Lightweight Championship: Nichols v Palicki

For many, odd choice of opponent by Palicki but in presser she explains, “It’s about unfinished business. Rachel’s 2-0 against me and took my title in our first fight. Now she was never bitchy like Krista Allen or Zeta-Jones, but it gnaws at me a little and when no one else was chafing to challenge, i decided to go for it.



Rachel Nichols: “Anyone who calls this a mismatch is right … but probably for the wrong reason! No ring-rust here. I am in the gym working with my girls every day. And as you can see I am in Adrianne’s head … she is trying to convince herself she can beat me but I don’t think even she really believes it! It is a mismatch … this girl aint got a chance!”



Nichols to ring, seconded by Jennifer Garner, general manager of Foxfire - a former two time lightweight champion - auburn haired and toned and resplendent in red sports bra, trunks, gloves and boots - enjoying the applause after almost a year away from the ring …



… and then sound system thunders with “Momma Said Knock You Out!” and here comes the champion … seconded by trainer Scrubby McGee … the “Chin Checker” … Adrianne Palicki.



Round 1: Palicki establishes the jab early. Girls close in height but Adrianne long limbed, able to hold Rachel at distance. When Nichols gets frustrated, she gets sloppy. Ill advised bull rush halted with sharp right hand to the forehead. Auburn beauty backs off … content to trade jabs, she scoring but the blonde is scoring more. Good first round for the champion!



Round 2: Garner in her fighter’s ear, “Get low and give her angles - don’t ever come in straight!” and the Hall of Famer’s advise is money in the bank. Nichols able to neutralize the long reach by crouching, weaving head. Get inside and lets hands pound those long flanks, forcing clinches out of the blonde. Second round to the challenger. Jennifer Garner to her fighter, “See? She don’t like it to the body - so that’s whats she’s gonna get!”



Round 3: Fight is taking on elements of a chess match. In the Sceej corner, Scrubby McGee to Palciki, “When she gets low like dat? Ya feint wit da jab, Addie … she always bobs left … every damn time … and when she does … ya time her … and ya bust her wit da uppercut! Good goil .. now get out dere!” Nichols again bobbing weaving … getting inside … Palicki looking for the opening and not getting off … inside she clinches and the girls wrestle. Sloppy round. Third minute … Nichols pressing and Palciki feints with left … Nichols weaves left and gets rung up with short uppercut! Shimmy in Rache’s legs and now its her turn to clinch! Palicki violent in getting hands loose from the clinch and manages to sting Rachel with a left hook to the jaw and right hand to the forehead … late surge gets the round for the blonde!



Round 4: Adjustment and counter-adjustment! When Palciki looks for uppercut, Nichols closes in with her shoulder and bumps lanky opponent off balance mid punch … then flurries left -right left to the midsection before finishing with hook to the head which rattles the champion! Adrianne lashes back with that big right hand but Rachel is under it and bursts up with left hook to the jaw. Palciki digs feet into canvas and flurried back with lefts and rights … challenger content to back off for the moment … the big girl is still dangerous.



Round 5: Palicki out of the corner with purpose! Jab Jab … then the big right … Nichols spooked momentarily and dances back out of danger. Palicki back at her with the same pattern … jab jab right hand … Rachel’s head knocked back by one jab, then she gives up canvas … Palicki stalking … jab .. jab … and Nichols beats her to a right hand exchange! Rachel’s right on the button and BLONDE GIRL DOWN!!! Roar from crowd … Nichols looming over flattened champion as referee bodies her to neutral corner. Picks up the count and Palicki is on a knee at “6” - watching ref - then up with effort at “9”. And Nichols is in for the kill! Palicki in the guard is pounded to the ropes by energized opponent. Nichols digs left hook to the ribs .. again … again .. Palicki sagging badly! Rachel splits the mits with uppercut … big head snap and Palciki slumps forward to clinch as seconds tick away. Champion holding on for dear life. Frustrated Nichols treats Palicki to an elbow to the chops and gets a warning from ref as bell ends the round.



Round 6: In corner, Adrianne getting the ice on the neck and a blast of 100 prior Scrubby McGee in her face. “Addie, lissen .. she’s gonna come hard … ya know dat … we need a slow round … don’t worry bout da damn crowd or da ref …”



Garner feeling good, “You beat her before … you’re beating her again! Now finish her!”



Rachel Nichols near sprints across ring! Feigns with the right and double hooks with left - ribs then jaw. Palciki grunts at the body shot and lunges … tying up with long arms. Jen Garner screaming for a break as ref struggling to separate fighters. Once apart, Palicki steals a few seconds with one of the oldest tricks in the book … circling behind referee to keep him between fighters. Ref takes Palicki by wrist, wagging finger, “Knock it off, Palicki, or I’m taking a point!”. Now its Scrubby McGee who’s outraged, “Manage yer damn ring, man, and keep yer hands off me fighter!”. Nichols feels the moment slipping away and ups the pursuit … chasing the Chin Checker and she GETS the Chin Checker! Palicki digs back foot in and slings the straight right lead … and rocks Rachel’s world! Nichol staggering off to the side … pushes rather than throws a “keep away from me” left! As round winds down, champion pins challenger to ropes and lashes away with left hook to the ribs. Bell rings and a stricken Rachel Nichols all shabby to her corner.



Round 7: Hunter now the hunted - Palicki stalking and Nichol’s backpedaling on shot legs. Left to the forehead knocks Nichols back into ropes. Buggywhip left to the ribs has challenger cringe … and then come the “diamond cutter” … that straight right hand and Nichol’s hits the floor like she’s touched the third rail. Count a formality - winner by knockout in the 7th round and still FCBA lightweight champion … Adrianne “The Chin Checker” Palicki.



Post fight: Palicki to the corner to check on Nichols. When interviewed, she addresses critics of this fight, “I heard the grumblings from the contenders .. Palicki’s ducking the top ten … taking on a has-been … trying to hold on to that lightweight belt. Anyone who thinks Rachl Nichols is a has-been ought to sign on the dotted line and fight her. Tough tough chick! And last time out I was waiting for challenges and no one stepped up. Anyone who wants this title? All you have to do is step up … and try to take it!”