(Results: Lookout!, Words: Caspian)

8. Candice Swanepoel vs Cara Delevingne

Candice:
(32, 5’10, 19:39:1 FCBA, Foxfire Boxing)

Cara:
(29, 5’8, 14:15 FCBA, Free Agent)

BEFORE:
A unique match-up for our last fight of tonight’s tournament, with the lovely Candice Swanepoel set to do battle with the best and brightest Free Agent on the FCBA market, Cara Delevingne, who has herself knocked out all manner of notable girls like Doutzen Kroes and Elsa Hosk, but in her 5-year career has yet to be signed by a major sporting stable.

“If I have to win this tournament to prove I’m the best in the business, so be it,” Cara says first with a nod and cocky smirk. “Candice has had more fights than me, but what the heck, just look at our different win records and you’ll see that I have MUCH more than a chance of winnin’ tonight.”

“Just barely, I think,” Candice answers back from the other side of the room, looking incensed at the thought of a measly Free Agent getting the better of her, ever. “You’ve had your fun, Cara. Now it’s time for the big girls to play.”

Candice sporting a two-inch height advantage on paper, but never underestimate the other blonde’s agility and power, with Cara showing off plenty of both in her last fight against Stella Maxwell. The two blondes stride towards each other on stage, turning their noses up (well, one girl really doesn’t have a choice in the matter), whilst planting their hands on hips.

Candice did OK during the last iteration of the War in Heaven, but was unfortunately knocked out of contention by a certain Barbara Palvin. No doubt she wants her vengeance this time, but she will have to get through the British blonde first.

Back in the arena, Cara is the first to enter, her music hitting the airwaves as the short-haired blonde emerges with a big smile and double wave of her hands. She’s sporting a simple sports jersey that’s cut off at her chest, bright orange and neon yellow stripes on either short sleeve as she parades down the aisle. Next up is Candice, who appears in a dazzle of golden light and luscious silver fur draped over her shoulders. She’s rocking a winter jacket that’s cut loose down the middle, showing off her toned tummy and chest.

In the ring, both ladies are bouncing up and down in their corners, awaiting the opening bell. Cara’s in red gloves for this contest; Candice in white. HERE WE GO with ten rounds of Lightweight action!

ROUND 1:
Cara shows plenty of spirit, running the gamut of the ropes and trying to attack Candice from multiple angles. Candice is content with stopping and staring for now, standing still and absorbing those early blows, with Cara’s combos landing all over the arms or smack to the body. Let’s not forget, however, that Candice has two inches on the other blonde, and manages to nail Cara back on the face with the occasional fast jab. Cara lands plenty more abuse, however, trying to whittle the Foxfire girl down to the very last second, scoring another combo off her chiseled abs before the bell rings to end the first round.

ROUND 2:
Candice is definitely more animated here, attacking back with more energy and combos, driving a right cross into Cara’s arms whenever she gets in too close. Delevingne is still moving like a speed demon, dodging left and weaving right, sinking punches into Candice’s arms before taking a snapshot off her own as well. Both blondes land some poison this round, tossing each other’s heads to the side or rocking each other to the body. But Candice is the one who steals the show right at the final minute when she lands a nasty two-punch combination: one fist driven up into Cara’s nostrils, the other into her chest to push the smaller girl backwards.

ROUND 3:
But Cara’s energy is still at high levels, as the British actress and model zooms in at the bell and continues to sink punches into Candice’s resolve. The taller, older model has to really contend with this hungrier, faster girl this round, and Cara delivers another chopping one-two to the torso and belly before scooting out of the way of a return hook sent towards her head. Candice growling with frustration as she struggles to keep the younger fighter off of her, but those scare tactics begin to work past the middle mark, almost dropping Cara with a hook slammed into the side of her head, before a straight cross is narrowly dodged to the side by the lucky Delevingne. Cara is still looking clean and in control, smirking as she pays Swanepoel back with a smattering of body shots to end the round, leaving her winded and gagging at the bell. So far, so good!

ROUND 4:
Cara again dashing in like a little spitfire, doing her best to drop Candice and prove she’s the belle of the ball and the newest face of the division. She looks set to take the round wide once more, bashing combos into Candice’s arms and at one point, lifting the Foxfire girl’s chin with a snap uppercut that cuts through the arms. But Candice begins to battle her way back, bursting forward with sudden aggressive takes before hammering Delevingne to the arms and body, drawing a grunt of her own when she slams a hook across the Brit’s guard, which almost sends Cara spilling into the ropes with a loud gasp. Last few seconds of the round and Candice decides to GO IN FOR BROKE, using her reach to drive another cross into the body, which STUNS Cara in place with her eyes bulging, before yet another hook to the face SENDS HER SPINNING to the side, and DOWN SHE GOES!! Surprise KNOCKDOWN for Candice Swanepoel right there, and the crowd is on their feet!!

Cara sputters on her chest, trying to push her way back up. She was faring too well in the first two minutes, only to suddenly lose track of the narrative. Candice is also smirking from her neutral corner, looking cocky and gesturing for the Brit to get back up, if she can. Cara pounds on the canvas before rising to her feet, not about to flame out when she’s made it this far - the short-haired Brit steadies herself by the count of 8, and this fight is set to continue!

ROUND 5:
That KO attempt must have shaken something loose, however, as Cara looks even more tired and dazed than ordinarily. Round starts off quiet except for the raucous crowd at both their backs. Candice comes in slowly, cautiously, and starts picking Cara off from afar, fast hands jabbing at her head and body, and pushing her around the ring. Delevingne grunting, trying to deal with the multitude of attacks, though she’s having trouble fending off the increasing number of blows that are raining inwards. She takes some damage to her face, her nose crunched and lips smushed as Candice’s attacks begin to push her into the ropes, where she’s pinned down even worse. Swanepoel goes all in all of a sudden, another cross hand driven into the belly, which makes Delevingne LURCH forward in shock, before the body blow sends her DOWN TO HER KNEES once more!! It’s a second KNOCKDOWN attempt in just five rounds, and what a dominant performance indeed from Candice Swanepoel, who walks away with her arms high up in the air, blowing kisses to the crowds as the referee WAVES the rest of this fight off by the look of Cara’s fetal position by the ropes! This round of the tournament has ended in decisive fashion, with Swanepoel taking the KO5 win!

Official Decision: Candice Swanepoel defeats Cara Delevingne via KO5!

AFTER:
“Knew she wasn’t all that,” Swanepoel says cockily to reporters later. “If my performance was any indicator, I’ll be hoisting the tournament trophy by the end of the year.”

Cara, meanwhile, is too concussed to say anything, waving the medics off and quickly asking her fight team to escort her from the arena premises. She may be the hottest Free Agent on the planet, but that still doesn’t beat having a dedicated fight team at your back, and constant beck and call, like some of her opponents. At least, not for tonight.

Well, that concludes the latest quarter-quarter final rounds of the Victoria’s Secret War in Heaven II tournament! Join us next month for the quarterfinals, where the last eight girls will do battle in a bid to become the next Archangel!

Our thanks to Vassago and Fates for volunteering to write this round, and to Lookout for assisting with the organisation!