Taylor Hill vs. Nina Agdal (Unified Lightweight Championship)

 (Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!)
 
BEFORE:

Danish beauty Agdal has spent the past six years heating up rings, winning two third of her fights, and amassing some impressive scalps like Ambrosio, Aldridge, Delevingne, Kerr, Peregrym, and, oh, yes, back in a 2017 tournament, Taylor Marie Hill. Surprisingly, however, one thing Agdal has NOT done over those six years is fight for the Unified Lightweight Title. But, that changes tonight, and, if Nina is new to lineal title fights, well, that clearly hasn't affected her confidence. "I'm better than Taylor," she says with a shrug. "And, that's why I'm surprised I got this fight. I absolutely destroyed her that night. And, tonight won't be any different."

"I've got a score to settle," says Taylor. "Tonight, that gets settled."

ROUND ONE:

Ranged boxing the idea early, as both women have reach and like to use it. Brunette taller, somewhat rangier, and that plays in the opening minute, as Hill puts punches together well and outscores her Danish rival. All that changes, however, in the second minute as Nina begins angling forward and backing the champion up with hard shot. Is Taylor spooked in there? Is she thinking about that one-punch knockout Agdal dropped on her back in 2017? The champ would never admit to something like that, but she's doing a pretty good impression of a fighter who doesn't want to hang in there and bang back. Instead, brunette is giving ground, moving the feet, working the jab, trying to get some space. But, Nina's not having it. Agdal continues pressuring right to the bell, before turning on heel with a smirk as she heads back to her corner. On the cards? Not particularly close, with Agdal's last two minutes offsetting Taylor's first and then some. 10-9 for the blonde after one.

ROUND TWO:

Agdal pushing forward, but Hill's not having it now. She's holding her canvas, firing back with hard shot, stopping the Dane's forward momentum. Nina decides it might be wise not to press the issue, at least for the moment. Instead, she settles at range and the ladies get their box on. And, it's good stuff from both. Plenty of work with the respective left jabs as the models use those to locate and set up right-hand follows. And, some of those rights are plenty stiff. Nobody's hurt, mind, but both fighters' attention is definitely demanded by several pieces of accurate leather during the course of the round. Final minute sees Hill turn up the work rate, put together a few nice flurries that force Agdal to the defensive, and that extra work proves the difference in the stanza. When the bell rings, Taylor's taken it close and evened things at 19.

ROUND THREE:

Nina getting a bit more aggressive. She's not pushing forward now, but she IS pushing the issue. Blonde putting together punches, sitting down on some big shots. Brunette determined not to be thrown onto the defensive. She's banging back, but it's the blonde who's getting off first and best and taking command of the proceedings again. Agdal's got some suppressive fire going, preempting the brunette with lots of leather, some of it more accurate than the rest, but all of it designed to keep Taylor from answering. Hill able to fire back in spots, but, she's spending too much time taking and not enough time giving. As a result, Nina builds herself a solid lead, and she continues adding right to the bell. When it rings, Agdal has her second wide round of the night and has gone back on the lead, 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:

Taylor matching Nina's aggression now. Brunette getting off first at times, tossing Nina onto the defensive briefly before the blonde is able to respond. Punches flying hot and heavy now as both women try to fight lead and neither is willing to allow the other to do so. It's not quite a firefight, mind, more boxing with high work rates on both sides, but it's certainly pleasing to the crowd. There's plenty of action, with head, hands, and feet moving, heads being snapped back by hard shots, sweat flying. Nobody's hurt, but everybody's feeling the leather and everybody's scoring and scoring big. What no one is doing is creating any space on the cards. Going into the final half minute, things are dead even, and, despite efforts from both blonde and brunette to steal the points, that's how they remain. The round does down as a draw and Nina maintains the lead 39-38.

