Results by Lookout!/Words by OddManOut

Before: When this fight was proposed, it looked quite simple. Two fighters starting to slow down, preparing to exit from the title picture on their own terms. And then the War in Heaven Tournament happened. Four fights later, Adriana Lima finds herself one of the finalists. It’s still listed as both fighters debut in the Cougar Division, but it is far more prominent than one would expect.

Yvonne seems confident, even after losing to her nemesis MEW last time out: “I’ll hurt Adriana. It won’t all be shoeshines and fancy footwork: I mean to put her down in this fight and prove once and for all I belong anywhere I want to be.”

Adriana loving her chances after subjugating younger models all fall and winter, she's bringing renewed confidence to the dance. "I think I'm the big dog in the fight and I'm going to act like it."

Ringposts in sand setup. Yvonne painted with strategically positioned plants, hair swept up, green gloves. Adriana sporting a black sheer paintjob with an ocean theme, hair loose and long, black gloves. Both fighters barefoot in the sand.

R1: Yvonne comes forward, bobbing and flanking the way she’s employed to great effect all through her career, but Adriana isn't in the mood for that. Lima using a completely different tactic – just charging towards Straho, her gloves firing out towards blonde's chest and bodying her back towards the ropes. Lashing leather into Yvonne's tummy, torso and tits, she looks like a girl on a mission. Strahovski's eyes narrow, trying to get some offense going with some jabs to keep Lima back, but is unable to get off the ropes. It's brute force, but one can't argue with the results as Adriana keeps ripping hooks to ribs for a shutout first.

R2: It's Yvonne who is turning Adriana in the center of the ring, maneuvering her towards the ropes with some rangy jabs and shots coming forward from her hip, trying to slam in her gloves into that bronzed torso Showcasing her legs as she slides out of trouble whenever Lima attempts to pounce forward, busting her up the middle with some quick hooks to opposing tummy and then pushing forward on those same powerful legs, stroking her gloves across Brazilian's torso. Quickly pivoting and sliding around the ring in a breezy shutout, making a statement with her range, preventing Adriana from getting close. Lima physically appears to be unhurt, although the look on her face indicates her pride may not be.

R3: Adriana aggressively at Vonnie again, pressuring her along ropes as blonde girl slides to her right. Midway through, Strahovski walks Lima onto the right uppercut off the back leg, Brazilian sputters out of orbit, spilling to her left and DOWN SHE GOES! Adriana SO disappointed on all fours, pounding right hand on sand before getting up all wobbly-butt. Yvonne all pitiless blue eyes - she lopes in after Lima's 8, starts drifting her the lead right hand/kissing her the come-back curling hook. Adriana strafed, rocked back into ropes, desperately trying to keep her earmuff guard up, but OH the pasting she's taking. Sinuous long blonde twisting on her hips, getting buns and legs into the act...Straho beats Lima to the cusp of submission as bell sounds.

R4: CLAMBAKE! Right uppercut Yvonne from close-in; sliding left hook in tight. Left hook to belly receipt from Adriana; follow up stubby left hook to tits; CHOPPING right palm-up atop blonde left hip. Straho teeth bared; eyes blazing. Lima, tight lipped, brown eyes FURIOUS as she refuses to give ground. Girls taking turns slamming away, Adriana just BUSTING Yvonne to the body; Aussie smiting away on chin/face. Down the stretch, Lima's will prevails...it's Strahovski backing into ropes, forced to cover up earmuff: brunette pushing forward, LASHING away free-swinging right/lefts to waist at bell. Yvonne mouthbreathing, eyes glassy...she blurts in pain on her stool when trainer probes her ribs!

R5: More tactical round from Yvonne, leads to ripping exchanges throughout the ring as girls circle for advantage, then commit to trade in spots. Both with highlights, Adriana doubling up a knock-knock jab to blonde pate while sidestepping clockwise; Straho licking torrid hooks amidships with a succulent back-bend delivery, then beating brunette to right crosses up top. Bell: same story as last round, Lima with a slender edge in connect percentage, though both vixens completely convinced they've won the heat.

R6: Adriana hurt early by a slippery Yvonne right hand pulled up off the hip and chopped to chin, spends a minute wobbly-butt and covered up, trying to get her legs back. Straho walking hurt Lima down, strapping hooks to waistline, looking for more right hand insurance up top, but Brazilian recovering well. By the third minute, women are exchanging on even terms - Vonnie unable to break Adriana down any further. More points for Strahovski; Lima back to her corner busting up, but acting/sounding very confident on her stool.

R7: Adriana with a hammer-drop poke from her earmuff - just chopping it onto Yvonne's face: blonde unsettled as Lima knocks at pate. Adriana able to step in with her right hand, really tucking it up in under Stravhovski's left breast: blonde grimacing, covering up for the first time as Lima's able to work. Adriana gets close, lashes away lefts and rights with that economical, elbows-in stroke: she's finally getting volume over Yvonne as Aussie goes defensive.

R8: Pendulum swings back to Vonnie: her jab, footwork controlling Adriana. Sliding back half a step, dragging that front foot - Strahovski's batting away cuffing hooks/dropping tidy right hands - systematically busting Lima up. Pivoting to either side, Yvonne turns her girl, blunting Adriana's headlong rushes. Down the stretch, WHACKING sidearm right takes Lima across her gut, bunching her up: Straho dips in close, arches her back and picks up a glorious close-in left uppercut to chin. Adriana knocked back and to the left, curvy legs hold her up, but she's momentarily out on her feet for just a second: Strahovski's painted buttocks fairly ringing as she stands up into the shots.

R9: Adriana plows right back in, but she’s arm weary: Yvonne able to soak the first lashing body blows and shove Brazilian back outside. Fighters grim-faced and hurting: Strahovski’s hunkering down, putting her jab on Lima, stepping right to keep her feet moving. Girls trade right hands, but Adriana’s first: Yvonne’s sails over top and AUSSIE’S HURT! Strahoski’s lithe body whipsawing, suddenly all loose, hands dropping: Lima quick-sets her feet, swipes a wide timing hook upside blonde’s head to range-in, then drops the pulverizing straight right onto her face. Yvonne’s head kicks back—mouthpiece shooting straight up into the air and SHE GOES DOWN! Strahovski flat on her back, arms outstretched—as KO’d as a girl can be. Lima’s chest heaving, legs unsteady as she glares down at the glistening brown body, relaxing into stupor under the hot California sun. KO9, Adriana Lima.

After: Both fighters putting together a classy, very professional outing, but Yvonne ran into a prime Adriana Lima tonight. Saving herself for Nina, Adriana still indulges in a victory strut - making sure to cruise past the Lookout corner, clearly revelling in the sight as blonde gets salts on her stool, ice on her ribs - trainer smoothing hair out of her eyes, being very gentle with her. Lima jumping out front in the betting for the upcoming War in Heaven Final, not looking at all like she’s ready to exit!