BEFORE: 

It's been awhile since we've seen a Hall of Famer step into the ring with a fighter still looking for her first FCBA win, but that's where we are tonight, as Kate Mara, fresh off being signed by Emilia's Empresses, takes on Natalie Portman in her first assignment for the new stable. And, if Kate's at all concerned about the task facing her, she's hiding it pretty well in the pre-fight. "Clearly, she's a top flyweight," says Mara with a nod. "But. I can fight with anyone in the division, and, tonight, I'll prove it."

"Does she have a chance," asks Natalie rhetorically. "Well, sure. I mean, I could get hit by a bus between here and the ring."

ROUND ONE:

Kate showing her usual aggression early. She's looking to step to Portman and get physical, and, frankly, that's not at all a bad strategy, since her chances of out-boxing Queen Natalie rank somewhere near those of Chris Davis winning a batting title. But, if Mara knows her best strategy, well, Portman knows it, too. So, while Kate spends the round trying to close and bang, Natalie spends it showing her why Natalie Portman is in the Hall of Fame. She simply controls Mara completely, using her left jab to parry her again and again, keeping her at range, where Natalie can get punches put together and combinations on target. Mara is resolute. She keeps coming, keeps working hard, but she's unable to do any more than try hard in the first stanza, and, when the bell ends it, Portman's claimed it wide to lead 10-9.

ROUND TWO:

More of the same early, with Mara determined to force the action and Queen Natalie making it impossible for her to do that. As the round goes on, however, Kate becomes more effectively aggressive. She's still not able to get all of what she wants, as Portman is too slick and too skilled for that. But, Mara's finding ways forward, getting to Natalie in spots, and, when she's able to do that, Kate's able to get the better of things. In close, Mara's banging body, landing hard shots to the head. Portman's firing back, of course, but it's Kate whose more effective in these situations. Unfortunately for Mara, though, the Hall of Famer's getting more of the terms she prefers. And, that proves to be the difference on the cards. When the bell rings, it's closer, but it's Portman again, and she's now up 20-18.

ROUND THREE:

Mara continues to force the action, and, again, continues to have her moments. But, Natalie's still controlling things. Until she isn't. BOOM! A short right hook from Kate and PORTMAN IS HURT! Natalie stumbles backward, nearly sits down, and Kate is ALL IN. And, the Empress takes it to the Queen in a MAJOR way, unloading on the Hall of Famer with both hands. Natalie driven back to the ropes, where she takes hard shot to both head and body. And, to her credit, Mara doesn't get sloppy. She's giving it everything she has in an effort to get Portman out of there, but she stays sound the entire way, doesn't give Natalie openings for counters or waste energy in the effort to get a stoppage. When the bell rings, the Hall of Famer is scuffed, but still standing. Kate, however, has taken the round wide and cut the lead to 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:

Mara romping early, backing up Portman with hard, accurate combinations, punishing her again to both the body and the head and building up another nice lead. About midway through the round, however, Natalie's legs come back, and things change. The Hall of Famer begins holding her ground, stopping her rival's advances, and, when she does that, she's able to get back to managing Mara's aggressiveness with her jab and boxing skills. Second half of the round is completely different than the first, looking much like the first round, with Portman controlling the proceedings and Kate unable to get forward and get physical. Slowly, Portman closes the stagger until, in the final seconds, she's gotten very close. But. Not close enough. Kate's first half outweighs Natalie's second, and that means Mara takes the points and evens the fight at 38.

ROUND FIVE:

Mara trying to push Portman, working forward aggressively, trying to get physical. Natalie not having any. Using the jab, the footwork, and the skill to frustrate her rival's attempts to create a different kind of fight. BOOM! Right hand, PORTMAN! And Kate is HURT! Mara wobbles, but stays on her feet. And, Portman sets about remedying that. Natalie TEEING OFF on her rival, pounding her to both head and body, driving her into the ropes and then absolutely SAVAGING her. Mara in a high guard taking, hanging on, doing very little offensively...but just enough to hold the referee at bay. While Queen Natalie makes her pay a high price for her earlier impudence. Kate ships the hurt and stays afloat, still standing when the bell rings. But, it's Portman wide in the fifth, and Natalie's back on top, 48-47.

ROUND SIX:

Portman looking to finish now. Mara playing defense, giving ground, trying to ride this thing out. Natalie not having any. She's walking forward, thumping Kate, sitting down on everything, looking for the punch that ends it. Mara, however, doing a good job of denying. She's got the guard high, she's moving the head, rolling with punches, blocking others. She's taking a lot of hard fire, but she's limiting the damage as much as she ca...BOOM! Right hand, Portman and Mara is STAGGERED! Kate stumblin', rumblin', fumblin'...AND DOWN SHE GOES after a follow up flurry from the Hall of Famer! Mara down on her back staring up as Portman gets to a neutral corner and the referee counts. Kate rolling to her belly at six, but attempts to push to hands and knees fail and it's OVER! Mara can't get off the canvas, and your winner by KO6 is Natalie Portman!

AFTER:

Portman all cool smiles in the post-fight. "The key to this fight," says the former champion, "Was simply my climbing into the ring. Because, as I said pre-fight, once I managed to get inside, Kate had ZERO chance to win. Zero."