Before: Helfer serene, smiling small, but confident: Morena being treated like she's an inside joke between Kozar and Helfer. "It's Heather's way of making sure I'm not getting complacent," Tricia tells assembled reporters, many of whom aren't familiar with scarf-fighter and submission specialist Baccarin. "Morena's style is very similar to mine, and we don't see that often at lightweight, so it's just a way of making sure I don't get too comfy. In the end, I'm a little too big for this girl - I think there's going to be too much Trish in this fight - but I'm looking forward to the test nevertheless." Tricia in metallic baby blue bikini, platinum blonde curls. Morena in metallic pink push up bra and panties, black hair up. Both girls sporting white fur-finished mitts.

During R1-3: Ghostly, whispering battle of sleek illusionists - neither girl punching in volume: it's all supple body, sleek leg designed to lure or bait the opponent into a vulnerable position for one single, licking stroke. SO many near misses as both girls bend at the waist, neatly anticipating each other, then swivel pivoting away from harm. Still, each round, it's Morena the more beguiling, more elusive vixen, tempting Tricia forward, luring her to ropes, scoring on her then spinning away before blonde receipt. Minute after minute, frustration settles in Tricia's delicate brow, eyes narrowing in concentration as she makes glancing contact, or no contact at all. Baccarin's tranquil expression never changes - she dips and twists, bends and rolls, making Helfer miss, then kissing her an exquisite hook off the right foot as she's pulling out - fur-lined glove making soft thudding noises against Tricia's jawline or breasts. Baccarin never ashamed to clinch - in fact, it's a deliberate, calculated strategy, especially after a Baccarin scoring blow. Helfer constantly grappled, taken to ropes by smaller woman: Morena tucking her face in close to Tricia's, instinctively seeking to establish over-under grips as though going for frontal triangle chokes on willowy blonde. All three rounds to Morena by slender margins: just the hint of a smile on her lips haunting Helfer at each bell.

R4: Tricia losing the sultry battle of deception: she seeks to impose will in a more direct fashion this round. Trish jabbing to chest, just to disrupt and keep Morena defensive. Helfer having little luck to the head of her nubile foe: body blows from Tricia land thick, stroking and strong - fur gloves thumping out against sinewy brunette torso. Morena sliding away flat footed, trying to lure Tricia into giving up height and having some success at it - but brunette foiled by increasing blonde volume and better connect percentage to the ribcage.

R5: Tricia continuing to wrest control from Morena, jabbing the girl's chest, lashing at her flanks, bullying her in spots. Helfer getting her elbows up to discourage Morena's clinching - draws warnings from the ref, but Helfer unrepentant, stays with what's working. By the minute mark, the heavy, lanky-limbed body licks starting to break slender Baccarin down: Morena shies away grimacing, eyes baleful, lips parted. Trish intense, hunting Morena now, stalking her, finding her with the jab, ripping her amidships via the right hand, then finishing up a whippy hook to ribs. Poor Baccarin not answering back, twisting and turning as she retreats - she's suffering a succulent, elegant beatdown as Tricia laps hungrily away. Down the stretch, it's all too much: with Helfer advancing, Morena steps away to a nearby corner and takes a knee, eyes moist. Helfer's eyes cold as she looks Morena over with satisfaction.

R6: Morena gambling a bit more to get respect, closing her stance, pointing her left shoulder at Tricia, waiting on Helfer's advance, then turning into vicious right hand counters. Tricia caught both the right uppercut and the straight right as Morena potshots, but blonde secure in her size advantage continues to walk through it. Helfer treatiing herself to Morena's olive-skinned ribcage and supple tummy, lashing away all lanky-limbed as Baccarin circles away. Better round for Morena, but she can't keep Trish off through 6.

R7: Tricia a little TOO secure being big on Morena: Baccarin scorches blonde this round. Helfer wading in, eats a sharp right from the screened stance, then absorbs a sinuous hook to chin as Baccarin twists into the shot off her right foot. HELFER'S LEGS GIVE A SHIMMY! Crowd roaring as wheels fall off Tricia's applecart: Morena stepping round, then stepping in, ripping Tricia thump-thud right/left to the body, cramping lissome blonde up. Morena in close, snarling as she carves tight uppercuts, curls her hooks, stepping to the right as Helfer swoons forward. Tricia absorbing a thrilling beatdown, but able to stabilize - by round's end, she's jabbing, settling her feet, getting herself back together.

R8: Tricia blanketing Morena in long, stiff jabs - few landing - but the sheer volume enough to keep Baccarin under wraps. Morena still dangerous off the roll or out of her crouches - constantly looking to get Tricia into trouble with one sleek counter: Helfer not cooperating. Tricia keeping her height, pressing behind her jab, forcing Baccarin to come forward and take risks, exploiting smaller brunette with clean counters in the process.

R9: Baccarin proving more than just sleek: she's scrappy. Morena worming her way inside, clinching and walking Tricia to ropes: Baccarin warned for elbow and head work in close. Fighting off Tricia's chest, Morena having some success flurrying Trish, tidying up that flat tummy, catching Tricia hooks as taller blonde seeks to step out for room. Helfer unhurt, but well harrassed this round: Pesky Baccarin hounding and nibbling for points.

R10: Wonderful stuff - both girls landing firm blows in a late bid to impress judges. Baccarin deftly hooks Trish to chin off the right foot - brunette curling away on follow through. Tricia relying on lank to her girl's flanks - thudding away on Baccarin, then pushing her backward. Both girls love the uppercut off either foot, getting them out of deep bobs or crouches to spook the other back. Hard to deny Tricia's heavier hands - Baccarin brave, but more reliant on pure sorcery than Helfer. Comes back one point duke, Tricia Helfer.

After: Helfer clearly relieved - hugging defeated Morena and chatting with her afterward - plenty of respect earned by Baccarin tonight as Tricia had to get big to compete. "She outboxed me, and she stung me a couple of times early," Helfer admits in postfight. "I couldn't believe it - NOBODY makes me miss like that. If I hadn't adjusted, I would have lost this fight, but fortunately, I had more tools than Morena and was able to exploit some things in her game. I'm very satisfied with my bodywork tonight - it's so critical to be able to work down there if you can't find a girl's head. I won the fight in Morena's ribcage for sure."