(Results: Vassago, Words: Caspian)

After Dark: Ela Kawalec vs. Vita Sidorkina II

Ela:
(27, 5’8, 10:1 BBU, SIRENs)

Vita:
(29, 5’8, 1:4 BBU, Free Agent)

BEFORE:
Three years since Ela Kawalec’s fall to Russian sensation Vita Sidorkina, back then getting KO’ed by the stunning blonde in the 2019 New Blood tournament. According to Ela today, however, she’s a whole different fighter.

“Just look at my fights versus Vita’s,” Ela says first during the press conference. The Siren has her strawberry blonde hair tied back into a neat ponytail, her white blouse doing little to hide her assets. “So what if she won three years ago? She hasn’t won anything since then!”

Vita entirely dismissive in turn, the Russian brawler folding her arms across her chest and looking ravishing in her white cotton wife-beater and long jeans. “Ela is one to talk. I enjoyed putting her lights out. Maybe I’ll do the same tonight to mark my comeback.”

Ladies chest up at the podium, their equal heights and builds making for an even contest the last time. Sure, Vita hasn’t had the same business in the ring since their last fight, but that KO stain on Kawalec’s record is more than enough to rub the hurt in further, resulting in Kawalec’s extreme bravado here: shoving her balled fists into Vita’s chin and almost resulting in a pre-fight brawl!

Hours later, we’re in the SIRENs’ Gym and Headquarters in downtown Edinburgh, with a respectable crowd having gathered for this BBU After Dark match-up! In one corner, Ela has gone for a white sports bra and black trunks, sporting red tape over her fists before she dons equally red gloves. In the other, the ravishing Russian has gone for a black sports bra and yellow shorts, completely with blue gloves.

Plenty of blonde pride on the line as the referee waves for the bell! HERE WE GO with ten rounds of Bantamweight action!

ROUND 1:
Sidorkina reasserts her dominance from their last encounter, and comes out on the charge. She moves with a purposeful aggression, her blue gloves a blur as she launches a series of rapid jabs and crosses towards Ela’s head, hoping to overwhelm early and establish control. Ela, however, responds with her own offensive. She moves fluidly, her red gloves parrying and countering most of Vita's strikes, finding openings to tag the mighty Russian on the ribs or off the side of the head. So far, the opening round is a close contest, with both fighters showcasing what they’ve learned over the years: Vita's jabs and punches are wilder, and landing with more frequency, snapping forward and connecting with Ela's guard and tummy. Ela, by contrast, is hitting harder and more deliberately, using feints and overhand hooks to stun the Russian back to her cheek, another late-minute perfect right hook catching Vita flush on the jaw, snapping her head to the side, but the Russian quickly regains her composure and continues her offensive. As the bell rings to conclude Round 1, both fighters step back, their chests heaving with early exertion. Vita, having maintained a slight edge throughout the round, returns to her corner with adrenaline pumping in every stride. Ela, her expression one of focused determination, acknowledges her corner's advice, ready to adjust her strategy for the upcoming rounds.


ROUND 2:
Kawalec stepping forth with a clear intent to even the scores and more importantly, back up her earlier words. She circles Vita, her red gloves up and at the ready, looking for openings in the Russian’s guard. The Polish blonde first lands a series of quick jabs, her gloves snapping forward and connecting with the arms. Each jab from Ela is sharp and calculated, designed to keep Vita off balance and create opportunities for more powerful strikes. Vita’s taking the abuse at first, several winces to the tummy, before losing her cool and responding with her own mighty swings to Kawalec’s head, hoping to surprise her. But Ela's focus makes her get out the way easily, swerving and weaving around her overhangs before plugging her fists into her sides, driving her back. And as the round progresses, Ela begins to take control. She lands another solid left hook to the side of Vita's body, the impact "FUMP!" echoing through the gym hall. Vita winces slightly, the blow clearly affecting her. Ela capitalizes, following up with a right cross that snakes through the arms to crack into Vita's cheek, another grunt echoing from the Russian’s lips. Later, the action remains close, with Sidorkina slamming her own lucky shot into the side of Ela’s cheek, jolting her to the side and halting her momentum, but only briefly. Bell rings to end Round 2 and both fighters step back, their expressions a mix of determination and growing disdain for each other's abilities. Ela, having successfully taken the round, nods to her corner, whereas Vita, returns to her own, her focus slightly wavering with a frown.

ROUND 3:
Vita surges forward, determined to dominate! She starts the round with a fierce offensive, her blue gloves blurring in with a steady rhythm and power, slamming shots into Ela’s guard even if she cannot score points on her face or body just yet. Ela tries to maintain her defensive stance, circling back with her red gloves raised, attempting to parry and counter. However, Vita soon puts in more strength into her blows, thumping a heavy left hook into the arms to rattle Ela before another screams in and hammers the other blonde to the cheek, Ela’s grunt and shout echoing through the arena. The Siren’s head jolts to one side, a red mark quickly forming on her face. Not letting up, Vita continues her assault, ramping up the pressure with a series of punishing left and right chugs to Ela’s body, her gloves sinking into tummy flesh with a series of deep "PUH PUH puh" sounds. Each shot forces Ela back, her face winced in pain, her body folding slightly. Ela struggles to regain control, attempting to fight back. Later, she throws a few haphazard counter punches that sting Vita to the nose and lips, but Vita's relentless pressure makes it difficult for Ela to land any significant blows for too long. As the round nears its end, it’s clear that the Russian blonde has reclaimed her dominance, with both fighters stepping back, Ela’s face showing the physical signs of assault, looking to her corner with a mix of frustration and resolve. Vita, on the other hand, has a confidence in her stride, her earlier frown replaced by a look of satisfaction.

