5. Hannah Ferguson vs Kelly Rohrbach (Welterweight)

Hannah:
(24, 5’9, 130, 12:3 FCBA, VIXENs)
Kelly:
(27, 5’9, 125, 10:2 FCBA, VIXENs)

Before: 

Lights go out before the titantron comes alive - last fight of the night and VIX choosing to end its show with own blood drawn for sport. First on is Kelly Rohrbach, who eagerly explains the reasons for this bout: “Hannah thinks she’s the best - well, she’s not. And I’m sorry to say that Kate Upton proved that, and then Tahnee followed it up last month. This is *my* time to prove that i’m better than her…”

The video footage is juxtaposed against each blonde: Hannah’s face appears next, looking to defend herself. “Kelly’s forgetting that she got knocked the f*ck out by Upton as well last month, so I don’t see how that proves that she’s all of a sudden better than me,” Hannah laughs with incredulity. “But if she wants to come and take a shot at de-throning me, that’s fine by me. Bring it on, Baywatch.”

Lights go on and here comes Kelly Rohrbach first, emerging from the locker room looking ravishing in a hot-pink bikini, shoulders draped with a white-mink coat that covers her modesty (for now). She’s looking confident and calm, smiling and waving to the crowds as she walks down the ramp. Next is Hannah Ferguson, making her debut after what’s possibly her worse month of her entire career, with consecutive losses to two of her most hated rivals in the league. Will she finally be able to turn her fortunes around with a win over a fellow stablemate? Well, pundits arguing that facing Rohrbach at this stage is perhaps *not* the wisest move for her - everything to gain for Kelly if she scores a victory tonight and everything to lose if Ferguson’s losing streak extends itself into a third consecutive loss. Well, Hannah’s certainly looking centered and ready to go, manages a big wave to her fans as she enters the arena in a tiger-patterned bikini, white silk over her shoulders as she holds up a red glove.

Once in the ring, referee calls both girls to the center to go over the rules, and at the end, perhaps surprisingly, both blondes obey the call to touch gloves. What’s this? On a fight-night billed as workplace rivalries, these two women don’t look like they hate each other’s guts - in fact there seems to be a whole lot less drama than the other fights we’ve seen so far… Regardless, referee waves to start and we’re off!

Round 1: The former champ strides in confidently at the bell and delivers the big guns from the get-go, shocking Kelly with a right-punch straight to her guard and then follows through with rapid jabbing action that puts Kelly on the defensive and off-balance as fast as possible. Rohrbach having anticipated her fellow stablemate's rapid aggression but still looking like she's having trouble dealing with the sheer multitude of punches thrown her way. Hannah not letting up, however, even in the second minute, going after the fellow blonde's body with thudding strikes from afar, but suddenly has to contend with a charging Rohrbach as the blonde herself decides to get in close and personal with a straight punch to the middle of Hannah's forearms and then shocking Ferguson with some heavy punts to the belly. Third minute sees more of the same back-and-forth action as both girls get in some stiff shots, but when the bell rings, Ferguson is the one rewarded by a close edge over her rival.

Round 2: Rohrbach not knowing explicitly how to deal with Hannah's unorthodox style - one minute she's in your face, brawling with you hard, the next, she's out of your reach, hounding you from afar. This indecision in Rohrbach's defence is not good news for her, allowing Hannah to dictate majority of the round's acton pretty much without any adjustments on her part. Hannah thus seen walking Kelly down towards the ropes, stiff blows landing on her face and chest that slowly drive her back step-by-step. Kelly blocking a large majority of those flying punches, but those that do land, land pretty hard. Rohrbach seems like every time she tries a counter and pack a jab into Hannah's cheek, the blonde comes back with two more to the face. Kelly's back finally hits the ropes and Hannah gets slightly cocky, getting in close and punishing the midsection, but not for long, the clinch being loose and imperfect, allowing Kelly to escape to slip out and away when Hannah forgets to trap her in place with her other hand. Still, Kelly looking bruised and flustered, has to do much more if she wants any chance to succeed in this fight.

