Jessica Chastain
(42, 5’4, 125 lbs, 10:1 FCBA, The Dollhouse)
Vs.
Sophia Bush
(36, 5’4, 127 lbs, 28:23 FCBA, Bush & Burton)

Results: Lookout!; Story: Caspian & The Dollhouse

BEFORE:
Chastain doing quite well for herself recently, not having many fights in the year thus far, but when she did, she manages to absolutely dominate the competition. The redhead is lounging in her fight-wear backstage, addressing the gathered reporters in the room with a grin.

"I've been looking forward to tonight for a while now. I know how good Sophia is, and I've been doing my best to prepare for this fight with the help of Kristanna and Carmen. Tonight is probably going to be my biggest challenge in the ring thus far, and I honestly can't wait to test myself against someone who's as good as Sophia. She's been in 40 more fights than me - that's a pretty scary number," Chastain letting out a short laugh to ease the tension. “But no worries. I'm confident that I can take her down. I *am* 10-1 after all..” Chastain flashes a confident smile, before concluding. “I wish Sophia good luck and let's go do this!"

Sophia Bush flashing a grin from across the room, swishing her dark brown hair backwards with a flourish.

“I have lots of respect for Chastain as an actress, but less so for her skills in the ring. She still has a lot to prove. I have what? 40 more fights under my belt, and a JMD championship, let's not forget. Where does all this confidence come from, Jess? I bet you won’t last more than 5 rounds. I guess we'll find out, won't we?"

Ladies sort of casual, passive aggressive attitude during the press conference, now squaring off at the podium with an equal intensity. At the call of the ring official though, they shake hands, albeit a little stiffly, before turning and heading backstage for their final prep.

The arena is awash in purple lights as Sophia first makes her entrance, strutting down the ramp with two hands spread outwards as though inviting the fans to worship her. There’s a confident, cocky smirk on her face as she mounts the steel steps and heads to her corner. She’s dressed in a dark blue sports bra and black briefs, complete with matching blue gloves all glittered with blue and white diamonds.

Next, Chastain steps into the red-orange spotlight on stage, to the roar of the many fans in attendance. It’s clear that she’s got the home court advantage here tonight, waving in all directions as she strides down the ramp. Chastain is dressed in her trademark orange boxing tights and sports bra with black trims, red hair in a ponytail, looking pretty fighting-fit for someone in her 40s.

In the ring, both ladies are in their corners, fighting stances turned on, eyes laser-focused on each other. HERE we go with ten rounds of Bantamweight action!

ROUND 1:
Chastain locking her arms early, not afraid of Bush but not willing to take any chances either. Both ladies circle and occasionally jab at the head, but it’s Bush who ramps up the dial from 0 to 100 in sixty seconds, suddenly blitzing Chastain’s forearms with jab after jab, daring the older woman to keep up. Chastain grunting, her body attacked as well, suddenly left with little choice but to head backwards. If this ferocity is gonna keep up, the Doll is in for serious trouble indeed. Bush firing more straight hands into her undefended tummy, then a hard hook rattles into the side of her arms before the bell rings to end this opening effort. Sophia looking mighty pleased with herself, probably thinking this fight too easy, whereas Jessica simply looks relieved that the round is over.

ROUND 2:
Bolder moves come out to play in the second, however, as Bush resumes her aggressive tactics but is met with some return fire as well. Chastain with arms that refuse to budge no matter what, and Sophia’s relentless focus on attack makes her careless in her pursuit. Chastain smacks her across the face with a swift hook, right after another combo into her guard is blocked and broken. Bush with a shocked look in her eyes as a few more jabs snap into her nose, sending her reeling. She just got a little taste of the redhead’s power, before managing to quickly compose herself and throw up her own guard. We’re back to circling for opportunities until the bell rings, but it’s safe to say that this round belongs to Chastain.

ROUND 3:
Jabs flying in both directions as both girls look spooked and neither of them wanting to brawl… at least not yet. Sophia with slightly better aim, taking precise shots into Jessica’s face whenever the coast is clear and clean, whereas the Doll herself is struggling to make ends meet, her punches flying all over the place. Bush lets out a gasp when one such jab slams into her chest, but Chastain has no time to celebrate, her own body eating a one-two-SWING combo, with Sophia paying her back three-fold. Chastain needs to find a killer-switch that she can exploit and threaten her foe with, but at this point, she’s finding herself pushed backwards over and over. Bush raises a hand at the bell, smiling confidently as she makes her way back to corner.

