IceDancer challenge results (01/03/02)

[DoF Archive]

Date: 1/4/2003 1:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: HOST Game Court


January 3rd, 2003
The Outback
by Courtnall Chambers

Manni Cohai versus Alexandria Graziano
Fight for possession of the Blue Opal, IceDancer

OUTBACK -- Friday night fights returned to the Outback this week, as Alexandria Graziano challenged Manni Cohai for the right to possess the Blue Opal. 

A Bridge Too Far
Manni's defense of the Blue Opal started off on the wrong foot.  Knowing a defense was coming, and seeking to use distance to his advantage, Manni began the match with a tight spinkick.  However, Ria's defense put her low to the ground and allowed her to push Cohai off-balance and land a counterstrike to gain the first point of the match. 

The second round saw Graziano remain on the defensive, sidestepping and counterstriking once again as Cohai sought to tie her up in a grapple.  Cohai then launched a double defensive assault of his own, counterstriking as Ria first attempted to land a straight left and then a mid-level kick.  Manni first dodged aside the fist, then blocked the kick away, landing a blow of his own both times to knot the score at two.

It would take five rounds before a defense was not used to score, but finally Graziano would jab herself back into the lead as Cohai attempted to sweep her legs.  However, Cohai would not be denied - after a brief lull in the action, Manni swept Ria's legs out from under her to bring the score even once more and would then take the lead for the first time in the following round by landing a vertical strike inside Graziano's spinkick attempt.

However, taking the win would not prove so simple for Cohai, as he immediately succumbed to a roundhouse punch from Graziano as he attempted to evade a strike.  The score stood tied at four going into round eleven and would remain that way for another three rounds.  In round fourteen, Ria finally got tired of playing a positional battle and jabbed Manni out of the air, finishing the first match with a 5-4 win.

Fly Free
The second match began almost immediately, sticking to the theme of fighting suspended above it all, but this time the fight would occur on Styx.  Once again the Defender would find himself in an early hole as he blocked too high to avoid Graziano's opening leg sweep. 

But the match would once again become a game of positions.  Both fighters postured for several rounds before Graziano would find herself in the position to press her advantage and score a point, taking a two-one lead into round six.  A quick point exchange on punches led quickly to Cohai tying the score at three with a quick mid-level kick over Graziano's sweep.  But once again the Challenger would answer back as she caught and threw Cohai as he attempted a vertical strike. 

An easy win was not in the cards for this match either, however, and Cohai immediately answered back with a quick duck and counterstrike beneath Graziano's spinkick.  The score stood tied at four going into round 10.  A quick jab from the challenger would be all it would take to overpower Cohai however, and Alexandria Graziano would take the fight, the match, and the Blue Opal. 

Final result: Alexandria Graziano def. Manni Cohai [5-4, 5-4]