ROUND 4:
And Vita SURGES in again with a clearer intent to finish the fight! The crowd, sensing the possibility of a BIG turning point, watches on from the edge of their seats! The Russian daredevil pounds away at Ela’s raised arms, targeting her Polish rival with a steady stream of combos. Her feet move in swift and deliberately, aiming to capitalize on Ela's weakened state, her punches littered with jabs to the head and heavier hooks that thump into Ela’s tummy. Kawalec, however, ain’t ready to go down… And in a pivotal moment, Vita lunges at her with an aggressive hook to her head, Ela ducks under and to the side before bashing a right hook into her side stomach, forcing that waistline to ripple outwards from the impact zone. Sidorkina lurches forward, her mouth hanging open for air, but Ela doesn’t let up, continuing to batter and bash away at her tummy and undercarriage, delivering body shot after body shot, both gloves hammering into Vita's ribs and abdomen and driving the Russian fighter back! Vita, caught off guard by the sudden offensive, stumbles backward. And as the round progresses, Ela continues to press her advantage. Vita’s favoring her head but leaving her body exposed, and Kawalec steps in at the last minute to slam a particularly forceful uppercut into the pit of her midsection, further driving the air out of her and halting her momentum! OUCH! Sidorkina folds over the fist and hangs onto Ela’s shoulders for dear life, but before she sinks down to her knees, the bell rings too soon! The crowd was right to expect a big turn - it just wasn’t the turn that Vita wanted!

ROUND 5:
Sound of the bell and Sidorkina still looks visibly affected by Ela's body assault in the last round, clutching her torso and looking unsteadily out of the corner. Her blue gloves are raised protectively, cautiously, clearly having tasted Ela's power and becoming more wary of it going forward. Small jabs are fired this time at the Siren’s head, trying to keep her at bay. Her strategy is to recover her breath, buy enough time to find an opening to regain control. Ela, sensing Vita's cautious approach, presses forward eagerly after the opening seconds, looking for opportunities wrack punches into flesh, her red gloves shooting straight in before reaching around the Russian’s guard to score off her brow and body. Second minute and both fighters lose their cool, suddenly engaged in a fierce brawl in the center, each trading leathered shots off the face and stomach. But Ela’s a little fresher and hungry, and concentrates fire on Vita’s torso, driving in a series of hooks and uppercuts into every inch of her waistline, and soon, that look of pain and anguish on the Russian’s face begins to take root! A powerful left hook catches Vita on her ribs, followed by a crushing right uppercut that sinks deep into her abdomen! There’s a thunderous “WHUMP!" and “HNNGHH” from the impact that echoes through the gym, and Vita doubles over, the pain and exhaustion evident on her face! A final hook catches her squarely on the chin, sending her flying off to the side before crashing to the canvas! It’s a KNOCKDOWN for Ela Kawalec!! The entire gym hall erupts in a mixture of shock and excitement as Vita lies motionless, the referee rushing in to begin the count! Could this be the nail in the coffin?!

Vita struggles to rise faster than the referee’s digits, but it's slowly becoming clear she won't beat the count in time. Her limbs and head hang heavy, and she manages to push herself up to all fours, but by the time the referee reaches 8, Vita is STILL on the mat! The final two digits couldn’t come faster for Kawalec, who breaks into a wide grin when the count ends and the bell is signaled for! It’s OVER!

Official Result: Ela Kawalec defeats Vita Sidorkina via KO5!

AFTER:
As the referee raises Ela’s hand and declares her the winner by knockout, the SIRENs’ gym hall is filled with a picture of celebration and admiration for her comeback victory this afternoon. Ela, her face alight with triumph, is immediately surrounded by her corner team. They embrace her, their cheers and congratulations echoing through the gym.

After the initial celebration, Ela takes a moment to speak to the press by ringside. Standing tall, her strawberry blonde hair still tied back in a neat ponytail, she addresses the gathered media with a beaming smile. "This fight was a statement," she declares. "I'm not the same fighter I was three years ago. I've grown, I've improved, and tonight was proof of that. I want the world to know that I'm ready for bigger challenges." She pauses, her eyes gleaming with determination, "And that means I want a rematch with Emily Ratajkowski. I'm ready to show her and everyone else what I'm truly capable of."

Meanwhile, in another part of the gym backstage, a battered Vita Sidorkina is being tended to by medics. The Russian fighter, still recovering from the knockout, sits quietly on a locker room bench as the medical team assesses her condition. Despite the disappointment of the loss, Vita's spirit remains unbroken. Her face, marked by red welts and bruising blues, shows a mix of frustration and resolve.

Later, when interviewed by the press, Vita speaks with a steely determination. "This isn't the end," she asserts, her voice steady despite the night's outcome. "Ela got the better of me tonight, but I'm not done yet. I want a rubber match against her. Next time, it'll be different. Next time, I'll knock her lights out."