Tale of the Tape:
Dua Lipa:
Age: 27
Height: 5'8
W/L: 31-14 (31KOs)
Vs
Belen Rodriguez:
Age: 38
Height: 5'9
W/L: 7-5 (7KOs)

(Girls Friday Vs Free Agent)

(Written by Girls Friday/Results by Lookout!)

Intro:
Two women who are after putting themselves into the shop window when it comes to the BBU lightweight title picture. Dua Lipa has come back over to the BBU beating Jodie Comer last month. While Belen Rodriguez defeated Ivana Knoll to finish 2022 off.

Heading into the bout, both women were asked for their opinions by the BBU TV network. Denise Van Outen spoke to Dua Lipa at her stables gym. Dua sat on a bench in the lower room wearing a black hoodie, black yoga pants and white trainers before she went for her training session.

Asked why she has come back to the BBU at this time; Dua answers "I am wanting to fix something I should have done a few years ago. I didn't win the BBU lightweight title. It's something that has bugged me the past year when I think about it." Clenching her fists to show how annoyed it makes her to think about missing out on the belt.

The subject changes to Belen. Dua as usual is respectful as she says "Belen is a solid fighter. I looked over options since my last fight and Belen stood out to me, she has beaten several good fighters, while not getting the notice she deserves." Denise nodding along in agreement.

But soon Dua chuckles as she adds "but of course I plan to knock her out." Winking to Denise before she stands up. Denise wishing Dua luck before Dua heads off into the workout room.

While Belen is interviewed by Georgie Thompson in Argentina at her private gym. Belen takes a drink of cold water after doing a workout in a red sports bra, shorts and trainers. She tells Georgie she can sit on a seat as she stays standing.

"I thought after I beat that bimbo Ivana that I'd get more fights but here we are nearly six months later. It took Dua coming back from the FCBA to call me. Too bad for her what she probably sees as kindness will lead her getting knocked out by me" says Belen. Looking annoyed as she puts the water bottle down on the water.

She continues "once I beat Dua I expect my time in the sun. Holly Peers better be watching." Punching her punch bag with her left fist. Georgie relieved that she isn't the one Belen wants to hit.

Fight night. First to step out onto the aisle is Dua. She has her coach Taryn Terrell and cut woman Eva Carneiro behind her. She waves to her fans as they cheer her to the ring. Stepping inside it, Dua is wearing a black sports bra with white trim, matching trunks and boots, white gloves, as her hair is tied into a ponytail. She taps fists with her corner crew as she nods that she is ready for this bout.

Belen heads down the aisle with her coach to her right side. Tapping her gloves as she walks to the ring with a determined expression. She wears a blue sports bra with white stripes down the sides, matching trunks and shoes, with white gloves, her hair is tied into a ponytail as she gets into the ring. Belen paces in her corner looking ready to get started.

Walking to the center of the ring. Both stands hands on hips as they look each other over. Soon enough it's time for them to touch gloves, quickly bumping them before jogging back to their corners. The bell rings to begin 10 rounds of lightweight action.

Round 1:
Belen starts off quickly as she looks to put Dua under pressure from the off. Dua a little caught off guard as she backs off after taking a few clipping hooks around her jaw. Firing back with double jabs into the face of Belen to try to back her off as it's an energetic start to proceedings.

A left cross catches Dua on her chin. Belen drives forwards with a follow up jab/right cross combo, forcing the singer to cover up as she finds herself on the ropes. Belen switching to the body when she can't land over the top. Really pushing Lipa hard here to start this bout off.

Hoping to make Belen respect her; Dua shoves her off and moves into space. Landing a crisp double jab into the face of Belen. Dua is starting to stick and move to make Belen throw some wide punches that only find air. The round comes to a close with Rodriguez's camp looking happy enough with that start to this contest.

Round 2:
Clearly Rodriguez is hoping to smoother the work of Lipa. Who is bouncing more side to side to not be an easy target to crowd. Both women landing several hard clean single punches through to their opponents faces. Crowd is cheering each hard fought exchange when Belen is able to draw Dua into a hard fought clash.

Missing with a left cross; Belen is countered by a straight to her cheek. Dua now steps forwards with a follow up jab/straight combo that smacks into the face of Rodriguez to snap her head back. Dua holding the center of the ring now as her supporters are cheering her on. She is having to step back at times when Belen tries to rush her, landing several crisp punches back in reply to ward off the older fighter.

