TROIAN BELLISARIO VS EVANGELINE LILLY
Results: Lookout Writing: Archer
Troian: 31 YO, 5’7 (1.70 m), 22-16-0 (18 KO) since 2011, Pretty Little Punchers Inc.
Evangeline: 37 YO, 5’5 (1.65 m), 46-22-2 (19 KO) since 2004 Bonzo’s Gym

Before: No nonsense professionalism on display in the prefight proceedings. Probably considered dull by some, but Troi and Ev definitely have their ideas on how this fight will go.

“This will be my first in the ring with Evangeline and I know she’s got the experience and ring skills to make this a difficult challenge,” Troian opines during her time at the podium.” I am hoping that since I’ll be new to her as well, I can take advantage of that and score enough points to win. A knockout? Who wouldn’t want to get one on an opponent, but intending to get a knockout can make you reckless. Evangeline is too good to get reckless around. No, I will take advantage if I see an opportunity, but that’s not my overall plan. Steady punching, that’s going to be my plan.”

Evangeline Lilly smiles: “I am surprised that Troian is still talking about ‘plans’. I have come to the conclusion that no plan lasts beyond the first few punches. I will fit physically and I’ll have studied enough tape to avoid surprises, but otherwise, my ‘plan’ is go out there. Punch Troian until she falls down and can’t get up. Of course, it doesn’t always work which is why VanCamp got the title shot and not me, but I see no reason to think Troi will present a unique challenge. A hard one, I’m sure, but nothing too much for me in the end. I was disappointed in losing to Emily VanCamp and I want to get back into serious contention. Knocking off Troian here will help me achieve that.”

(Troian seen to frown when Evangeline says she’s “not unique”, but if she is irked he hides it as she and Evangeline shake hands at the end of the presser.)
Fight night finds Troian in gold with black trim short shorts, black sports bra with black gloves and boots (gold laces). Evangeline in dark blue short shirts with sky blue sports bra, dark blue gloves and boots (sky blue laces). Both have their hair pulled back in ponytails. Ring instructions go smoothly and two fighters are back in corners. They both look eager to go as they pound gloves together and bounce in place. The bell is rounded and the fight begins.

R1: Evangeline seems to startle Troian by launching a brawling blitzkrieg attack at the very start of the fight. Ev all over Troian banging her hard to the body and swiveling her head with strong jaw shots. Troian nearly driven back into her own turnbuckle, but digs in and fights back with the jab to the body, then uppercuts into the chin. Evangeline’s attack slows, but she’s able to keep Troian bottled up. Troian working hard, but she’s not able to keep Evangeline back for long, Ev makes some strong hooks to the stomach and the next thing Troian knows her butt is against the turnbuckle, Signal for Evangeline to go all out as Troian finally grabs her by the waist and tries to throw her aside. Referee breaks it up, but Troian quickly shifting to more conventional clinching to stall the attack. Gets Troian some relief, but she’s still bottled up to the bell and looking shell-shocked as Evangeline steps away with a smile of satisfaction. She spits out her mouthpiece to ask: “How that game plan going, Troi?” Troian not amused: “I’ll let you know later.” Referee seems concerned at the by-play and sends Evangeline back across the ring. Troian sinks to stool and is heard muttering to trainer Nia Peeples: “I am starting not to like her.”

R2: Troian not caught napping this time, She’s out of her corner like a shot and going right at Evangeline with determined punching. Evangeline trying to duck or block incoming, but Troian shifting her position quickly and able to strike hard at Ev’s chin. Ev rocked, though her legs do not buckle , she drops raised her guard high to cover her head. Troian feasts on the Lilly midsection roasting ribs, belly and then into her breasts. Evangeline trying to use jab and does manage to score against Troi’s head, but Troian able to maneuver to pop up with body punching from unexpected angles. Ev standing her ground, but takes a lot of punishment from her nimble opponent as Troian closes out a winning round by a wide margin on the cards.

