Dua Lipa vs Yvonne Strahovski
Dec 11, 2020 8:15:53 GMT -6
via mobile
Vassago, Bonzo, and 2 more like this
Post by girlsfriday on Dec 11, 2020 8:15:53 GMT -6
Dua Lipa:
VS
Yvonne Strahovski:
Tale of the Tape:
Dua Lipa:
Age: 25
Height: 5'8
19-7 (19KOs)
Vs
Yvonne Strahovski:
Age: 38
Height: 5'8
70-35 (53 KOs)
Former five time FCBA lightweight champion.
Tractorpull Hall of Famer.
(Girls Friday vs Lookout! Boxing)
(Written by Girls Friday/Results by Lookout!)
Intro:
Next on the card sees Dua Lipa try a big test tonight, Yvonne Strahovski is a hell of a measuring stick to see where you are in the lightweight division, Madison Square Garden is the venue for this clash.
Since Dua joined the Girls Friday stable it has breathed a new life in her career, going four for four beating Odette Yustman, Amanda Cerny, Alexandra Daddario and finally on the last PPV Missy Peregrym.
That's how this fight came about as Yvonne came out from the back, checking on her stablemate Missy first before she headed over to Dua, making it clear that the youngster had caught her attention, whenever she wanted the fight Yvonne would be ready for her, well Dua reportedly made the call right away wanting a crack at the five time champion.
Alicia Atout interviewed both before the fight in front of the FCBA badge in the interview area, Dua first up as she wore a red tracksuit jacket that was open to show a white T-shirt, red bottoms with white stripes down the sides and white trainers.
Looking excited as she talks to Alicia, Dua is asked why she wanted the fight so soon, Dua answering "it's Yvonne, I mean she came out to challenge me, I have massive respect for her, look at her career! She has done everything I am dreaming of doing, so when she stepped up to me I wanted this fight as badly as she clearly did, I want to test myself against the best and she certainly fits that bill" smiling as she looks stunned to actually be talking about this fight.
Alicia asks how Dua will go about beating Yvonne, the singer admits "it won't be easy I know, when we step into the ring itself trust me I won't be this giddy fan girl, I will be my normal self, I believe that I am faster then her, can outwork her and when the opportunity comes don't worry I will take it" looking more serious as she speaks before she heads off.
Yvonne is next wearing a black Lookout! Stable T-shirt, with blue denim jeans and black trainers, she looks relaxed as if it is another day at the office while talking to Alicia about how life is treating her.
Then the serious questions come as she is asked why she came out in the Missy/Dua fight, Yvonne answers "I wanted to see Dua myself, Missy wasn't exactly complimentary about her let's say in the locker room, I was worried she was going to take the kid lightly, it proved to be the case" shaking her head as if upset by her stablemates attitude.
"Once I saw Dua in knew that she seems the real deal but do you know what us legends are supposed to do Alicia?" Yvonne asks Alicia, who shrugs as Yvonne grins at that reply as she puts her right arm around the interviewer.
"Always remind the young that the best are that for a reason, Dua is good but I will show her that she has plenty to learn before she is on my level" Yvonne tells Atout as the Canadian nods with a smile.
Fight night, Dua steps through the curtain with her coach Gisele Bundchen beside her, she waves to the crowd as she jogs down the aisle, looking full of energy as her supporters cheer her on.
Dua is wearing a white sports bra with red trim, matching trunks and shoes, red gloves, while her hair is braided for battle, she bows to each side of the ring at the center then heads to her corner to get ready, Gisele telling her to not get too hyped up.
Now out comes Yvonne with Nicole Kidman in her corner, both looking serious as they step towards the ring, the Yvonne fans are cheering her as she acknowledges them with a pump of her right fist into the air.
The Aussie actress is wearing a yellow sports bra, matching trunks and shoes, yellow gloves with green thumbs as she pays tribute to her country, stepping into the ring Yvonne jogs over to her corner, thudding her gloves together as she nods to Nicole that she is ready for this.
Brought together at the ring center, the fighters eye each other up as Dua has a more serious look on her face, Yvonne shaking her arms as Nicole rubs her shoulders to keep her loose, Dua bouncing on her toes.