Round 3: First two rounds go to Hannah and Kelly knows it - so here she comes charging out of corner right from opening bell, but Hannah not backing down either as both blondes lunge at each other right in the middle of the ring! Kelly ignoring blows to her tummy as she fires punch after punch into Hannah's face and chest instead, stunning the beautiful girl repeatedly. Crowd on their feet as the former champ looks as though she's actually and suddenly getting out-punched by the challenger, Hannah slowly but surely getting pushed back to her own corner. But she's not going to roll over for anyone, much less a fellow blonde... Ferguson rallies in the middle with her own one-two combo to Kelly's chest, stopping her in her tracks, before she clinches forward with the blonde to negate more incoming damage. Hannah succeeds in stopping the wild tide coming her way, uses her slightly heavier-set frame to control Kelly and shove at her back to the middle. Rohrbach grunting wildly at her lead vanishing before her eyes, all the while digging gloves into Hannah's side to try and at least end the round on her side of the fence, and somewhat succeeds: Hannah's face a picture of pain and holding her delicate torso at the bell when the referee forces both girls to separate - she may have avoided a humiliating knockdown but she sure as hell won't be taking the round in terms of points. Kelly knows this too, confidently striding back to corner with a smile on her face.

Round 4: Girls stick to their guns as with previous round, and Kelly again shocking the crowd good and early with a lunging right hand that catches Hannah completely unawares - right hand sails through her guard and slams into her lips, letting out a low GGHH. Just like that - Hannah thrown back into corner, and HERE COMES KELLY, stepping in wide and chopping those hooks in and under the guard - Hannah letting out more painful grunts from her lips as the blows keep landing on her tummy. She's no choice but to clinch forward yet again, wrapping arms around the blonde's waist and trying to wrestle her back around. Kelly caught in the hold, frustration building on her face as she just can't score at those juicier targets beneath, resorts to banging leather on Hannah's back and sides, but doesn't see Ferguson's rising right hand until too late - with a stiff shove, Hannah creates separation between them, and more importantly, the element of surprise needed to swivel right hand straight up into Kelly's jaw! Blonde swooning backwards as the punch connects, staggering back as though unsure of what hit her. Hannah trying to bully herself forward in last minute but she herself can't seem to advance in a straight line due to those dull punches to her noggin' disorientating her - it ends up with Hannah swinging but missing and Kelly's turn to clinch inwards to stop herself from getting knocked down. Hannah may have scored that big blow in the middle but she too failed to take advantage of it, cursing to herself when the bell finally rings and the referee herds them back to corner. Kelly equalising this contest with two rounds a piece now. Battle of blondes turning into every bit as worthy of the main-event moniker.

Round 5: Girls placing more emphasis on defence in this next round, coming out with arms high and stuck to their faces, neither wanting to make a sudden move that may cost them the fight at this mid-stage. Hannah the first to initiate, jabbing judiciously at the guard, bringing tears to Kelly's eyes with some well-placed shots that throb on the nose. But soon enough, Kelly retaliates, catching Hannah on the cheek as the blonde tries to retreat from the attacks, but Kelly's reach proving the deciding factor as she snags her just below and beside the eyes in turn. Back and forth as both girls playing catch-up with the other, focusing on footwork to close the distance or get out of range but neither wanting to step all-in... until Kelly sees an opening and takes it, jab-jab high keeps Hannah distracted while the blonde ducks and wades forward, throbbing left-right just above the waistline shocks Hannah, but Rohrbach doesn't see those counter hooks coming from the side of her vision - punches crash hard into her face one after another, sending her back from whence she came with little results to show for it. Hannah quickly advances but is stopped mid-charge by the pesky bell. Kelly looking relieved but unsure of how to crack this foe of hers...

