Vanessa Hudgens versus Michelle Williams

BEFORE:

Latest installment in what is, likely, not only the best current FCBA rivalry but one of, if not the greatest FCBA rivalry of all time. It's got all the elements. Blonde vs. Brunette. Movie Star vs. Disney Girl. Hall of Famer vs. Hall of Famer. Technician vs. Athlete. Established Star vs. (at the time) Up and Comer. And, oh, yes, a pile of mutual hatred that, if placed at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, would still top out higher than Everest. And, this time, unlike so many other times, there's no gold on the line, just pride and the lead in their series of bouts...both of which, to 'Nessa and Mishy, are far more important than any title.

"She's gotten some results against me, sure," says Michelle with a shrug. "But, she's also had a TON of good fortune. You know, the Pirates sneak by the Yankees one night, and, the next night it's 16-0. Well, tonight, Hudgens is in 16-0 territory."

"I'm better than her," says a hard-eyed 'Nessa. "I've proven it over and over again. And, if she needs more proof? I'll leave her at my feet. And, that will just be the start. Do you HEAR me? That will JUST BE THE START!"


ROUND ONE:

These two know one another as well if not better than any two fighters in the FCBA, so may seem strange to see a bunch of recon being done in the first...but it isn't. Because, Mishy and 'Nessa aren't just rivals, they're Hall of Famers, hundred-plus fight veterans who've done it all and seen it all, and neither believes the other one hasn't climbed between the ropes with some new wrinkles in mind. But, if those wrinkles are coming, they aren't in evidence in the first. Instead, it's 'Nessa on the move as usual, Mishy getting her box on, moving the feet, working the jab, looking to square up the ever-moving brunette. The two styles often offset one another, and in this case, with neither fighter really committing to anything, that's more true than ever. At the bell, it's anyone's guess who's taken the points...if anyone has.

ROUND TWO:

Same again, but now the recon is over. Everyone's finished feeling out and the ladies are getting to some serious work. And, it's 'Nessa who's doing most of it. Those athletic legs are proving the difference as she bounces and misbehaves around the ring, snapping the jab in Mishy's face, slipping the blonde's jab and not allowing her to square, stopping to pop, putting together quick, accurate flurries, then dancing away before Williams can get anything going. It's enough to frustrate a girl, but the blonde's been here before many times. She knows she'll have to work to get the timing down, match footwork, get herself back into rhythm or get Vanessa OUT of it. But, for now, Hudgens has everything working, and, this time, when the bell rings, there's no doubt the brunette's taken it and wide.

ROUND THREE:

Same again, but it's Mishy who's getting things going now. Blonde is getting the geometry right, cutting the ring at times, cutting the distance at others, always in the correct spot to get off, stop Hudgens' movement, score points. 'Nessa responds by getting the legs moving again, but, soon enough, Michelle has played the angle and gotten her where she doesn't want to be. Again, it's enough to frustrate a girl, but Hudgens, who's known for having a bit of temper, doesn't let the situation get to her, because, like Michelle in the previous stanza, she's been here before. This is just how these fights go. 'Nessa needs to find ways to get some space, and she knows she will. But, not in the third, because, when the bell sounds ending the round, Williams is still in control and has taken the stanza wide.

ROUND FOUR:

First real two-way round of the fight. Neither fighter changes tactics, but now, both are, pretty much, equally effective, something else we've seen plenty in the many rounds these two have battled. At times, the brunette is in open ocean, and, when she is, when she can move freely and use that athleticism, she gets the better of things...sometimes MUCH the better. At other times, though, Williams is able to bring her rival to battle, and, when the blonde can do that, she makes 'Nessa uncomfortable, throwing her onto the defensive and scoring plenty, doing enough to, here's that word again, "offset" what Hudgens does on the move. Add it all up, and, like in the first round, there's not much in it, or, maybe there's nothing at all. Depends on what the judges see.

ROUND FIVE:

More back and forth stuff with the two rivals turning up the heat just a bit. Both are being told by their corners that the fight is plenty close right now, and both have enough experience to know that's likely true, so, heading for the half, now might be a good time to...BOOM! Right hand, MISHY! And 'NESSA IS HURT! Hudgens' legs wobble and Williams immediately calls in the heavy artillery and it's BRUNETTE DOWN! It's no one punch, but an accumulation that drops 'Nessa to her shapely rear! Michelle to a neutral corner. Has she done it? Has she taken the lead in the series? No. Hudgens up at eight, takes the mandatory, and then takes a POUNDING, as Williams goes all in looking to finish this thing, backing the younger woman to the ropes and giving her a thrashing to the bell. It's a 10-8 round for the blonde, but the brunette is standing at the end of it.