When they are told to touch gloves, they touch them up respectfully with their own opponent, they return to their corner with a nod to each other, the bell rings to start 10 rounds of lightweight action.
Round 1:
As they come out their corners, they give a quick fist bump to their opponent before the jabbing exchanges begin, both up on their toes, text book stances as they move around the ring center, parrying and trying to land their jab.
The opening thirty seconds are like a chess match, each starting to land more as they get a feel for each others reflexes, hitting forearms as much as the do land cleanly as they look evenly matched.
That all changes when Yvonne tries to up the tempo, she misses with a left cross as Dua sees it coming, stepping back quickly to dodge then slamming a straight into the cheek of the former champion to knock her head back.
Dua starts to open up now as she shows off her hand speed, Yvonne caught flat footed as Dua lands several combos where she mixes up her punches, not just going squarely for the face of Strahovski.
Who has to take her time to work out how to strike back, doing so with less then forty seconds to go as she lands a left across the face of Lipa as she slips a straight, landing a straight of her own afterwards as she starts to come back at the singer.
The round ends though with Dua looking pleased with how that went, Yvonne cursing herself for showing Dua a little too much respect, getting told off Nicole to not give Dua too much breathing room.
Round 2:
After a tentative start to the last round, both are firing in more punches now as they move around the ring, Yvonne on the front foot as Dua tries to use her footwork to stay out of trouble.
She finds herself in some trouble though as Yvonne quickly steps to the left to cut her off, snapping her head back with a straight punch as Yvonne presses back Lipa against a neutral corner, working away with a flurry of punches as she looks to pay the brunette back for the last round.
After a clinch by Dua forces the referee to step in to split them up, the singer gets into space where she doubles up her jab now, forcing Yvonne to match her as they box around the ring, Yvonne still looking the aggressor.
Yvonne just misses with a right cross as Dua dips under it, banging in two hooks to the body before an overhand left grazes the jaw of the blonde as she retreats, Dua starting to come on strong in the final minute.
A double jab snaps back the head of Strahovski, with a right hook now sending her back into a corner as Dua now roughs her up, both women firing punches but the more harder ones are coming from Dua since she can pull back more on her punches.
At the bell both raise an arm in the air thinking they won the round as they stare at each other harder now, the need to win starting to show through over being respectful as they return to their corners.
Round 3:
Trading more punches in their early exchanges now, both are certainly warmed up to the task now as they work inside and out, trying to grasp control of the action, Dua looking to be landing the greater volume of punches so far with her hand speed.
That changes somewhat as Yvonne times her charge beautifully, deflecting a straight to land one of her own as she steps in closer, a left hook turns Lipa's head as Strahovski starts to press her back to the outside of the ring.
Dua trying to match Yvonne's aggression but is being knocked back as the Aussie looks in full flow now, even some punches to the chest of Dua stop her rhythm as Yvonne is striking anywhere she can get at.
The fighters coaches are yelling at them to step it up, Yvonne can't really get in too close as Dua is doing enough to keep her on the outside, the problem for Dua is she can't get too far away from the ropes.
A straight smacks Dua on her lips late on, with a left cross on her cheek, Dua needing to get into her shell as now Yvonne turns the heat on her, if not able to smack the Brit upstairs Yvonne clubs her to the body with hooks to make Dua groan.
At the end of the round Yvonne definitely can firmly claim this round as she returns to her corner, Dua knowing she let that one get away from her as she talks to Gisele.
Round 4:
Stepping back out looking a little more relaxed after her slow start, Yvonne is taking the fight more to Dua, who is doubling and tripling her jab up to give Yvonne somewhat of a headache to deal with.
The veteran though finds ways around the jab as she starts to move her upper body more, digging straight body shots in to try to slow down her younger opponent as Dua is firmly on her bike so far.
Second minute in and Dua is starting to land more cross punches as Yvonne dips down, adapting to what Strahovski is showing her to keep the Aussie on the outside, where she looks more comfortable with her hand speed.
