KATRINA LAW VS PAULA PATTON
(Words: Bonzo / Results: Lookout!)

Before: Law with her second fight of the year, following up a destructive third-round knockout of Kris Loken. Katrina’s still chasing a title – at the stable, Milena Govich got there before her – as she lost her title shot against freeman last year and has struggled for activity after that. Patton a muscular hard-body still benefitting from her once-in-a-lifetime devastation of Amanda Righetti in 2012: after a disastrous four-fight losing streak that year that included tonight’s opponent, Freeman and the Righetti rematch, it took her a while to gain back her momentum, but she’s now pretty active against welter notables, beating Berkley and Warren along the way but losing to Kajlich, all in the last year. She’s also considered to have done pretty well in the welter tourney, though she got upset by future champion Sarah Lancaster. These two have fought once before in 2012: a pretty one-sided affair in Katrina’s favour, widely considered one of her best performances – no knockout, though, and that’s the score they’re looking for. “Paula’s a physical challenge – this girl is all muscle – but she’s not championship material”, Katrina says, “I showed her up last time round, but I really want to get that knockout, folks!” – Patton hard-hearted in pre-fight: “I’ve got the best body in the division, and when I get those punches rolling, nobody’s staying up.”

R1: Patton employing a thick-legged stance early, throwing muscular jabs, marching forward behind it – that allows her to gain ground, forcing Katrina into retreat. Law answers with mobility and quick defensive hands, side-stepping Paula, working around her power with sneaky counters, only offering Patton her flanks, edging her for punches, repeatedly hooking Patton painfully on her chin coming in. Patton’s legs remain unmoved, but she’s embarrassed nevertheless, upping the power in return, just hunting for Katrina’s head with booming uppercuts. Law still able to avoid her, though, showing classy legwork: she’s circling, always circling, before stepping in with a short-distance counter. Patton very strong on the prowl – extremely dangerous with her rights, forcing quick head-movements from Katrina – but not able to manage Law’s stepping-around approach as of yet, giving up a close first round on those wicked counter-hooks.

R2: Patton responds to Katrina’s quickness with more power: as girls fall into each other mid-ring, Paula rips Kat a fast and violent, short upper-skull hook that renders Law all baby-stepping in hurt, knees queasy. Patton wades in with a smile, pumping ‘em in along the way, punishing Law’s tummy. Katrina rocked – grimly suffering, dipping from side to side to dispense the pain – as Patton’s muscularity’s proves irresistible. Paula rock-solid: trapping Law, not letting her out, rotating arms into total punishing mode. Law’s body treated shabby: she’s unable to move, escape or counter, but does stay balanced since that early hook, soaking it up behind strong-armed/stubborn defense. Patton in calm control, not over-reaching, just quietly enjoying and extending her dominance – leaves second round looking impressive, while Law stumbles to her corner, stomach/arms all pink.

R3: One of Patton’s muscle jabs gets exposed early on, changing momentum: Law evades Paula’s punch, trading a short hook to mouth to whooping effect, and Paula’s hurt! Patton pressing forward, but tying up/holding, a woozy look in her eyes: Law tightens pressure into solid ropeside besiegement, bringing her own body into the aggressive physical jostles – a series of quick, booming jabs have Paula complying, pinned down on the ropes, taking in punches on her ribs/tummy. Patton ends siege with massive overhead rights: not cleanly clipping Law’s head but marching out of corner, as Katrina circles out, knees slightly bended then straightening, looking a bit concerned. Patton moves into stalking stance again, Katrina rotates, rotates, circles in to sting, circles out to extend – Patton still not able to keep Katrina at any position she wants her at, not yet impeding on foe’s mobile steps.

R4: Girls trade blasting hooks mid-ring, and Law’s embracing the slugfest, trusting her fists. Katrina’s limber hands still noticeably quicker, but Patton’s power proves irresistible, and throughout first minute she’s sloshing uppercuts past Katrina’s tight defense, tossing her head aside, rendering her into ropes, as Paula rams in gutsy rib-breakers, deploying both hands into solid, thumping sequences. Kat’s stooping forward off ropes, as Patton continues with swift, clobbering blows to ears/jawlines, staggering her foe repeatedly. Katrina’s cringing under the rattling work, but during second minute she’s able to fit in counter hooks to flanks, working ribs/lats over thickly with gusto. Law winds up ever closer to the body during last minute, not tying up, but sponging up receipts resiliently, shrugging responding lusty uppercuts into Paula’s broad chest. At bell, the two seething beauties chest up body-to-body, snarling, as tempers break loose.

R5: Law goes leggy again: shying away from last round’s slugfest smart decision for her, as legs’ stamina still proves intact despite four gruesome rounds of Patton’s muscular poke. Law’s bouncing, circling, her chopping right hand turning ever more explosive on her way in, though, hatching it over Paula’s jabs, scoring beautifully to chin early – Patton’s knees unhinged, obviously hurt. Katrina very controlled: sneaks in palm-down hooks into chin AGAIN, as Patton’s right sails nowhere, covers up in confusion after impact. Katrina stays in now, tucking in hooks to the gut more authoritatively. Patton refusing to back off, but she’s tottering a bit, marching forward but not exerting punching pressure – Law’s quick hands expose her mercilessly: a clean right uppercut splits her gloves, again, followed by a shrugging left uppercut to temple, and Paula’s defensive jabs can’t stop her, as she’s circling out in protesting hurt! Patton attempting desperate overhead rights, but she gets traded a hatchet right to chin in response: PATTON SPILLS DOWN! Proud brunette body just sloshing forward, landing on her haunches, then sagging onto her back, totally out, thoroughly beaten by a KO5 Katrina Law!

After: Patton’s muscular power proved dangerous and damaging, as expected, but her strategy came up short against leggy, mobile, quicker Law. “Damn, that was easier than expected”, Katrina insults her. “She punches like a mule, but these girls just can’t deal with my quick hands at all. That chin was just too damn inviting!”