ROUND SIX:

Williams pressing forward. 'Nessa's legs aren't working properly, and Michelle knows this means it's a perfect time for her to pile up points and punishment, cleaning up effectively all while trying to finish this thing. 'Nessa, of course, has been here before, so she plays it smart, very smart. She's giving ground, playing defense, staying off the ropes and ROCKING THE BLONDE WITH A RIGHT HAND COUNTER! Williams STEPPIN' IN FENCE POST HOLES as the brunette goes onto the offensive and DROPS HER RIVAL WITH A RIGHT HOOK! Crowd going NUTS as the younger woman heads to a neutral corner. Has SHE done it? Has SHE taken the lead in the series? No. Williams is up at nine, and, after the mandatory, the referee waves on Vanessa. Hudgens punishing her rival, backing her into a literal corner and having at her right to the bell. It's 10-8 'Nessa to counter the 10-8 Mishy last round. But. Williams is standing at the end of it.

ROUND SEVEN:

Hudgens in control early, pressing forward, landing some solid shot. Mishy willing to give ground, until she isn't. About a minute in, Williams begins firing back in combination, and 'Nessa, seeing that her rival's clearly shaken the worst of the damage and a cleanup is not going to be possible, gets back to moving. Brunette snapping that jab in the face, circling, reversing field, circling, reversing again. Williams stepping to, closing distance, angling, getting off some nice combinations, occasionally backing the brunette up. Final two minutes of the stanza go like this, with both women having moments and nobody able to take command...which means the first minute, the one in which 'Nessa dominated, plays, and, when the bell rings, Hudgens has taken the points.

ROUND EIGHT:

Williams all the way back now, and she makes that clear by upping the ante early. She's angling forward aggressively behind that accurate left jab, moving the feet, cutting the ring, closing with Hudgens now and banging on occasion, while, at other times, just bringing the younger woman to battle and outboxing her. 'Nessa's trying to get some space, but unable to. Instead, Michelle is either in her grill or snapping a jab in her face, then following on with hard right hands. Hudgens fires back in spots and is able to land some solid punches, but she's getting by far the worst of things from the opening bell all the way to the closing in this stanza. As the fighters head back to their respective corners, there's no doubt about who's getting the points. It's Mishy and wide.

ROUND NINE:

Both fighters beginning to show some wear now. Both have taken a bunch of punishment and used a ton of energy, so things begin to slow. Williams is trying to follow up on what she did in the eighth, but she's not getting much done. She's short and late on a lot of her punches. For her part, 'Nessa's still moving, but not all that well and not all that effectively. She has moments where she gets off a quick, effective flurry and slips away, but what we're seeing here is absolutely not the Vanessa Hudgens of the second round. The real question is, is it enough? Because, again, it's excruciatingly close on the cards and every point may matter if we get there. Is it enough? The judges will have to answer that, because, when the bell rings, once again, there's not much in it.

ROUND TEN:

Ladies get to work immediately. Both have been told in their respective corners that the fight hangs in the balance, and, while seconds have been known to, shall we say, play fast and loose with that sort of thing, at this point, blonde and brunette HAVE to believe it...meaning they don't WANT to leave this to the judges. That becomes obvious from the start, as the rivals meet in the middle of the ring and start trading shots. Williams gets the better of it, leading 'Nessa to start doing some moving. Michelle is willing to let her dance, not bothering to waste any of her depleted stores of energy chasing. Instead, she waits for the stops and gets off WITH Hudgens, resulting in some action-packed trades that send heads snapping back and sweat flying. Final minute sees Mishy again getting the better of it. 'Nessa's legs look all done, and Williams is in her face letting the hands go right to the bell. When it rings...nobody really knows what's happened. Yes, Michelle has taken the final round, but, with Williams having grabbed four and 'Nessa three and the first, fourth, and ninth anyone's guess, well. We'll have to wait for the announcement. Oh, Hudgens tosses her arms tiredly overhead as she walks back to her corner, more for the judges benefit than the fans, but 'Nessa can NOT be confident. No one can. Finally, the two fighters are called to the center of the ring, 'Nessa to the left of the referee, Mishy to the right.

"Judge Deluca scores it 95-95, a DRAW. Judge Moretti scores it 95-94, and Judge Ocasio scores it 96-95 for your winner by MAJORITY DECISION....MICHELLLLEEEEE WILLIAMMMMMMSSSSSS!"