Things get worse for Yvonne as she misses with an overhand right, an uppercut lifts her head back, A CLUBBING LEFT HOOK AROUND HER EAR SENDS YVONNE TUMBLING TO HER LEFT SIDE!
The Dua fans go wild as their fighter whoops at the sight of Yvonne down, 1...2...3... Shaking her head as she moves to all fours, Yvonne was certainly buzzed by that combo, 4...5...6... Getting to her right knee, Yvonne nods to her coach as if to say "yep she got me good" 7...8.. Beating the count with fists raised.
For the final minute of the round Yvonne has to box defensively, Dua showing Yvonne respect by not barrelling in on her, still landing some crisp punches through the mitts of the hall of famer to the delight of Gisele.
Who is almost jumping for joy on the ring apron when the round comes to an end, Yvonne meanwhile slaps the top ropes in her corner downwards in a sign of her rage at being put down, Nicole reminding her that she has faced down the barrel of defeat before and proven she is too good for that before.
Round 5:
Full of confidence as she steps out her corner, Dua catches Yvonne early on with a three punch combo straight through her guard to her face, the younger fighter opening up more now as Yvonne can only fire back single punches.
Backed towards the ropes as now Dua controls the ring center, Yvonne is forced to shell up, blocking most of the blows as she reminds the world of her staunch defence, problem is she can't get any momentum going.
Though Dua seems lost in her own world as Gisele yells at her to switch up her attacks, Dua mostly trying to take the head off of Yvonne, wasting energy with her one dimensional attacks as she smells victory over the biggest name she has ever fought.
But as the round goes on she is getting a few punches banging off her chin, before Yvonne misses with a left hook as she now tries to take the fight back to Lipa, only earning herself a right across her left brow for her troubled as Dua follows with a double jab into her face to push her back.
At the bell it was a strong round for Dua on paper, the question is how much energy did she waste on those ineffective attacks? Gisele giving her an earful over them as Yvonne gets wiped down as her cheeks are reddening up.
Round 6:
Yvonne is coming out a little more aggressively but is met quickly by a straight right to the top of her head to ward her off, Dua stepping after her as she looks to take the fight now it seems.
The Brit though isn't landing as clean as she hopes, Yvonne showing signs of life as she ducks more punches to bury hers into the stomach of Lipa, who hisses out when her stomach takes a jab/straight firmly.
A straight pushes Yvonne back as a left hook soon follows to turn her head, Yvonne clinching up to Dua as the sweat soaked fighters wrestle a bit, Dua wanting to be free so she can keep at Yvonne, instead needing the referee to step in to break them up.
As the clock ticks away to the end of the round, Yvonne slips a left cross to land a right uppercut into the body of Dua, a clubbing left looks to shake her up, AS A RIGHT HOOK SENDS DUA BACK ONTO HER BACKSIDE AFTER A STUMBLE!
That stirs the Strahovski fans as they jump for joy! 1...2...3.. Dua blinking as she looks to be buzzed like Yvonne was, 4...5...6... She pushes up to her right knee with her eyes on the referee, 7...8... Raising her gloves to show she is OK to a sigh of relief from Gisele in her corner.
Soon enough the bell rings to save Dua more punishment, Yvonne bellows at the top of her lungs "come on!" As her fans respond with a loud cheer, Dua almost looks to have receded into her shell as she sits on her stool looking a little timid seeing what is happening around her.
Round 7:
They resume fighting around the ring more evenly fought now Dua has tasted the canvas, Yvonne starting to pick her punches better now she has the momentum behind her, eyes firmly on her prey it seems as Dua gives up ground.
A missed straight by Dua leaves her open to two counter rights into her stomach, her eyes are shut as she takes another clubbing blow to the left side of her head, AN UPPERCUT SENDS LIPA TO HER BACK!
This turnaround has been amazing as Yvonne looks reborn to the woman who was hurt earlier, she bounces on her toes in the neutral corner watching Dua, 1...2...3...4.. Who gamely turns to her front, 5...6...7.. Grabbing the ropes after crawling to them, 8...9.. Dua beats the count just, blinking as she walks to the referee, who waves Yvonne on as the fight continues.