ROUND FIVE:

Ladies fighting at range again and both fighting well. Plenty of length on display here, as champion and challenger use their range to land solid shot. It's almost all head hunting at this point, with the body being neglected. Long left jabs are being used to set up hard right hand follows, used and used well. Both blonde and brunette are getting power shots on target, but, despite all that heavy leather, nobody's hurt. And, again, nobody's really gaining much of an advantage. For every flurry the challenger lands, there's an equal and opposite flurry from the champion. Final minute, though, sees Agdal get into a little bit of a rhythm, putting together sharp combinations and even backing Hill up a couple of times. And, that final minute plays, giving Nina enough of an edge to give her the points and a 49-47 lead at the half.

ROUND SIX:

More ranged boxing. Both fighters clearly comfortable on these terms, comfortable and plenty effective. Champion doing a bit more angling now, moving the feet more, looking to foul the sights on Agdal's effective jab and having success doing that in spots. When she can, it slows Nina's offense and allows the champion to gain a bit of an advantage. And, that movement is the key story of the round. Because, in spots, Taylor's taking control. Not for long, and not all that often. But, in spots, and those spots make a big difference, since the rest of the round is so closely fought. In fact, we'd likely be headed for another even round if not for Hill's adjustment. WITH that adjustment, however, Taylor is able to build a small lead and carry it to the bell, cutting the challenger's lead to a single point, 58-57.

ROUND SEVEN:

Ladies boxing at gunnery range as they have been most of the fight. Nobody slowing down despite all the work put in in the first six rounds. Legs still working, fists still going out and coming back quickly. And, neither girl able to gain much of an advantage yet again until...BOOM! Straight right, NINA and DOWN GOES TAYLOR! Hill dropped to her rump with a NASTY right hand! Agdal BOUNCING to a neutral corner. Ref counting down at the champion. Hill pushing to her feet at seven, looking a little wobbly as the ref gives her the mandatory and then WAIVES ON NINA! Agdal calling in the big guns now, driving Hill back to the ropes and letting the hands go. She's hammering away looking to end this thing. Ref looking closely as the blonde throws flurry after flurry at the brunette. Taylor keeping the guard up, firing back here and there, running clock. Nina searching for that 'off' switch but not finding. Instead, the champ is still standing when the bell rings, but, she's now down 68-65 with three to go.

ROUND EIGHT:

Agdal marching forward behind the left, backing up, Hill, cleaning up while she looks to finish. BOOM! Right-hand, TAYLOR! Hill staggers Agdal with a straight right and the Danish beauty nearly goes down! And, that quickly, the champ is on the offensive. She's tossing every bit of leather she can find at her blonde rival, forcing her against the cables and then going body in a MAJOR way. Agdal in a high guard, and Hill determined to bring it down as she works the ribs and tummy, tenderizing every legal piece of flesh she can find. Nina crouching, tying up, trying to ride this thing out. Hill upstairs with hooks, wobbles the blonde. Ref watching, ready to pounce, but the challenger holds on desperately to the bell. When it rings, Hill's grabbed the round wide, but she still trails 77-75.

ROUND NINE:

Hill stepping to now, backing up Nina. She's the one doing the cleaning up now as the blonde retreats. It's a fighting retreat, however. Agdal's jabbing back, trying to slow down the brunette, even managing to do it here and there. Taylor resolute, though. She's determined to press the advantage, determined to finish this thing if at all possible. BOOM! Right hand, HILL and DOWN GOES NINA! Taylor with a SCINTILLATING straight right and Nina's blown to her back! Hill thrusting both hands over her head in triumph before heading to a neutral corner. Agdal staring up at the referee as he counts down at her. Blonde rolls to her belly at six, pushes to hands and knees at eight, grabs for the bottom rope at nine, but it's all too late! Nina's still on all fours as the count passes her by! It's OVER! And your winner by KO9 and STILL Unified Lightweight Champion is "The Face", Taylor Hill!

AFTER:

Taylor a bit scuffed, but all smiles. "Got her," she says with a beautiful grin. "That's been bothering me for a long time," the brunette admits. "Won a lot of big fights, but that knockout was always out there. Well, not anymore. Consider this score SETTLED."