DANIELLE ROBERTSON vs GIGI MIDGLEY

Results: Vassago, Words: Caspian

Danielle:
(23, 5’11, 3:3 BBU, SIRENs)

Gigi:
(21, 5’9, BBU Debut, Free Agent)

BEFORE:
Newcomer Gigi claiming she's the better talent than the ‘underperforming Danielle’, in a clash of two Australians vying for supremacy in our next match. Gigi certainly presenting herself as the next big thing: young, full of energy, and of course drop-dead gorgeous. Meanwhile, Dani Robertson not to be sneezed at either, coming off an impressive win over sister stabled Alexis Ren in the FCBA, but still not quite cementing her place as contender-status just yet. Rather, Danni’s record a series of hits and misses - a trend that Gigi hopes to take advantage of tonight.

“Bottom line is: I feel confident,” Gigi says with a smile. “I look at Dani’s record and there’s a reason why she needs to take on a newcomer like me: she needs to pad her record. She just can’t handle the big girls yet! She’s in for a rude surprise if she thinks I’m anything but...”

“Gigi’s talking out of her ass, obviously,” Danielle replying with snark. “This is her first fight and she’s already talking big words like she belongs? I can’t wait to shut her up in the ring later.”

Tense stare down at the podium, making their two-inch height difference a little apparent. Gigi your quintessential model: toned body, long legs, and killer smile to die for. Danni on the other hand more muscled, packing power in those longer limbs. She hopes to rely on her bigger frame to get things done tonight, but of course, it hasn’t always worked perfectly for her in the past. Referee rings the bell to start this contest: HERE we go with ten rounds of Welterweight action!

ROUNDS 1-2:
Well, whaddaya know? Both Australians squaring off with confidence by the start of the first round, but by the end of the second, we clearly have a promising winner. Gigi starts her debut by showing us how agile she can be on her long legs, and even in her punch-work. She hounds Dani eagerly throughout the first round, obscuring her vision and generally avoiding her return attacks. Dani getting circled and withered down bit by bit - not something to brag about, especially if you’re the one with more experience here. Second round sees similar action, with the resident Siren just stuck in first gear throughout, bleeding points as she takes jabs to the face and body repeatedly. Gigi for sure to be liking the way things are going, especially if every match goes in a similar fashion. She’s able to pick her shots around and about Danielle’s guard and even ventures a hook or two that buffet into her forearms late in the round. I would say it’s a fantastic opening for the new girl, though one should never underestimate the Alexis-killer.

ROUND 3:
Danielle built for slow, methodical work. She has power behind those punches, *if* she manages to catch the faster girl. Third round and she doesn’t look too concerned with catching up, however: perhaps this was her plan all along to let Gigi tire herself out, then pounce in. Danielle controlling the space between them much better in the third, crowding Gigi with lunging hands that spook her one way, then the other. A couple of straight punches aimed at the body drive Gigi back further, that toned tummy of hers not able to take much damage, by comparison to Dani’s. Gigi slowing down visibly by the end of the round, breathing hard and wondering to herself if she managed to do enough here to cement her lead.

ROUND 4:
More of the same tactics as Dani goes to work on the body - she knows that Gigi can’t compete with her in that department blow for blow. Gigi flustered by those low blows coming in, has to adapt with parries and a firm middle guard, but she grunts as the Dani’s side-hooks still manage to land as the Siren mixes it up. Still, Dani would’ve walked away with a shutout this round if Gigi hadn’t fired back in the final minute. Though not at her body… Dani wincing as the rookie smartly targets her open chin and face slapping leather on her nose and lips each time she shoots in for another tummy-blow. Both girls end up in a stalemate this round, dishing out equal punishment and taking it in turn.

