, the brunette charging in and after her with more rapid fists. Collins is forced to cover up in an embarrassing retreat, not being able to contain the rookie, and Alexis scores the biggest round of her career thus far with a final proding to the nose.

ROUND 3:
Hold that thought, because Knapp seems to like the taste of winning! Here she comes again, roaring right into Lily at the opening bell with a stunner of a cross hand to the temple, then another left hook catching the Vixen to her body. Lily grunting, not used to her foe’s strength, opts to cover up and run for the rest of the round. Poor Lily’s still in a mental state of defeat as she recovers from her losing the title, which allows Alexis now to push and prod her repeatedly with shots to her body and arms, though Knapp herself growing tired by the end of three minutes but undeniably securing another shutout round for herself. Looks like there’s plenty of promise indeed for the newcomer as she raises her hands to the cheers of the crowd, a big smile on her face.

ROUND 4:
That’s promptly wiped off the moment the fourth starts, with Lily marching in with both hands raised high and over her face before she smashes a clean right hand into Knapp’s lips, then continues hounding the rookie with snap jabs to the forehead. Alexis already gurgling from that early shot that’s shoved in, some wild punches returned at Lily in a desperate move to secure past glory, but they’re off target or avoided by the Vixen, as Lily wades in and presses her attack, more deliberate shots to the body and then rocking the newbie’s arms with measured hooks. The Vixen’s back in control and probably had enough of this embarrassment as she pounds away on the hapless girl, and Knapp tries to concentrate on not going down for the first knockdown attempt. The bell rings soon after in another wide swing to Collins’ corner.

ROUND 5:
The former champ is back in fighting form as she presses in, taking more pot-shots at Knapp’s arms to gauge her interest before whipping her head back with a couple of straight hands slammed into the forehead or chin. Knapp has no answer thus far for her opponent’s focus, her own haphazard swings doing little to help her cause as she gets countered by dull hooks catching her across her face, which send her reeling a couple of steps to the ropes. Soon, Lily done playing with her food, WHAPS another right hand across the chin, sending Alexis spiraling off to the side, where she loses her balance and COLLAPSES to the ground, completely wrecked! Referee does his job and starts the count, but Knapp can barely raise her own chest off the ground as he runs the count through to ten! It’s OVER!!

Official Decision: Lily Collins defeats Alexis Knapp via KO5!

AFTER:
Fist-pumping performance for Collins as she smiles and heads back to her own corner. The critics will say this was a pick-me-up fight but perhaps that’s exactly what the Vixen needed after that disappointing loss to Holt last month.

“I’ll be back one day, rest assured,” Lily says to reporters later. “Everyone wrote me off before and said I’d never be champion one day. And then look at what happened. Knapp showed some heart tonight, but let’s be clear: she never stood a chance of winning.”

Knapp looks disappointed as she’s brought around back to her corner, her trainers giving her a full look-over as they spot for permanent damage. The actress may have had a late start in the ring but that hasn’t stopped some of her compatriots from going on to win big in their prime. Who knows? If she decides to stick around, she might follow in their footsteps one day.