(UNIFIED WELTERWEIGHT TITLE) SARAH LANCASTER VS CHRISTINA HENDRICKS
(Words: Vassago / Results: Lookout!)

BEFORE: The Unified Welterweight Title bout pre-fight studio with ESPN's Erin Andrews (roll tape):

{{{ Sarah Lancaster: Sure, it still feels a bit weird sitting on top of the welters again. Guess nobody had me taking Bridget Regan of all people to the cleaners! But that was then and this is now. I can't dwell on that Upset Of The Year candidate too long or else Christina will take over the reigns! We've seen enough redheads holding the welter straps and it's my business she won't join the Righettis and Freemans of this universe! I watched some of her fights and based on her loss to Paula Patton I think I can retain my title! After all I beat Paula fair & square myself and with a lot of pleasure on top of that!" }}}

{{{ Christina Hendricks:"I'm sure this particular pairing is a surprise to a long list of people, but believe me, I'm first on that list. The idea that I'd get a title shot before Robyn, well… if you'd told me that a year ago I'd have thought you were nuts. Still, I definitely have been on the rise lately, so while the pressure is on more than ever before in my boxing career, it's a productive kind of pressure that keeps me focused." }}}

Sarah Lancaster wears a black basque top, matching knickers and red gloves. Dark brown hair straight. Christina Hendricks wears a bright green basque top, black knickers and gloves. Carrot hair tied in a thick braid. The fight is scheduled for ten rounds in the welterweight division.

Round 1:
There's something in the Punchaholics game plan tonight that makes their fighters start off big and both women clatter into each other straight from the bell as Sarah has to accept the high tempo action and goes after Christina's face with ferocious jabbing combo, snaps the redhead's braid around and blocks off her body assault, peppers the guard, breaks through the mitts and nails her on the nose which forces the challenger back at first. However the counterpunching proves brutally effective and the resulting jabs from Hendricks pick the champion off in mid distance one by one to change the early setting. Sarah is quick on her feet, working single hand response and she weathers the onslaught as Christina fails to land another combo but still catches her with a seemingly stray hook on the nose and that keeps the brunette worried with more high swinging. The pace drops off but the redhead hassles her rival around the ring for remainder of the round and Lancaster looks uneasy in wake of that open lack of respect and can't quite settle herself with Hendricks being much more mobile than anticipated .

Round 2:
More hooks from the redhead catch the slow moving champion on the face and her guard is way below par in the early stages; Christina notices that too and keeps firing away high, peppers the gloves and slices through them more often than not with Lancaster totally sluggish so far and unable to tame the high-tempo Punchaholics game plan. However Christina doesn't switch her targets often enough and wastes most of her efforts against the guard as round goes on with Sarah still quick on her feet and just about staying in mid-range to avoiding some really heavy leather. Christina remains unmoved but it's hard to tell how she copes once the champion gets going since for now Lancaster still prefers to sit and wait for the redhead cavalry and there's not enough damage from the older woman's punches.

Round 3:
Christina squares up to the brunette again but crashes off the guard with a double hooking attempt; Lancaster counters her and whacks on the ribs with a big left, follows up with a right on the chin and wobbles the redhead on her feet for the first time as she pounces on that opportunity and keeps lashing out at the ribcage and clipping the obvious rack target too which forces the challenger to cover up in the middle of the ring. Left/right combo slices the mitts though and catches the redhead on the nose and the champion wants more! She pummels through the arms and bounces off the rack, finds another quick uppercut on the jaw and sends Hendricks spinning back to the ropes! The challenger tries to respond, but Sarah ducks under her jabbing efforts and keeps her pinned with more shots on the ribcage with the crowd getting very vocal in wake of the brunette's charge. Sarah leans on the redhead late in the going and gives her more midsection pain but is halted by the bell much to the Punchaholics corner's relief.