Round 6: Breakthrough comes in the sixth for one of the blondes, but slow start as they circle and hesitate on the peripheral yet again, but this time Kelly is first to initiate, striking from afar with her jabs to all parts of Hannah's body and face, trying to keep the former champ guessing as she switches between high and low guards. Thirty seconds of such pounding has desired effect that Kelly wants, pissing off Ferguson so much that she decides to rush at her opponent. Hannah comes at Kelly with roving punches herself, stabbing at her head then tummy, before winding back a devastating hook, hoping that her power is enough to blow Rohrbach off her feet. Kelly absorbs those pesky jabs quite easily, already anticipating that power attack from Ferguson coming a mile away... instead SHOCKS the blonde with a well-placed and perfectly-timed right cross straight to the middle of her face! Hannah lets out dull groan as more such pounding exacted to her nose and lips. She suddenly looks like she's in trouble! Kelly on her all the way to the ropes, going high and then going low with as many punches as she can, jamming gloves into cheek, chest and tummy. Hannah turtling up on the ropes, trying to clinch, but dull uppercuts to her belly button forces her back and her chest forward each time Kelly connects with her midsection. The other Vixen hoping to put her rival down for the count with a final screwed up uppercut to the face, but it connects only right after the bell rings... Regardless, effect is profound: Hannah's head snapping backwards, body hits the ropes and she falls face forward onto the canvas! A dominating display from Rohrbach and the blonde couldn't care less as to whether that knockdown was counted for or not, roaring with both hands to the crowd. The referee has to help Hannah get back to her feet and to her corner.

Round 7: Hannah not looking so good in between rounds, red patches all over her body and now her jaw slightly bruised from that knockout blow. Still, she's alive and kicking... for now at least. Kelly certainly looking like the dominant brawler in this match... if she wanted to prove that she can brawl with the big girls in both divisions, well, she certainly has done so already. Kelly charging in at the bell, knowing for a fact that Hannah on her last legs, dispenses with the jabs and swings a right cross straight down the middle when Hannah is only a few steps out of corner. It connects to middle of Hannah's guard, but some surprise in Kelly's eyes as the blow doesn't have intended effect of pushing her backwards and off-balance. Instead, surprise turning to shock as Hannah squares her hips down and BURIES right hand deep into her paunch, then another and another land as Hannah takes advantage of the momentum to send Kelly off-balance herself, then helping herself to some tummy torture. Kelly now the one trying to retreat, desperate jabs landing on Hannah's face doing little to dissuade the former champ from advancing with her. Tables suddenly turned as Kelly learns that Hannah is still very much alive and punching. Hannah stalking Kelly the remainder of round, doesn't succeed in trapping her in any one corner, but constant hounding sees Kelly eating her fair share of punches to the face and then to pit of tummy when Hannah manages to get in close. Rohrbach left panting and groaning on the ropes when the bell rings and Hannah is STILL firing all cylinders into her chest and body - referee has to get physical, pries her off the other blonde and orders her back to corner. Battle of equals is an understatement, folks, as both lovely ladies continue with their back-and-forth action.

Round 8: Here we go with the eighth and another attempt by both girls to break this stalemate. Looks like both girls freakin' want it, because here they come, meeting in the center of the ring and just BANGIN' AWAY. Painful, gut-wrenching action, folks, as the blows just keep coming - both ladies shock each other with turn-taking uppercuts to the gut and then travelling upwards as if by mutual consent, grunts alternating between them as the chest and jug shots make for some choice screenshots of the evening. STILL, neither girl backing down, pushed back one step but quick lunging in for another crack at their foe. Hannah now going up top, ramming left-right-left right into Kelly's face in what must be painful pills to swallow, but Kelly remaining vigilant on Hannah's chest level, mercilessly cutting her gloves into Hannah's left and right orbs as though they were the Vixen's Achilles Heel. For a moment, the immense pain shooting up and down her spine seems to have paralysed her, stunning her in one spot and letting Kelly to continue to batter at her body, but Kelly's mistake comes with not going for the knockout blow right there and then when her opponent was vulnerable. Instead, this allows Hannah to respond with body punches of her own, fists burying into belly, giving her prime opportunity for a swift and brutal uppercut right to the base of the jaw! Kelly's face crumples as her chin sent skyward and back, her legs suddenly buckling under the combined weight of her upper body already weakened by the abuse. Blonde lifted off her feet and backwards, lands with a decisive THUD on the canvas. It's the first knockdown of the match from Hannah Ferguson! Could it be the last?!

