Lily Collins vs Gemma Merna

Lily:
(29, 5’5, 112, 25:6 FCBA, VIXENs)
 

Gemma:
(35, 5’5, 1:2 FCBA, Lookout! Atlantic)

BEFORE:
“A f*cking stain on the division - that’s the word I was looking for,” Lily says with a nod during the pre-fight press conference. “This was three years ago, just before Caspian started taking an interest in me, when I fought (and lost) to Gemma. Now I’m back and ready to settle the score, and then some.”

“Oh, I remember clearly as well,” Gemma says later on. “Once a b*tch, always a b*tch, huh? Nothing’s changed since then for Lily Collins, and I’ll be sure to repeat the outcome of our first match when I whoop her arse a second time.”

Girls are the same height and in the same age bracket, but Gemma putting plenty of girls away with her power in the past, and that’s exactly how Collins got caught the last time round. Of course, a lot has happened since then, with Lily establishing herself in the top rankings of the Flyweight division and the Lookout! Atlantic starlet herself being a former Flyweight AND JMD champion, meaning she’s done a whole lot more than Lily has over the years.

Later, Lily’s dressed in a sleek black sports bra and bikini briefs, strapping on a pair of dark red gloves in the corner of the ring. Gemma going for light baby blue bikini, yellow gloves to match her optimism. HERE we go with ten rounds of Flyweight action!

ROUND 1:
Gemma barreling forward at the bell, eager to let her power do the rest of the talking now that she’s got Lily square in her sights. Lily surprised when she really shouldn’t be - gets caught by an errant swing to the arms early and as a result, is sent flying off to the side. Things are already looking like a repeat of their 2016 bout, when Gemma put Collins away within seven rounds. Collins dealing with her foe’s aggression best she can, gets stung to the body by repeated feints and hooks thrown her way. Problem for Lily is that she herself is unwilling to let live and let go, constantly tries stunning her foe back with jabs and strong punches of her own. But she can’t quite out-punch Gemma here in the power department, at least not this early in the fight, gets tossed backwards with another grunt as Merna powers a hook to the side of her head. Bell rings before Gemma can finish her off, but things aren’t looking great for the Vixen in this opening round.

ROUND 2:
Lily controlling her movements much better, using her legs to dodge and stay back. Say what you want about the young Vixen - she’s reined in much of her unwieldy behaviour ever since her debut all those years ago. Historians will remember that right after her defeat to Merna was her now infamous bout against Jamie Lynn Spears, whom she decimated post-match and earned herself a black mark in the Front Street office. Well, gone are those days, as Lily fights back today with control and poise - she slams repeated jabs into Merna’s face from afar, then jumps out of the way of her opponent’s incoming hooks. Merna getting stunned, hurt as a result, doesn’t know what exactly changed, with the blonde still trying to rush Collins but finding little purchase for her effort. Late round has both women suddenly engaged in a free-for-all in the ring’s center, with Gemma gleefully pounding away on the guard but Lily scoring well with a snap uppercut sent into the chin, sending Gemma stepping back to ropes, and the bell rings to give Lily the round overall.

ROUND 3:
Gemma not about to give up the chase, however, stays at a distance for the first minute or so, diligently blocking Lily’s torrent of jabs, but she then rushes inwards all of a sudden, surprising Collins, who also thought it was the right time for a rush herself! Lily gets caught with a right dipping hook to the body, before she hastily blocks a follow-up left that slams into the side of the arm, which still rattles her bad! Gemma on the prowl again, lunging forward at the head, even as Lily chooses to retreat. Collins should stick to her long-term strategy and not give Gemma the target practice she so wants. Last few seconds of the round and it’s a repeat of the first, with Lily back to defensive countermeasures, jabbing as she keeps her distance, fending off more of Gemma’s hooks.

ROUND 4:
These three rounds have certainly winded both girls, and Gemma rushes out of her corner a little tired and slow. Not so for Lily Collins, who reads the room well and SPRINGS forward with a giant right hand aimed for the head - KAPOW!! That right cross BANGS off the forehead of Gemma Merna, sending her spiraling around backwards! Two can play at the surprise game, that’s for sure, as Lily gives chase, shows no quarter as she shoots more punches into Gemma’s mouth, shoving leather into those lips and body, ending with another hard SWIPE across the face that sends the poor blonde CRASHING DOWN FOR THE COUNT!! UGHH! KNOCKDOWN-in-waiting for Lily Collins, who immediately breaks into a smile as she raises her hand in I-told-ya-so fashion! Gemma struggling to get off her side, but her head swirling about in the wind as she struggles to find firm footing. Referee goes all the way up to the count of 10 and WAVES her chances off! It’s over!

Official Decision: Lily Collins defeats Gemma Merna via KO4!

AFTER:
Like we said, plenty of restraint in 2019 Lily Collins: she chooses to smoulder in corner, skin glistening with sweat as all she does is raise two hands high to acknowledge the crowd. Not quite done with her pride though, as Collins struts across all four corners of the ring, completely ignoring Gemma, who’s still lying flattened out on the ground.

“That’s one more girl crossed off my list,” Collins later says, grinning to reporters. “I expected much more trouble from Gemma, to be honest, but I guess I’m better than I thought.”

Reporters ask her what’s next on her hit-list, and Collins’ smile immediately dips into a scowl. “It’s a travesty that dear old Emma won the title before I did. You should see the way she parades that darn belt everywhere around the locker room. She’s really asking for a beat-down, and trust me, I’m gonna give it to her sooner rather than later. I’ll pry that belt from her weak little hands before the year is out.”