In the final thirty seconds of the round, Belen settled down to exchange more straight style punches. Realising she can't rush in on Dua like she was. Both fighters landing some crisp combinations to their opponents faces as both porn up more. The round ends with Belen not letting a bad round get to her, Dua looking less tense now she has a round under her belt in most people's eyes.

Round 3:
More flurries being exchanged as they circle around the center of the ring. Dua landing the crisper punches arguably but Belen is digging her toes in for some of her meaty shots. A straight catches Dua on her nose to make her retreat back a step with Belen stepping after her with a left cross that lands on her cheek.

Belen is forcing back Dua into her own corner. Taryn barking at Dua to fight or grab as Belen lands some beautiful shots around her guard, Dua decides to clinch up with her foe. The referee steps in to split them apart as the fighters grind bodies together. Resuming with Dua doubling up her jab again not wanting to be crowded like that so easily.

It is Dua being forced to move around the outside part of the ring now though as Belen holds the center. Exchanging stiff punches as they try to force the issue. Belen pushes back Dua to the ropes after landing a jab square into her chest, following with a left/right hook combo to the head of the singer just before the bell dings to end proceeding. If Dua's fans thought she'd have an easy time here, well Belen is doing a great job showing that isn't the case.

Round 4:
Stepping in more to engage Belen; Dua is trying to get the respect of her opponent, sticking and moving now to get at her opponent. Belen happy to exchange in close with hard shots. Leather heard cracking on skin when both go toe to toe before Dua moves away.

Feinting with her jab; Dua steps to the right of Belen to dodge a right cross and pound in a counter right to the cheek of Belen to twist her head. Dua using the opening to bash back Belen onto the ropes to the delight of her fans. Belen needing to hold onto her when she can't slug her way off the ropes, holding onto Dua closely as they grapple for position. The referee steps in to push them apart.

Resuming with Belen looking to take the fight back to Dua. The British fighter looks happy for her to do so as several counter punches slam into the face of Rodriguez. A jab/uppercut combo knocking Belen to her heels as Dua looks in full flow now. The round ending to maybe the relief of Belen there at the end. Belen being told to relax and pick her spots.

Round 5:
Belen hoping to start off better then she did the last round. Problem is Dua is starting to find holes through her defences, picking when she is going to strike the model as she moves inside and out. Belen frustrated throws a few wild shots. Getting hit with a counter right on her chin to twist her head to the side.

Landing several more clean punches into the face of Belen. Dua has the eyes of a lioness as she focuses fully on her foe. Belen trying to hold onto her but gets shoved to her chest to stop that. LEFT HOOK TO THE CHIN ROCKS BACK BELEN BEFORE AN UPPERCUT LANDS TO SEND HER DOWN ONTO HER BACK!

Dua takes a breath before heading off to the neutral corner, almost looking relieved her effort there wasn't wasted. 1....2....3... Belen groans as she covers her face with her right glove. 4....5....6....7... Belen doesn't move much more beyond bending her right leg to plant her foot. 8....9....10 that's it for Belen tonight as she is counted out!

Winner Dua Lipa KO Round 5

After:
Dua gets another win on the board as she jogs over to her corner to embrace her corner crew. All smiles in the Girls Friday corner as it is another step closer to a possible title shot someday soon.

All the while Belen is checked over by her coach. She is helped up onto her stool as her gloves are taken off. Belen sighs to herself as this was a big opportunity to make a statement. Instead she has Dua jogging over to her to check on her. There's a fist bump of respect between them as Belen tells Dua she will be ok. Dua looking relieved by that before heading to her own corner.

Soon enough Belen steps out the ring as she isn't that interested in watching Dua get her hand raised. Instead she is off for a shower and will hope that she can shake off tonight to look to the future. Will she fall into the gatekeeper mould though?

Back in the ring Dua gets her left hand raised, she looks overjoyed as she pumps her right hand into the air. Bouncing on her toes blowing kisses to the crowd moments later as she thanks them for their support.

Soon enough though she is leaving the ring heading to the backstage area. Taryn and Eva all smiles behind her as Dua is moving closer to step back into the title picture. Can she keep this momentum up?