MELISSA BENOIST VS LILI REINHART
Results: Lookout Writing: Archer
Melissa: 29 YO, 5’8 (1.73 m) 5-4-0, 4 KO since 2015, Pretty Little Punchers
Lili: 21 YO, 5’6 (1,68 m) 1-0-0, 1 KO since 2018, Free Agent

Before: “I have to tell you,” Lili Reinhart says as she stands at the podium for the pre-fight press event, “I never expected to be fighting a managed fighter like Melissa Benoist in only my second fight. I have to thank her for giving me this opportunity. I know she’ll be a lot harder to deal with than Nathalie Kelley, but I will do the best I can and we’ll all see how that works out. Of course, what I am really hoping, is that someone will see me and think I would be a good member of their organization. There are a lot of good fighters who don’t have much stable management and I am working as hard as I can not to fall into that trap. So while it might seem I have nothing to lose in this fight, I think I do: if I don’t look good I’ll just end up as another name on the “Free Agent/Unmanaged” list.”

Melissa Benoist smiles reassuringly: “Lili, don’t obsess over your future, you need to just relax and enjoy being here. You are you, you have a lot of fighting years ahead of you. Just pay attention during the fight and I am sure you will learn many good lessons that will help you win in the future. I gave you this chance because the The CW sparring grapevine had some very good things to say about your backstage efforts. I saw your fight against Nathalie and I wanted to see for myself just how good you are. I am sure you won’t disappoint anyone who watches.”

Lili smiled: “Oh, I am counting not disappointing anyone—well, maybe one person.”

Melissa looked puzzled: “Who would that be?”

“Why, you—if I beat you. I assume that would be a disappointment,” Lili said sweetly.

Melissa eyes narrow: “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that happening. Not at all.”

“Of course, you couldn’t possibly lose to me,” Lili said with more sweetness. “And now I must be going. I do so want to work on making sure you are disappointed after all,”

With that, Lili Reinhart nods and walks away smiling, Melissa Benoist is left to make a quick apology to the press and then get off the stage herself. She encounters PLP communications director Autumn Reeser who is standing in the wings with an annoyed look on her face.

“That girl has a lot of nerve pulling that stunt on me,” Melissa complains.

“You don’t know the half of it. Look at what she’s posted on social media,” Autumn said showing Melissa her mobile device.

On it was a poster clearly made from one of the photos of Lili posing next to a breast smothered Nathalie Kelley, face down with her white bikinied bottom with NATHALIE KELLEY in green script. Next to was a space with a piece of paper: LILI VS MELISSA BENOIST?

Red came to Melissa’s cheek, but then she pushed the phone back: “The rookie is just trying a cheap publicity stunt and intimidate me as well. If anyone ends up with their butt in the air it’s going to be her. I can see she needs a good reality and I’ve got the right cross to give it to her!”

Lili Reinhart has little to say about the posting: “I think it is a perfectly good question. What do suppose will happen at the end of that fight?”

Melissa Benoist says even less but she’s looking daggers when she finally faces Lili Reinhart across the ring on fight night. Melissa is in retro two piece with red high waisted bottoms and a royal blue halter top with a yellow MB script logo on the left breast. She has red boots and gloves with yellow laces. Her hair is in a single battle braid. Lili is in dark blue retro two piece, high waisted bottom with a halter top. Dark blue gloves and boots. Lili hair’s hair is in a ponytail. Lili looks right back at Melissa apparently unfazed by the hostility. Then Lili seems to body up to Melissa who reaches out to push the rookie back. Referee intervenes with stern warnings to restore order. Tension eases a bit and the instructions are covered. Then the fighters are supposed to tap gloves, but this turns into a test of strength as Melissa and Lili start pushing against each other. Again referee has to jump in. Fighters finally back in their corners. The bell sounds. It’s begun…

R1: Melissa wastes no time in getting in Lili’s face and letting her feel the power of her punches. Lili grunting as she tries to jab Melissa back, but Melissa is using a slight height advantage to try to dominate the rookie., Melissa’s punches are working Lili’s ribcage and she can tell Lili is feeling the impacts, but Lili not willing to back off. Melissa then tries to body Lili back to the ropes, but the rookie disrupts this with some clinching. Melissa goes right back to the attack, but then Lili feints left to draw Melissa’s attention, Lili then slips by on the right and gets out to center ring. Melissa looks vexed but soon catches up with Lili who proves to be quite slippery in avoiding further close in action. Melissa wins the round wide, but Lili is still looking relatively fresh as she saunters back to her corner.

R2: Melissa again tries to pressure Lili, but this time she walks into another Lili Reinhart fake (this one to the right) and takes a clouting left hook to the temple. Melissa shuddering from the impact and staggers away with her gloves up around her head, Lili coolly pursuing. keeping the clearly dazed Melissa under punching fire and keeping her in a confused state as long as she can. Melissa finally blundering into the ropes, but it does give her an anchor to sit in and she can try to fight off Lili. Lili not pressing in too close, but skipping in and out of range to keep up the pressure. Melissa finally ready to lunge forward and engage Lily, but the rookie neatly backs away and lets Melissa chase her to the bell. Round goes to the rookie Lili Reinhart as observers are a-buzz at how she pulled it off.

