Posted by Simguy on 8/24/2007, 12:12 am

Before: “If you don’t know who a fighter is,” AJ addresses a persistent Tractorpull correspondent in prefight, “just look at her and her competition. I’m prettier than Mary—clearly and obviously: the prettier girl usually wins. I’m not saying Winstead can’t upset me—anything can happen in a fight, but I’m saying she’s probably used to giving in to girls like me, and this fight will be no exception. If we were in high school and I needed her chair in the cafeteria at the lunch? I’d just take—that’s ho I see Mary in this fight.”

Winstead proving a lady in prefight, keeping the focus on the fight. “I’m excited about this opportunity,” Mary says, eyes gleaming. “I’ve been enrolled in the School of Hard Knocks this semester—now I’m getting a chance to show what I’ve leaned. I’ll impose my will on A.J. from the onset: that’s the most important thing I’ve taken away from all my fights to date. If I get on top early and get work done, Cook will wilt. Oh, and for the record—she’s not prettier than I am.”

Cook in white sports-bra style bikini top, splash print bottoms in shades of blue and white, white gloves. Mary ion pink lace push up and panties, white gloves. Cook very challenging during ring-instructions: fists on hips, head cocked to one side as she makes irreverent eye contact-contact. Mary doesn’t like it, scowling and refusing to touch gloves.

During R1,2: Pleasant feeling out rounds—both girls assuming textbook stances—right hands at cheeks—both trying to work behind the jab. Difference is defence: Winstead parrying AJ’s poke with a deft right hand; Cook getting her face bumped back by Mary’s accurate leather. Gentle clockwise rotation as girls go at each other methodically, thoughtfully: when they do commit to power—it’s usually Winstead coming forward, behind a right cross mopping up a tidy left hook to the midsection, then wrestling as AJ ties up, Both rounds workmanlike to Mary.

R3: Similar geometry and negotiations-at-range—Cook doubling up the jab starts to problematize things for Mary. Winstead put on the defensive, starting to face into cook right hands as blonde scores up top. Winstead corner shouting for her to move her head: Mary responding with a nice weaving torso-bob over the latter half. Cook showing nice legs, good balance—turning Winny’s left flank and getting off first—AJ takes the third classy.

R4,5, 6: Fight heats up as Mary’s comfortable with her jab—she’s coming in off it more often, looking to back AJ up now. Cook gritting teeth, digging in, giving battle: blonde trying to deny brunette aggressor canvas. Healthy two-way action: both girls a little robotic as both are concentrating heavily on maintaining form—we’re seeing very textbook jab-cross-hook combinations—punches being turned over with the precision

of dancers looking at their feet and mouthing the counts to themselves. Mary slowly getting the better of it—she’s the first to relax and let punches flow: head movement’s more natural. And she’ll instinctively bring her mitts up to her temples when she’s leaning inside. Winstead distinguishing herself to Cook’s midsection with workmanlike hooks and right hands: AJ getting tummy bumped hard—she starts backing away with a little frown of concern. Not a roll-up or rout—but Winstead clearly coming forward, initiating and winning the exchanges. By the sixth, Cook’s covering up more, not as anxious to trade with Mary: the more AJ waits for spots, the more Winstead’s starting to dictate.

R7: Mary’s braking through. AJ looking confused, lips parting: Winstead lands a clubbing right hand that has blonde stumble-stepping right, dukes at temples. Heavy, roundhouse blows take Cook in her flanks and tummy, hurting her—she’s in full flight now, starting to whimper; eyes dating around as slowly but surely, Mary’s becoming a bully. As Cook’s morale collapses, so does her form—she’s being taken to the ropes for the first time, getting worked over as she huddles forward face-ion-gloves, crying out whenever Mary lands thick amidships. Winstead baring her teeth, staying on her girl: some sloppiness as Mary gets too excited and looses form on the off wallop—but she’s minding her balance for the most part, not falling in smothering herself. Pleasing brand of shove-and-slug dished up by Winstead as she’s able to push AJ into ropes and bash away bell to bell. Cook sniveling in her corner during the break: she didn’t go down, but that’s a 10-8 round for Mary.

R8: Mary jabbing AJ to ropes, putting a right hand into Cook’s guard up top to occupy her, then scoring beefily to tummy with a robust left/right. Mary’s elbows out to the sides as she slams away at body—very workmanlike and brawny look. Cook crying out, knees buckling: she’s coming apart psychologically here. Physically, AJ still relatively strong—taking a good punch as she turtles up and lolls on the ropes—but Mary’s simply washing her girl in leather now. Winstead in wide-spread legs, teeth bared, eyes flashing: Mary hammering away like a pretty little blacksmith on AJ—all clubbing rights and lefts beating at the blonde’s ears, trying to bash apart the guard up top. Cook survives another bell to bell whitewashing, but she’s a blubbering wreck on her stool. More discouraged and panicked than hurt—AJ blurts out her surrender when official visits to offer her a chance to submit. TKO8 Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

After: Mary delighted—smiling and hugging everyone in sight—forcing AJ to quit on her stool a wonderful result for the hard-working brunette tonight. “Who’s prettier now?” Mary grins mischievously. “That’s the thing—AJ was right: the prettier girl always wins, but the beauty contest takes place AFTER the fight, not before!” Ouch.

Reposted by Archer 8/11/09.