R3: Evangeline and Troian get into it quickly this round. They clash at mid-ring and bang. Evangeline working Troian ribs early, but Troi getting to Ev’s jaw and chin with repeated punches. Ev starting to feel the impacts, drops back and Troian follows with strikes to the belly and ribcage. Evangeline hunching up and jabbing, but now Troian with the space to start maneuvering around her opponent. Ev hit to the head and covering up. Troian back to the belly and breasts. Evangeline managing some jabbing to keep Troian working for better angles, but round goes to Troian.

R4: Evangeline has taken a beating in the previous two rounds, but she proves she is still full of fight as comes out and launches a fierce pounding attack on Troian’s body. Troian sent lurching back and trying to get her defenses organized. Ev keeping up the pressure as she begins to work Troian’s head and face. Troian lumping up rapidly under attack, tries to get evasive as she backs up, but Evangeline cutting off ring and steering her onto the ropes. Troian going face in gloves as she takes a seat on the ropes to ride out the storm. Bell finally sounds and a shaken Troian leaves the ropes. Evangeline giving her a stern look which Troian ignores as she makes her way back to her corner.

R5: PLP corner working hard to get Troian Bellisario ready for this round and she is getting lectured by trainer Nia Peeples. Troian not happy, but nods and goes plainly determined to get back in charge of this contest. Evangeline Lilly has other ideas, of course, and this sets up hard punching exchange at mid ring. Lilly gets blocked when she tries to go after Bellisario’s head, but works the body with some early success. Troian moves around under pressure, but finds a gap and fires a straight that catches Evangeline in the temple. Evangeline’s legs shake for the first time and she stumbles away. Troian hammering hard at the body until she gets a chance to smack Ev hard to the jaw with a right. Evangeline shudders, stiffens and stumbles back into the ropes. Troian leaping in lash away at Ev, but Evangeline clinching to break this up. Ev makes it to the bell, but her legs look rubbery as she makes her way to her corner.

R6: Evangeline heaves herself off her stool at the starting bell and tries to get in some quick smashes to Troian’s head, but she’s not quick enough. Troian ducking under the blockbusters and rams a right uppercut into Ev’s chin as she comes up. Evangeline knocked back, left leg coming off to the canvas and she spills down hard onto her back. Troian watching from neutral corner as ref starts to count. Evangeline looking distressed, but then gets a more determined look as she picks herself up and beats the count. Action resumes as Troian comes back in and Evangeline tries to backway and recover. Troian patiently cutting the ring off and backing the desperate Evangeline towards the ropes with a series of blazing hooks to the belly that doubles Ev up. Then lightning uppercuts to the chin and Evangeline is hurled into the ropes. She instinctively grasps the top ropes with her arms as she tries to hold herself up. This, of course, leaves Evangeline wide open and Troian smacks her head from side to side with lefts and rights until suddenly Evangeline’s legs give out. Ev lands on her bottom and topples over onto her side. Troian again watching from neutral corner. Evangeline gets one hand on the bottom rope and tries to pull herself up, but as she reaches for a higher strand, her hand slips and down she goes in a heap. Evangeline just sprawled out next to the ropes as the referee counts her out.

THE WINNER: TROIAN BELLISARIO DEFEATS EVANGELINE LILLY KO6.

After: “It’s what I said,” Troian informs Archer News report Skip Tracey following the fight, :she was a tough opponent, I worked on getting points, but when I realized I had the opportunity for a knockout—I took it. I have the feeling she underestimated me. I don’t think she will after this. What’s next? Too soon to say, but my overall plan is to get the title back. I would call this a big step in that direction
.”
Skip was also able to get some comments from an understandable rueful Evangeline Lilly: “She was trickier on her feet than I was expecting and she kept finding ways to ring my bell. I was getting to her at times, but it wasn’t enough. I am never happy at losing, but I have learned to put it behind you and move. I’ll find me some opponents I can beat and then get back into contention. I have good management and now we can do it.”

Vigorous fight while it lasted. Evangeline Lilly gave Troian Bellisario some early problems, but Bellisario came back, wore Lilly down and knocked her out. Nice comeback fight for Troian after losing title to Emily VanCamp and should lead her closer to her goal of another title shot. Evangeline still good enough to be a serious contender but two losses are making her road back longer, but we think she will soon be back on course. Bantamweight fans should have much to look forward to in the months to come.