Ashley Benson versus Neriah Fisher

BEFORE:

Blonde/brunette tilt features solid veteran Benson against rookie Neriah, the daughter of Brooke Burke. And, while the blonde has the edge in experience, the brunette is four inches taller, and, not lacking in confidence. "I may be a rookie," says Neriah with a smile, "But, I've got a veteran, my mom, in my corner. I know JUST how to handle Ashley, and that's JUST what I'll do."

"This girl," says Benson with a shake of the head, "Is in for a RUDE awakening. After she sleeps on the canvas for a count of ten, that is."

ROUND ONE:

Fisher gets to the jab early, wants to use that reach, but Benson angles, slips past, gets to her spots and gets off in combination, backing up the younger woman and tossing her immediately onto the defensive. From there, it's all about Ashley out-slicking and out-thinking the brunette. Benson's leading Neriah around by the nose, always a step ahead, leaving the brunette missing punches, wrong-footed, and taking hard, clean shot much, much too often. Even mom shouting advice from the corner is no help. Neriah looks completely out of her depth for much of the round, though she does put together a few good combinations at about the two minute mark. And, those are the only things that prevent Ashley from pitching a shutout. When the bell rings, it's Benson and wide to take the 10-9 lead.

ROUND TWO:

Better for Fisher. She's able to get some ranged offense going this stanza. She still can't keep Benson out on the end of that jab, which she'd love to do, but she does have moments of being able to jab and follow from gunnery range. At other times, though, Ashley's at middle distances putting together punches and tossing the brunette to the defensive. Neriah's never hurt, but, again, she's taking some hard shot to the head in spots, and being backed up at others. Down the stretch both fighters turn up the heat, leading to some long exchanges of hard shot in which Fisher gives every bit as good as she gets. When the bell rings, though, for the second round in a row, it's the blonde who's gotten the better of things. The good news fot the brunette is, it's a much nearer thing this time. The bad news is, Benson leads 20-18.

ROUND THREE:

More of the same. Brunette getting more comfortable in there and it shows. She's having moments when she's putting punches together very well, keeping Benson at gunnery range, bringing that length to bear. And, she's landing some sharp shot, too. At other times, Ashley's getting the work done, putting together punches and middle distances, tossing the less-experienced woman onto the defensive. Add it all up, you get a good, two-way round, in which neither fighter gains much of an advantage. Late in the round, at mom's urging, Fisher turns up the heat, aggressively coming forward at the blonde. Ashley gives ground, covers up, surprised by the sally. And, the resultant points from same do exactly what Brooke hopes, give Neriah the edge in a very close round and put her on the board. The blonde, however, still leads 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:

Brunette sticking with the aggression, but, it's too much of a good thing. Benson adjusts and counters sharply, stinging the younger woman early and sending her backward with a flurry of hard shot. All of a sudden, Neriah's right back on the defensive like she was in the first, taking fire from everywhere, and even being backed to the ropes a couple of times. And, when the blonde has the brunette there, she works some body, giving Fisher a nice intro to the FCBA. Last minute of the round sees Neriah get back on track. She's able to get some distance with the jab, put together punches, begin to fight on more even terms. But, while that's all well and good, it's much too late to make a difference on the cards. When the bell rings, it's Benson wide and up 39-37.

ROUND FIVE:

Good, two-way stuff like we saw in the third. Neriah finding ways to get space with that jab, and, when she does, she gets much the better of things, as Benson's too far out to get much accomplished. At other times, Ashley angles past the defenses and works middle distances, and, in those situations, despite Fisher's best efforts, it's the blonde who dominates, even tossing her rival onto the back foot a few times. But, there's no doubt the brunette is finding her way here. She's looking more confident, more comfortable as we go. There's not much in it into the final seconds and again, Fisher turns up the heat. This time. Benson's ready for her, and the result is a few sharp exchanges that don't really change the equation much. At the bell, it's very, very narrow, but it's Fisher and she's back within one at 48-47.

ROUND SIX:

More of the same. Ladies settling into a rhythm now, with both working hard to create the most advantageous terms and neither able to do same as often as they'd like. Fisher moving well, showing excellent feet to go with all that length. Benson slippin' and dippin' getting to spots, flurrying effectively when she does so. And, once again, there's not much in it until...BOOM! Right hand, FISHER! Benson ROCKED and then DROPPED by a three-punch flurry! Neriah leaping in the air with joy before heading to a neutral corner, but the celebration is premature. Benson is up at seven and takes the mandatory. Ref waves on Fisher who goes to work like a veteran, backing the blonde into the ropes behind the jab and then BATTERING her with artillery strike after artillery strike. With about twenty seconds left a BOOMING right wobbles Benson and THE REF STEPS IN! He bundles Ashley to safety and it's OVER and your winner by TKO6 is Neriah Fisher!

AFTER:

Neriah and mom all smiles in the post fight. "I knew I could do this," says Fisher with a grin. "I knew it wouldn't be easy, but it got easier as the fight went along." "I'm so proud of her," says Brooke. "She's worked very hard to get here and this is just the beginning." "It absolutely IS," says Neriah. "We are GOING places!"