ROUND 4:
One thing that’s clear is both girls really want the win. They charge right back in, reluctant to take their foot off the gas pedal. Arms and heads go flying in various directions as they target any target they can find. Chastain scoring a stiff blow right into Sophia’s midsection, making her double over in pain. Jessica quickly exploiting, sending another hook across her face and then peppering the body with more jabs, sending Bush flying off to the side. But subsequent attacks are met with resistance as the Girls Friday starlet manages to recover her composure, thereafter blocking jabs with her re-formed guard. Good points scored here overall for the Doll, but she needs to keep the pressure up if she wants to win.

ROUND 5:
Already we’re seeing some ragged breathing and slower movements as both ladies start to tire from the effort. Slow first minute as they test their sea legs before the fists start flying again once they get into range, all that leftover, stored energy let loose at one go. Jessica grunting as Sophia repeatedly sticks her fist into her nostrils and lips, but then the Doll swings a series of hooks towards her rival, one of them slamming into Bush’s side, the other cracking across the cheek! Bush can’t take much more of this punishment either, from the shattered look on her face. She goes stumbling backwards, and this might well be Chastain’s chance to strike! Jessica advances step-by-step, throwing as many punches forward as she can, but Bush’s footwork far superior, and working too well, and she gets out of range without suffering too much damage. Chastain absolutely dominating these past two rounds, and perhaps she’s starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel!

ROUND 6:
Bush can certainly take a beating, that’s a fact. And it’s little wonder why Girls Friday snapped her up as soon as they could. Even at 36-years-old, she’s moving with both speed and purpose, coming right back into Chastain’s face for more action. Jessica on the other hand doesn’t look too good, her face covered in sweat as she does her best to fend off more jabs with her arms but some of them still slamming into her cheek hard. It’s a repeat of the first round, but this time round, Chastain ain’t as focused, her stamina depleting rapidly. She’s retreating in the second minute, trying to bite back with snap jabs into Bush’s body, but they don’t seem to deter anything. A sudden flurry into the face dazes her, that three-jab combo from Bush packing power AND accuracy. Sohphia stamps her feet and swings in hard from the side, CATCHES Jess clean on the face, and Chastain goes spinning down to the ground on her heels!

It’s a KNOCKDOWN for Sophia Bush! The Doll Ball crowd letting out an obvious groan on Chastain’s behalf, but it’s all the opposite feelings for Bush’s corner as the fighter throws up her arms in victory! Chastain on her side, mouth agape, trying to crawl towards the ropes as the referee’s count echoes in the background, but the poor woman is still on her knees as she tests the ropes. Referee hits the count of 10 and Jessica collapses to her side and rolls to her back on the mat, lying there, chest heaving in exhaustion and admitting defeat! It’s all OVER!

Official Decision: Sophia Bush defeats Jessica Chastain via KO6!

AFTER:
A huge win for Ms Bush, who looks both happy and relieved to not have lost to someone ranked almost 20 places beneath her. Still, it’s a valuable experience for Chastain tonight - no one can doubt that she displayed both heart and skill in this contest.

Bush raises both her arms to the crowd, then walks over to Jessica by the ropes. Chastain sitting up with her back against the ropes, still looking spent and barely registering Bush’s smile down at her.

“Nice fight. You did pretty well, I’ll admit.” Bush says. Chastain too dazed still to reply, only managing a nod upwards.
“Don’t give up, you hear, Jess? I’d be inclined to give you a rematch sometime in the future if you keep fighting.”

Medics arrive to check on Chastain, and Sophia makes way for them and her way out of the ring, still grinning widely as she’s approached by reporters by ring-side.

“I knew it was only a matter of time before she goes down…I thought I’d finish her earlier but she’s got plenty of heart and a good trainers behind her...So I hope she keeps at it…she might do some serious damage in that new Cougar division everyone is talking about! How do I feel? It’s a good win for me over a big name – can’t complain!” Sophia ends with a wink before high fiving members of the crowd on her way backstage.