(Words: Cas, Results: Lookout!)

Taylor:
(21, 5’10, 2:0 FCBA, Free Agent)

VS.

Liu:
(28, 5’10, 0:1 FCBA, Free Agent)

BEFORE:
Taylor ‘Good Girl’ Hill looking splendid as she emerges for the next match of the evening. The sun has long set on the Pacific skyline, but the party is still going on the beach - red and pink neon lights make the catwalk sparkle even brighter than before, perfect for Hill’s entrance in a pink satin lingerie and a crown of white flowers on her head. So far she’s lived up to that moniker of being the nice girl around here, but backstage rumors suggest that this Angel’s anything but. She doesn't seem to care though, beaming widely as she addresses the crowd in the stands.

“Wow! Thank you all for being here. I’ll be fighting a friend tonight so whatever you guys think of her, or me, and regardless of who wins tonight, you know what? You guys are the real winners - the fans,” she concludes, perhaps selling her sincerity a little too much.

Some audible ‘Awwwws’ in the crowd though, suckered in by her baby-faced smile and sweet words. No time to ponder further, however, as the whole place is then flooded with white light as Liu Wen makes her entrance. The Chinese girl is a legend in her own right, having far more experience both in the ring and in the modeling world than Taylor Hill put together. Being the first Chinese woman to walk for Victoria’s Secret would get you that sort of attention, I suppose. Liu’s wearing a white top bottom lingerie, smirk on her lips as she shows her opponent how it’s done sauntering down the catwalk.

Having traveled the world since, Liu’s English is almost pitch-perfect as she remarks to reporters once she reaches ringside: “I want to say I respect Taylor - I think she’s lovely, she pushes herself hard, but I won't say we are friends, especially in the ring tonight. If she’s considered my friend, then I will have no regrets punching my ‘friend’s’ face.”

Mix of gasps and cheers from the audience as Liu Wen does a final twirl in her outfit before prepping to get into the ring. Could it be? Taylor suddenly looking nervous as both girls stare down in the middle. Almost identical height, but from totally different backgrounds. The referee does a final check and waves for the match to start. Here we go with the sixth bout of the evening!

Round 1:
First round and leggy models show everyone what they’re made off, coming straight at each other, but Taylor starts to out-work the Chinese model in the opening minute based on pure experience. Liu socked in the face whenever she gets too near, Taylor’s jabs dancing in and out and simultaneously building her confidence. Well, you know what they say though: overconfidence can be your own worse nightmare, no? Decidedly so here, for soon, Taylor getting sloppy as she continues flicking those long jabs at Liu, doesn't anticipate her to wade sideways and inwards all of a sudden… before it’s too late: Liu WHACKS her back on the nostrils with a one-two combo before whipping the face to the left with a damaging hook. What was Taylor’s round by wide margin grinding to screeching halt as Liu harasses the younger model for the rest of the round slams punches into her guard and then gut all the way till the bell, Hill just scrambling out of the way to save her skin, unable to rally.

Round 2:
Liu Wen now smiling as she comes confidently out of her corner looking to do more damage, but meets an equally determined Taylor in the middle, who’s gotten a head-clearing reprimand from her corner mid-round. The young girl looking eager to stand her ground this time, and the two girls trade leather back and forth in the middle, churning the insides of bodies when their guard up top denies them face to punch. Liu Wen relying on her power to knock down and sideways the brunette’s defensive guard, but Taylor just hanging in there, absorbing, then instead stepping in and powering a blow to the stomach, and then another, chopping the Chinese girl in half with dull thuds to the tummy. Liu the one being driven backwards now as she struggles to rally, arms cradling the midsection instead of going on the offensive, giving Taylor prime opportunity to clean house and hound her about the ring in turn. Bell rings and Liu looks punished thoroughly, panting and hunched over on the ropes. A big comeback round for the young model.

