Kate Upton (CH) vs. Charlotte Flair (Unified Welterweight Championship)

Results: Lookout!; Story: Front Street

BEFORE:

An indie getting a title shot is plenty rare in the FCBA these days, and, even more rare is an indie winning the gold. Rare. But not unprecedented, especially at welterweight, where, less than six years ago, Sarah Lancaster became the last indie to claim a lineal belt with a win over Bridget Regan. And, while it wouldn't be much of a surprise to anyone if Lancaster's title win is the last for an indie in FCBA history, it also wouldn't be much of a surprise if Flair, a big, athletic, power-hitting blonde with a career winning percentage of .700 and victories over former champs like Lancaster, Cassidy Freeman, Hannah Ferguson, and, um, Kate Upton, turned the trick on this particular evening, especially not to Charlotte. "Look," says the big blonde, "I've beaten Kate before. So, this isn't anything that's too big for me. It's just a fight against a girl I know I can beat. And, I'll beat her."

"What Charlotte forgets," says Kate with a sneer, "Is that we've fought THREE times and she came out on the wrong end TWICE. Tonight, I'll make it three for four."

ROUND ONE:

Upton forward immediately, tossing Charlotte to the back foot. Champion surprises the challenger with her early aggression and tosses her to the defensive. And, there are few fighters better at KEEPING a girl on the defensive than Kate The Great, who loads up flurry after flurry, pre-empting Flair's attempts to get anything going. Charlotte's not hurt, and, here and there, she's able to respond with nice counters, but it's Kate who's fighting lead, and that's not where you want to be against Upton, whose power and volume for this weight makes playing the counter-puncher game a low-return investment. Final twenty seconds sees Charlotte able to respond more effectively, landing some solid shot of her own, but, at the bell, Kate's taken it wide and gone into the 10-9 lead.

ROUND TWO:

More movement from Flair now. Charlotte's one of the most athletic welters in the FCBA, and she's using that advantage. She's bouncing, moving laterally, making it harder for Kate to square her up, and, the change in tactics bears fruit. Upton still able to score, but she's not able to put together suppressive fire now. Instead, Flair can box with, and the challenger gives as good as she gets on those terms. Both fighters are landing some good shot now, some of it very heavy, but, for the second round in a row, nobody's hurt, as both sturdy blondes ship the shell and stay afloat. There's no much in it into the final thirty seconds, but, that's when Flair puts together a series of hard flurries that throw the champion to the defensive. The late rally is good enough to give the challenger the points narrowly and even things at 19.

ROUND THREE:

Same again. Flair not dancing or circling, but staying on the move laterally, giving ground here and there, not allowing Kate to get her squared. Upton moving more herself, working the feet, looking to line up the challenger. Almost all the action, again, is at range, with both fighters getting off in combination when they get to their spots and some hard shot being exchanged. Again, there's not a lot in it, as neither blonde can establish any sort of control and neither is able to hurt the other. And, this time, Kate's not allowing any late rallies from the challenger to steal the points. Instead, it's good, two-way stuff right to the bell. And, when it rings, it's a razor-thin margin, but that margin is Charlotte's. Flair's claimed her second round in a row and pulled into a 29-28 lead.

ROUND FOUR:

Pattern set. Flair using motion, Upton working to square. BOOM! Upton SQUARES! Kate lands a hard left jab and follows with a BLISTERING right and Charlotte is HURT! Flair wobbles covers up, and the champion goes all in, firing away with both hands, looking to finish this thing right now. Charlotte backed up, buffeted around the ring as Kate really lets the hands go looking for the 'off' switch. Looking. But not finding. Charlotte plenty sturdy and able to ship the shell without going down. But, plenty of points are being scored and plenty of damage is being done. Still, by the final thirty seconds, Flair has shaken the worst of it and is firing back, signaling the end of the champion's offensive. At the bell, though, there's no doubt about the points. Kate has it wide and we're even at 38.

ROUND FIVE:

Flair's got the legs back and she's back to the lateral movement, using her athleticism to get to spots and box with. Upton not trying to force the issue. Champ knows all about Charlotte's power and she's not going to walk into anyth...BOOM! DOWN GOES KATE! Out of NOWHERE, Charlotte drops a HAMMER of a right hand that sends the champ CRASHING to her right side and the crowd out of its seats! Flair to a neutral corner as the ref counts down on a wide-eyed Kate. Upton looking done, but manages to struggle to her feet juuuuusssstttt in time to beat the count. Ref gives her the mandatory and then waives on Charlotte...who UNLEASHES HELL! Flair just PUMMELLING the champ, forcing her back into the ropes and abusing her to head and body. Kate in DEEP trouble as the ref looks in. He's clearly thinking about it, but, he's still thinking when the bell rings, ending a 10-8 round for Flair and putting the challenger on top 48-46.

ROUND SIX:

Flair taking the fight to the champion. Upton in full retreat and serious trouble. She's wobbly-butt and easy prey for Charlotte's heavy punches. Kate's keeping the hands up, blocking what she can, giving ground willingly, playing for time, but, soon enough, Flair has her on the ropes again and is punishing her to head and body. And, then the challenger starts digging RACK! Kate getting TUNED UP to the jugs as the challenger looks to bring that guard down. Champion clinching, holding on desperately, trying to run some clock. Ref stepping in repeatedly to break, but Kate ties up again. Flair starts shoving off, stacking Upton, working upstairs, then down, going tummy and ribs along with rack. The champion gets a THOROUGH going over right to the bell, but, when it rings, she's still on her feet. For her part, Charlotte's pitched a shutout and leads 58-55.

ROUND SEVEN:

Charlotte pouring forward WALKS INTO A RIGHT HAND FROM KATE! Upton lands a BOOMING right hand that sends Flair reeling back into the ropes and the champion quickly switches to the offensive. The shoe is now officially on the other foot as Upton begins working over Charlotte along the cables. Flair with the guard high, putting the body on sale. Upton works some tummy, but mainly concentrates upstairs...before returning the favor and going RACK in a MAJOR way! Kate DIGGING hooks into Flair's jugs trying to bring that guard down...or, maybe just getting some payback. Either way, the challenger's feeling the punishment as Kate again seeks the 'off' switch, but, once again, can't find it. At the bell, Charlotte's still standing, but the champ's pitched a shutout and cut the challenger's lead to 67-65.

ROUND EIGHT:

Upton after Flair. Once again, Kate determined to finish this thing, while the sturdy challenger plays defense, gives ground while countering effectively in spots. Charlotte's legs aren't ALL the way back, but she's shaken some of the damage and is landing some dangerous counters. But, Upton will not be cowed. The champ knows she's down on the cards, and she's determined to get the challenger out of there. BOOM! Right hand, KATE! Upton follows a nice left jab with an overhand right and DOWN GOES CHARLOTTE! Flair dropped to her back in the middle of the ring as Upton strides to a neutral corner. Flair struggles to right elbow and haunch...but can get no further before the count passes her by. It's OVER! And your winner by KO8 is Kate 'The Great' Upton!

AFTER:

One look at Upton's face and you can tell she's been in a fight, but, the champ is clearly happy in the post. "I made it three of four just like I said," the champion says with a smile. "I mean, give her credit, she's good. Better than a lot of girls hanging around this division. But, she's not in MY league, and I proved that again tonight."