3...4... Kelly is alive, much to the relief of her fans in the rafters, stirring slowly from her back and trying to sit up. But the pain is evident - face still screwed up, eyes shut and chest heaving, trying to get in some air.

5...6... Hannah herself taking opportunity to catch her breath in corner, looking serene and sublime as f*ck even though her body littered with evidence of abuse. The blonde eyeing her opponent with keen interest as to whether she'll be forced back into another two rounds of fight.

7...8... Well, it's certainly something the fans are unanimous about, screaming for Kelly to get off her knees as fast as she possibly can, but the rest of the people in attendance in this sold-out theatre seem to want to get their money's worth with another two rounds of brawling action.

9... Even with the help of the ropes, Kelly's legs look all-too wobbly and her body is straining in protest with every inch to recovery. She lunges back up in desperate attempt to rise, but falls back down again to her knees!

10! It's over!!

Official Decision: Hannah Ferguson defeats Kelly Rohrbach via KO8!

After: Immense smile of relief breaks across Hannah's face as she retains her status as queen of this humble stable. But if she's the leader of this pack, where the hell are her followers? Rest of the VIXENs crew are slowly revealed to be ringside by the camera crews, Alyssa Lynch with Kyra Santoro clapping perhaps a little too lacklustrely and Luisana Lopilato with Bo Krsmanovic forcing a smile for the cameras in response to their queen's 'victory' tonight. Hannah is on top of the world by herself today, strutting to all four corners of the ring waving her thanks to the fans, but none of the VIX locker room seen to be eager to celebrate with her party on the throne.

Hannah turns her attention back to her would-be challenger still sprawled on her stool at the other end of the ring, slowly approaches her as if still contemplating best course of action to take. Kelly however already anticipating the humiliation to come, look of defiance on her face as she watches Hannah bearing down. Head Trainer Corey Saucier is already by Kelly's side when he notices the two stablemates heading for a post-fight brawl and possible humiliation for not just for one girl but for the entire stable itself, is first to get in Hannah's way by way of warning her sternly to lay off her fellow stablemate. Hannah sternly rebutts him, her brows furrowing as though in disappointment and anger at having been denied her real prize of the evening.

Unsure of what's said specifically, but Corey reluctantly gets out of the way after a tense confrontation, but he stays by the side as Hannah is now free to claim her crown. Taking two fistsfuls of Kelly's blonde locks, she pulls her up from her stool and leans in.

"Good fight... but now we know for sure who's the real queen around here," Hannah says matter-of-factly, beaming into Kelly's face.

Kelly still defiant, hisses back with a short chuckle: "That's a laugh. Look around you, Hannah. The only 'queen' you are is of a pile of horse-radish and baloney!"

To Kelly's surprise, Hannah actually laughs out loud at her comment - a sinister and all-too-confident snigger - then meets her eye-to-eye again. "Believe it or not, Kelly, I've always liked the way you've managed to not take things so seriously. And now, after going toe-to-toe with you in the ring, I think I just might decide to respect you... if only a tiny little bit more," Hannah emphases, holding up a small distance between her fingers. With a wink, she then lets go of the blonde's hair, allowing her to slump back to her stool unscathed.

Well, if the audience had liked or anticipated this turn of events, they're certainly making their protests known, not used to being deprived of a good post-fight humiliation spectacle at a VIX party, least of all from someone like Hannah Ferguson herself. Nonetheless, Hannah showing a teeny bit of sportsmanship conduct for once, leaving Kelly sputtering alone at the other end of the ring whilst she continues posing for the cameras at the other. One could argue that the win was reward enough, and here Hannah is with the entire world to herself, just the way she likes it. Just a shame though that the blonde managed to find some champ-like behaviour only *after* she got the title stripped away by Kate Upton.

Speaking of the Lookout! bombshell, she's nowhere to be seen tonight, and neither is Hannah's other nemesis, Tahnee Atkinson. Who knows though, with back-to-back humiliating losses to those girls behind her, could this be another turning point for Hannah Ferguson's career and disposition in the ring? Well, we can only wait and speculate as to what she does now, her place in the VIX hierarchy secured and steady.

That's it for VIX: Occupational Hazards, folks. We hope you've had a blast of an evening!