ROUND 5:
Finally, Gigi gets the message when an early straight left catches her in the middle of the midsection. Groaning, she’s pushed backwards and covers up. Dani following her, looking for that knockout opportunity to the head, but suddenly gets stung to her own body with payback punches. Gigi coming back at her with avengeance, surprising even Dani, who assumed the rookie would be running scared by this point. Not at all - Gigi stepping up the pace instead, hounding the Siren’s guard before swiping leather off of her abs below. Dani losing control of the situation rapidly, decides to stay her ground and match the tempo swing for swing. Result: girls throw down with rapid exchanges in the center of the ring for the last few seconds, leather sent into the head and body and painful groans echo from lips. And dare we say - there’s a look of newfound mutual respect as both girls head back to corners for managing to keep up the pressure and take equal abuse.  We’re pass the middle mark and neither one looks about to concede just yet!

ROUND 6:
Gigi like a spitfire as she comes out of corner in the sixth, as though it was still the first. Dani hiding her surprise behind her gloves as she meets the model head-on, resuming their exchange of punches in the center ring. Dani taking more shots to the body, understably favouring her head. But Gigi over-eager, taking any opportunity to land leather where and when she can, doesn’t see Dani’s big hook coming till it’s too late: classic rookie mistake as her head swivelled to one side from a blast to the face! Gigi letting out a silent scream as her face is swiped hard to one side, and before she can fully recover and register, Dani repeats the move again and again. Finally, her guard comes up and she realises the need to cover up and get the f*ck out. Her face reddened from that rapid abuse, but it’s not ending there: Dani emboldened, coming forward and wanting more. Gigi grunting as more big ones start landing, Dani closing the space and strapping hooks up top and into her sides. Only thing that saves the newbie is the bell - another minute of this clobbering and she would have gone down for good and for sure.

ROUND 7:
Round 7 and an unexpected one to get this far for a new kid on the block. Understandably so, judging from the look of exhaustion on Gigi’s face as she forces herself to rise from her stool. She initiates with some half-jabbing in Dani’s direction, but only to get suddenly BLOWN backwards with a powerful cross from the Siren. Dani’s been here before, done that, and knows it’s her time to strike back. Gigi like dead woman walking as she’s herded back into the ropes for her final absolution. Dani pulling back her right hand, shocking her with stronger and stronger blows landing on the forearms, body, forearms, body. To her credit, Gigi doesn’t take the bait to lower her guard to protect, keeping her face covered nicely but belly turning a shade of pink. Still, that protection starts breaking down bit by bit from the repeated attacks. Finally, Dani SHOVES a right hand through the middle of her arms, the glove slamming into Gigi’s face CLEAN! UGHhhGh - Gigi groaning, before wilting down to her knees and flopping onto her side! What a knockout blow!

Dani’s chest heaving as she acknowledges the crowd, her sweat-gleaned body pulsing with power that’s still wound up for another few rounds! Gigi shocking everyone by actually trying to recover though, and make the count, clinging onto the ropes for support and MAKING it back up by the skin of her teeth 9!

Crowd roars with approval, much to the chagrin of Dani, whose eyes turn back to her foe, with determination to end this charade in the final minute. It’s do-or-die in the Siren’s eyes. Referee waves his hand to resume and there she goes, rolling like a stock tank intending to overrun her enemy! Gigi getting further clobbered left and right on the ropes, barely putting up a resistance by this point. Her arms swatted away by Dani’s hooks, then follow-ups crash into her head, knocking her about awkwardly, before her weak hands manage to resume a defence. Dani also going after the exposed body, burying lefts and rights deep into her paunch, unabated. Finally, the ref has seen enough, and none too soon! He jumps in to save the rookie! It’s OVER!

Official Decision: Danielle Robertson defeats Gigi Midgley via TKO7!

AFTER:
An impressive showcase for what Robertson can do in the ring when she’s focused and in her prime. Recently on an upward trend with a string of victories, but of course, there will always be naysayers who question her inability to put down this rookie earlier.

Gigi however getting helped back up to her feet by her former opponent, where the two Australians share a brief embrace and words of encouragement in each other’s arms. She might as well consider extending her tenure in the ring, with a strong performance tonight that showed plenty of potential.