Round 3:
Girls effectively tied now as we head into the third. Both girls hoping to score a lead over their opponent, and do so by making a beeline straight for each other and just BANGIN’ AWAY. Loud grunts as leather connects on skin, with neither girl willing to back away. Taylor going after the tummy again but leaving herself open up top - she’s sidestepping Wen’s big blows comin’ flying at her chin, then digging her own mitts into tummy and side, but who knows how long she can keep up with this wild luck of not getting hit. Liu determined though, steeling her body for the abuse and keeps on swinging, until a right hand finally swings upwards in wild desperation - AND BANG - it catches Taylor right on the chin! Crowd roars as that’s a game-ending punch right there, folks, sending Hill flying backwards into ropes, eyes shut and disoriented! She looks hurt! On comes Liu hoping to find out for sure and put her away - big hooks slamming into Taylor’s arms and earmuffs as the American covers up best she can… manages to hold on to the bell, but not before eating some stiff hacks to the sternum as Liu gets desperate herself and decides to just torture the poor girl. Chinese girl puts everyone on notice with an almost knock down in the third, but can she maintain it?

Round 4:
May not be the best strategy for Liu Wen here though - didn’t she watch the tape of Taylor’s previous matches and the mistakes her opponent made when they decided to go after her body? Apparently not - Liu Wen specifically targeting the flanks and belly button with loud thud thud thuds, with Hill absorbing the hits but not seeming to be bothered by Liu’s lack of power here. Instead, Taylor capitalizing, content with planting punches on the Chinese model’s cheeks in left-right-left-right fashion, really battering at the face without much resistance from Liu. Liu Wen finally realizing the damage she’s taking probably not worth it, especially when she back steps to examine the damage she’s wrought and doesn’t look pleased with the reddened skin covering Taylor’s tummy. If anything, the American girl still seems eager to brawl, keeps on coming at her and slapping punch after punch into her guard, hoping to drive home the point that she’s not to be trifled with. Liu Wen on defensive in the last thirty seconds, desperate to cover up and more so catch her breath, escaping backwards at full speed. Bell rings before either girl can take full advantage, but Liu Wen clearly on the losing end of this round.

Round 5:
Liu Wen perhaps biting off more than she can chew here, understandably more cautious at the opening bell. Not so for Taylor Hill, who smells blood and starts circling like a shark. One two three jabs come from different directions, at different intervals, serve to frustrate Liu Wen and throw her defense out the window when Taylor follows up with another a whack whack WHAP straight to the nose, her punches getting past Liu’s confused guard. And just like that - Liu Wen’s looking hurt and groggy all of a sudden, swaying backwards as she tries to cover up... Her back hits the ropes and the Chinese girl braces for more offense - and boy does it hit her hard like a hurricane in season as Taylor wades in close and just GOES TO TOWN! Liu Wen grunting, folded over with revenge punches to her gut. A final hook to the face SPINS her on the spot and forces her face first onto the canvas! It’s a knockdown in the second minute for Taylor Hill!!

The crowd supportive, trying to cheer on the veteran model back to her feet, but the count reaches 10 and Liu Wen’s barely even made it to the ropes, choking back tears and crawling all the way on all fours, but not managing to keep her balance on those shaky knees. It’s all over!


Official Decision: Taylor Hill defeats Liu Wen via KO5!


AFTER:
Taylor being gracious in victory - arguably having fought tougher battles here, to be honest - she goes over to Liu Wen and helps the older model to her feet with a helpful hand. Gracious words to follow as well from the American when confronted by reporters: “She’s a trailblazer, that’s for sure, and a lot of us backstage really respect her for the modeling work she’s done. But she got out of the way tonight for the younger generation. That’s us. And it’s gonna be one of us who wins this tournament - you can bet on it,” Taylor concludes with a sly wink at reporters.

Liu Wen banged up but still defiant in her comments. “She may have won tonight, but that doesn’t mean anything. In Mandarin, we have a saying: ‘骄兵必败’ That translates roughly into ‘Pride comes before a fall’. Taylor - you were good tonight, but don’t get cocky.”