I did something I don't usually do, which is vote against the girl I actually think would win (Penny in this case) because the result made for a more interesting story in my mind. As I see it based on the previous stories, Penny basically had the first match won, losing only because she fell victim to a rather cheap ploy. In essence, Max cheated. In the second match, Penny felt she had something to prove, and decided to do so by trying to beat Max at her own game by slugging it out. This proved to be a costly mistake, as she ultimately lost the battle of fists, leading to a second defeat.
For this fight, Penny will be coming in with a different mind set. Plain and simply, she needs the win. Penny projects an aura of confidence and invincibility, but as we know there is a layer of insecurity there beneath the surface. As a fighter she usually wins, which keeps it at bay, but of course in the case of Max that doesn't apply. Penny still believes she can beat Max, since in her mind she should have won the first fight and the second was simply a bad strategy, but now it's do or die. Therefore she will train harder than ever, and stick to what has always worked best for her, particularly by using her deadly legs.
For her part, Max knows that she was lucky to escape the first match with a win. The second match was a clean victory, but still too close for her liking. She has, however, learned something of Penny's weaknesses as well as her strengths, and so part of her strategy will be to play mind games with her to throw her off her stride. Also, once she has an advantage she wants to really do a number on the blonde, both to establish dominance and to scare Penny away from another rematch.
I'd guess the match itself would start much like the previous two, with fierce back and forth action that gradually turns into a long war of attrition. Max's winning strategy would be to play into her foe's aggression, conserving her own energy even as Penny is slowly worn down. She also subtly but steadily works on Penny's legs, undermining her greatest weapon. By the time the West Coast beauty is able to secure a scissors, she no longer has the power left to finish the brunette with it. When Max escapes the scissors, Penny's self confidence collapses and she starts to panic. From then on a focused Max is able to pick her apart, and the blonde's worst nightmares are realized and she is dominated by the cruel brunette. The end of the match turns stunningly one-sided as Max is determined to break Penny's body and spirit before finally smothering her out again.
The biggest question will be how the proud Nebraska beauty will be able to cope with such a brutal and convincing defeat. Will she be able to rebuild her confidence against other foes, or will self doubt cost her future matches also? Time will tell.
-JM