R3: It was fun while it lasted, but Lili Reinhart now has a determined Melissa Benoist to deal with as the PLP fighter comes at her. This time Lili choses to stand and fight. It is an impressive exchange as the two strike at head and body with enough variety to make the destination of the next punch uncertain. Lili striking at Melissa’s face with repeated, well-aimed shots that are striking Melissa around the eyes creating angry red swellings. Melissa can’t seem to get a good shot into Lili’s quick moving head, but she works her ribs with considerable effort. Lili seems to fighting through the pain in the ribs to stay even with Melissa. Lili adds to the head attack with a couple a good chin chuckers that make Melissa’s head bob. Melissa hanging in too and they go down to the bell. Judges rule in Lili Reinhart’s favor by a close margin.

R4: Melissa not backing down as she returns at the start of the round to go at in close with Lili. Again Lili standing her ground, but this time Melissa is finally getting to Lili’s head. Lili struck hard in the forehead, opening a small cut at the hairline which sends a trickle of crimson down her forehead. Then Melissa gets a right/left combo into the sides of Lili’s head. Lili’s attack stalls and she finally falls back. Melissa tries to surge forward but promptly takes sharp jabs to the face including to the eyes (which are both increasingly swollen and discolored). She ducks down and works Lili’s ribs and adds some hooks straight to the belly. Lili forced to give more ground, but she resists stubbornly. Bell rings as Melissa Benoist wins a close, hard-fought round.

R5: Lili now attacks first as the new round begins, She is across the ring and punching away at Melissa before the PLP fighter can get organized. Melissa fighting desperately to get clear of Lili who is pounding away at her head and shoulders. Then Melissa manages to stun Lili with a jab to the nose and she scrambles out to center ring. The breathing space does not last long as Lili is quickly on her, but working the body this time. Melissa can’t seem to get her feet set properly and Lili is constantly on the move around her. Melissa trying to counter but she is not able to land her shots with power, Lili seems to be gaining strength as the round ends. Melissa looking badly shaken as she shuffles back to her corner. Lili stoic and focused as she returns to her corner.

R6: PLP corner looks very concerned about Melissa during the break, but it seems evident that Melissa wants to go on. Melissa comes out slowly and cautiously. Lili approaches with boldness and sets out to fight her way in. It helps the one of her first punches catches Melissa deep in the gut and she doubles up with a loud gasp. Lili goes after Melissa’s breasts with a flurry of heavy-driven punches as she tries to drive the air out of Melissa’s lungs. Seems to be working as Melissa is gasping for air and not fighting back at all well, Lili now moves up to punch away at Melissa’s poorly defended head and face. At least one or two punches find Melissa’s eyes and she is clearly in desperate straits. Finally, Melissa has to go face in gloves and ride it out. She makes it to the bell, but she is so unsteady that she had trouble finding her own corner (those rapidly swellings around her eyes can’t be helping either.).

R7: Intense argument in the PLP corner as Melissa Benoist is begging Nia Peeples not to throw in the towel. “I can still beat her!” Melissa is pleading. Nia sighs and can be heard to say: “If you can’t at least protect yourself I will throw in the towel. There will be other fights.” Melissa nods: “But I can’t stand that girl! I won’t have her saying I quit against her!” So Melissa comes out with her gloves up high and Lili marches in with a merciless look on her face. Lili just drives her gloves into Melissa’s until she breaks through and knocks her head back. Then Lili whips a right uppercut into Melissa’s chin and then a left uppie. Melissa hangs there for a split second then implodes straight down ending up in a heap at Lili Reinhart’s feet. Referee takes one look and calls over the bell, It’s over!

THE WINNER: LILI REINHART DEFEATS MELISSA BENOIST KO7!

After: Many in the crowd are shocked that a mere 2-fight rookie has just beaten down a a very promising bantam in Melissa Benoist, but then they burst in cheers as Lili takes a proud walk around the ring. Meanwhile, Melissa is helped to her stool and revived as Shay Mitchell, Sasha Pieterse and Ashley Benson cluster around her. Suddenly the Punchers are pushed aside as Lili Reinhart forces her way in.

“Well, Melissa you aren’t looking so good. I guess I better not try walking you, but how about you smile for the camera,” somewhere Lili Reinhart has procured a mobile device and snaps some shots of Melissa’s bruised and swollen face—highlighted by what are well on their way to becoming two world class black eyes.”

“Get out of here!” Shay Mitchell orders. “You’ve done enough to her for one night.”

“Yeah, scram!” Ashley Benson adds.

“You are not wanted!” Sasha Pieterse snaps.

Lili Reinhart looks genuinely sad: “It’s good she has teammates to watch her back. Wish I had some of my own. OK, I’m, going, Tell her I enjoyed the fight—and I did learn a lot from it. Good bye now.”

With Lili Reinhart walked away. The Punchers then went back to comforting Melissa Benoist. (Soon after the snapshot of poor Melissa Benoist’s battered face are posted on Lili’s trophy wall next to the poster of Nathalie Kelley).

Interesting contest that was at least a mild upset. Lili Reinhart showed she’s got skill and toughness—not to mention a flair for getting attention. Just how far this gets her remains to be seen. Meanwhile Melissa Benoist has a stable to help her repair the damage and get back to winning. Bantam fans are left wondering just where these two young fighters will go next, but, for tonight, they have this fight to savor and ponder.