(Results: Lookout!, Words: Caspian)

4. Emma Watson vs Hayley Williams

Emma:
(31, 5’5, 46:28 FCBA, VIXENs)

Hayley:
(32, 5’2, 6:10 FCBA, The Dollhouse)

BEFORE:
“Look, I respect what Hayley has done in the FCBA. She’s actually beaten girls like Justice and Dyer, and though she hasn’t been as active in the ring, I’m sure she can turn her fortunes around with time. She’s sort of in the same position I was in a couple of years ago, and if I could do it, she can too,” Emma says with a half-condescending smile.

Hayley, on the other hand, doesn’t like the feeling of being talked down to. Across the room, she rolls her eyes at the Brit’s remarks, before firing back.

“You know, Emma, not everyone wants a shitty acting career like yours. Some of us are busy with other, more meaningful pursuits in life, like my music. Ever heard of my work?” Hayley says, before continuing. “Watson has done so much in life but accomplished so little, if you think about it. It’s almost pathetic how she keeps chasing after the Flyweight belt when everyone else is saying she’s WAY past her prime.”

Cutting comments from both ladies here from the Caesars Palace Ballroom and Casino, and the staredown moments later is equally tense, with both Emma and Hayley locking eyes and posing with raised fists too close to each other’s chins for comfort. Watson comes into this fight as the favourite, with a rather lopsided fight record and three inches on Hayley, but Williams is glaring back, defiant, her rainbow-streaked hair showing off a similar attitude.

Ladies separate without further incident and head backstage for their final preparations. Hours later, Emma is first to enter through the double doors of the ballroom, walking in in a black, lacey bralette, white briefs and red gloves on either hand. Her auburn hair flows down both shoulders, later tied into a neat ponytail once she enters the ring.

Opposite is Hayley Williams, the punk rock princess entering the space to the sound of Misery Business, her legion of fans up on their feet at the appearance of an old and rare favourite. Hayley pumps her fists into the air and runs down the aisle in a baby blue sports bra and long white tights, similar-coloured gloves on either hand as she gestures rudely to Emma in her corner of the ring.

Girls are steady and ready at opposite sides, getting into fighting stances. Referee calls this match to order, and with a wave of the hand, HERE WE GO with ten rounds of Flyweight action!

ROUND 1:
Hayley may be three inches shorter but she’s the one showing plenty of sprite in the opening minute, barreling inwards and immediately throwing her hands at Emma’s face and body. Emma still has that sordid reputation of being a creampuff in the Dolls’ eyes, even with her mounting accolades as former Flyweight champion and a growing win-record. Hayley as a punk rocker princess probably wouldn’t give the British the time of the day if these two were to meet on the corner of Macy’s, showing the same attitude as she collapses crazy combos into Emma’s frame. Watson was sort of expecting this assault, using her arms to block her upper torso and portions of her head, not looking too troubled though even after Hayley plants another glancing shot off the chin. Emma absorbing but taking early damage, still controlling the Doll’s advance with fast one-two streaks slamming back and off the top of her forehead. Hayley’s energy is a sound counter to Emma’s height advantage, but it’s a question of how long she can keep this up. Bell rings, and for now, Williams secures the win with a final flurry to the Vixen’s torso.

ROUND 2:
Emma is still trying to control the shorter woman with her arms up and blocking, even as Hayley dips her head down and bobs left and right, before blasting more combos into the Brit’s body. Emma is the one letting out grunts as her midsection gets tenderised by these punches, and the taller Brit doesn’t seem to have a concrete answer for Hayley’s continued rushes at her. Williams is just chugging inwards, ignoring the return jabs off her forehead before slamming another stiff blow to the body. Emma’s bent over, in shock, eyes parted and momentarily stunned, and it’s MORE than enough time for Williams to rip another right hand upwards into the side of the face, which sends Emma SPIRALING down to the ground!! OUCH! What an early KNOCKDOWN for Hayley Williams!! The Doll establishes her credentials with a dominant showing this early in the fight by dropping the former champ, then running back to her corner with her arms in the air like she’s just reached a crescendo at a rock concert. Emma, however, is already making her way back up, shaking her head at the referee’s question if she wants to quit. Quite a big shock for the Vixen corner there, but the night is still young for anything to happen!

ROUND 3:
Hayley RUNS in at the bell, hoping to finish Emma off! But Watson is back to her defensive ways, checking and blocking wild flurries to her arms and body, each time evading the shorter blonde and then creating a comfortable distance between the two by walking and jabbing backwards. It’s clear that Hayley is running out of juice despite her repeated forays - even rock princesses need a breather in between their musical set pieces. Hayley sends a promising cross into the middle of Emma’s arms but some of her follow-up attacks miss completely. Watson, however, starts landing her own punches, slowly but surely tagging Williams on the face and blasting her head in all directions with crisp shots. Williams gets another hook checked high before taking a stiff swipe across her own face. The action throughout this round might show Williams taking ground over and over again, but the scorecards might speak a different story, with Watson finally earning herself a big round after a most disappointing start.

ROUND 4:
Hayley’s spirit as an indie rocker has both benefited her and been her bane in the past, with her unpredictable rushes confounding her foes and making them spit out their gum shields from repeated body rushes. But Watson’s a different beast in the ring, the Vixen looking steady and calm despite Hayley’s repeated punches caught on her torso, the Brit then easily cuffing shots off the face and chin as Emma begins to predict Hayley’s fight pattern. Emma earns herself another grunt as a stiff shot lands right on the nose, which bashes Williams’ head back. Reluctantly, Hayley is getting beaten backwards, especially as another right hand’s driven through her arms and snaps into her chin. And suddenly, Hayley’s in trouble! Her arms are flying backwards and overhead, which allows Emma to SNAP her head upwards with an uppercut crashing into the pocket! WILLIAMS GOES FLYING BACK, stumbling on shaky feet before losing her balance and COLLAPSING to the ground! It’s a return KNOCKDOWN for Emma Watson, with Williams looking absolutely smashed up, lying spreadeagled in the middle of the ring with her chest beating heavily! There’s a turn of events, for sure, as the Doll is now the one who has ten seconds to recover! Emma’s already back in the neutral corner, breathing hard but looking ready to go another ten rounds... Williams, however, has her chest rising and falling rapidly, trying desperately to get back to her feet, but staying far too long on her knees, her face still glued to the canvas! There’s the final count of 10 and the referee’s waving his arms overhead! This fight’s OVER!!

Official Decision: Emma Watson defeats Hayley Williams via KO4!

AFTER:
A hard-fought battle between both girls, and Williams definitely showed plenty of spirit when she dominated the first half. Alas, Emma’s counter-punching skills proved too much for the American songstress, which left Williams flattened and gassed out before the fifth round came knocking.

“Thought she had me for a moment,” Emma says with a smile later to reporters. “Hayley’s got spirit, but that isn’t enough to win these days. I do hope we meet again in the future.”

Hayley, meanwhile, is slowly regaining her bearings in the ring, forced to swallow another bitter pill and loss - her second this year alone, and fifth straight since dropping Natalia Dyer back in 2019.

“Still think Emma’s overrated,” Hayley later says, berating the reporters for asking some pointed questions. “If we fight again, I’ll be sure to pace myself and drop her a second time. For good.”