Round 4:
The champ's on a mission now, she jumps after the redhead but Hendricks does likewise and the two women tangle in the middle of the ring; a huge right jab lands on the redhead's mouth and splits her mitts but she slams a right hook herself straight onto her opponent's temple moments later and that rocks the champ into a circling escape. Hendricks keeps picking her off with overhand menace afterwards but still lacks that big punch as the brunette remains nifty on her feet and enforces a fruitless pursuit which only fuels the challenger's anger. Christina begins to scowl after numerous punches struggle to break the guard and it's what made Lancaster so successful lately, the girl can outlast her opponents despite plenty of effort and while Hendricks keeps plugging along she doesn't hit the clean strikes and falls into a late counterpunching flurry that bends her to the side with Sarah planting her front leg firmly on the boards and whacking Hendricks to the body on the turn. A wild swing goes wayward late on for the readhead and Lancaster signs off the round with another clubbing score on the lips that leaves the challenger moaning in anger again.

Round 5:
Hendricks needs to ignite some pace into her actions and leaps after the champion but once again can't match her speed and wastes more energy in a fruitless chase around the ring before Lancaster counters her with a straight jab and a belly pounding follow-up. Christina takes those shots clean and slows even further as the brunette works the overhand on the face but a sudden hook on the liver stops the champ in her tracks and begins to push her away from the close range comfort zone. She gets pummelled onto her heels moments later and Christina adds more venom with uppercuts to dismantle the high guard before thumping the brunette with a quick left/right combo on the cheeks. Hendricks powers on from there and settles into more facial assault forcing the champ into defensive circles but the edge belongs to the challenger for remainder of the round as she keeps picking the champion off with single leather and reboots her chances of taking the title belt away with Lancaster giving her a long look after the bell.

Round 6:
Sarah answers with more speed across the canvas to tame the redhead's up tempo, she keeps tormenting her with duck and weave tactics but finds the midsection pouncing and occassional jug muggin' as well which makes the challenger yelp in pain. Chaotic slaps from Hendricks crash off the forearms and gloves with the champion spiking over the top instead and lumping up her cheeks with a lenghty attack that pulls the plug on Christina's menacing swagger. In fact she tries to catch some respite but eats a double overhand combo and falls on the ropes where Sarah lashes out at her ribcage and jugs again, goes around the elbows and peppers the flesh with Hendricks just moaning in pain but still getting worked over along the ropes. Lancaster nails her with a huge jab on the belly button right at the death which sinks the challenger on soft knees and another hook on the boobs effectively as the ref was rushing in to separate the fighters bends Hendricks forward out of breath alltogether.

Round 7:
Hendricks needs more time to catch her breath but the champion doesn't give her any and flies with a hooking combo that adds more cuts on the otherwise pretty face. Moreover she fakes a left hook on the cheek, throws a right on the temple and stuns the redhead in the middle of the ring before a left hook on the navel HAS HENDRICKS SCOWLING LOUD... a quick uppercut finds the jaw and whips the redhead on her heels with the chest exposed wide open... Lancaster drills the solar plexus for the finishing touch and SENDS CHRISTINA DOWN ON HER BACK spitting out her mouth piece in the proccess... The challenger wants to beat the count but can't find her breath whatsoever and remains horizontal with eyes closed as Sarah Lancaster retains her welterweight title via KO7!!!

AFTER: It seems like something really extra is required to derail the Lancaster express, the current champ soaks it all up and still comes away with a bang as she wore the buxom redhead down and out to secure a straight forward finish. All those months on the sidelines made Sarah look very sharp on her comeback and one can only wonder who will stop her from finishing the year on top? Hendricks gave her enough trouble to warrant the championship opportunity but never seriously threatened the Revival tournament winner and looks set to make way for Robyn Lawley on the Punchaholics internal pecking order. With Cassidy Freeman doing the dirty laundry and holding Lawley off in come-from-behind fashion the name of Lancaster's next opponent seems to covered in a cloud of mystery.

Final result: Sarah Lancaster def. Christina Hendricks KO7.