It doesn't look like for much longer as a straight rocks back the head of Dua, she finds herself stumbling into a corner, GISELE THROWS IN THE TOWEL, SIGNALLING SHE IS PULLING DUA OUT THE FIGHT BEFORE SHE GETS BADLY BEATEN! REFEREE STOPS THE FIGHT!
Winner Yvonne Strahovski TKO Round 7
After:
What a comeback from Yvonne! She looked like she was doomed during the middle rounds, never doubt her toughness even after so many wars in her career, she shuts her eyes as she clenches her fists to roar to the ceiling "Yes!" As her emotions get the better of her in the moment.
The next moment sees her go over to check on Dua, who looks shell shocked by the beating she took, welcome to the school of hard knocks Dua, as Yvonne gave her a lesson on not to count your chickens till they are hatched.
Gisele a little frosty around Yvonne as she comes out to help Dua to her corner, mumbling "thanks" for the way Yvonne checked on Dua as most might try to humiliate the youngster, Yvonne just stares hard at Gisele as the Girls Friday vs Lookout! Rivalry won't die so easily because two fighters have respect for each other.
Instead Yvonne returns to her corner to be met with a warm embrace from Nicole, who tells her "you need to stop scaring me like that" making Yvonne chuckle as she feels her puffy looking right cheek that ate those jabs.
Across the ring Dua still looks a little glassy eyed as Gisele wipes her down, telling her "you did good kid but I hope you realise good isn't going to cut it at this level, you need to be the best and that means taking my advice, no wasted attacks OK?" With Dua nodding as she looks grimly at her coach, knowing she threw away the biggest victory of her life tonight.
The fighters once ready come to the ring center, Dua gives Yvonne a fist bump to show her respect to the legend, though her expression looks cold as Yvonne gets her hand raised, going through all the different things she could have done to be the one to have her hand raised in victory.
Instead Lipa has to leave the ring with the sting of defeat, while she is on the up, there is plenty it seems for her to learn on her way, Gisele walking beside her letting Dua think as she knows how the sting of defeat feels in these situations.
In the ring Yvonne gets handed an Australia fan as she proudly lifts it up in front of her body as she smiles for the cameras, yelling "I wish all my country people a happy holidays, bar you Miranda (Kerr) you bytch" winking as she stirs up that old rivalry.
Going on a lap of honour with the flag over her shoulders, the Australians in the crowd certainly loving it as they whistle and clap Yvonne on, till she takes a bow at the ring center to finish off her lap.
Stepping out the ring with Nicole beside her, Yvonne will most likely be in the title hunt again before we know it, the legendary Aussie at the top of the tree just seems inevitable, she showed tonight she isn't going to move aside for the young guns so easily.
VS
Yvonne Strahovski:
Tale of the Tape:
Dua Lipa:
Age: 25
Height: 5'8
19-7 (19KOs)
Vs
Yvonne Strahovski:
Age: 38
Height: 5'8
70-35 (53 KOs)
Former five time FCBA lightweight champion.
Tractorpull Hall of Famer.
(Girls Friday vs Lookout! Boxing)
(Written by Girls Friday/Results by Lookout!)
Intro:
Next on the card sees Dua Lipa try a big test tonight, Yvonne Strahovski is a hell of a measuring stick to see where you are in the lightweight division, Madison Square Garden is the venue for this clash.
Since Dua joined the Girls Friday stable it has breathed a new life in her career, going four for four beating Odette Yustman, Amanda Cerny, Alexandra Daddario and finally on the last PPV Missy Peregrym.
That's how this fight came about as Yvonne came out from the back, checking on her stablemate Missy first before she headed over to Dua, making it clear that the youngster had caught her attention, whenever she wanted the fight Yvonne would be ready for her, well Dua reportedly made the call right away wanting a crack at the five time champion.
Alicia Atout interviewed both before the fight in front of the FCBA badge in the interview area, Dua first up as she wore a red tracksuit jacket that was open to show a white T-shirt, red bottoms with white stripes down the sides and white trainers.
Looking excited as she talks to Alicia, Dua is asked why she wanted the fight so soon, Dua answering "it's Yvonne, I mean she came out to challenge me, I have massive respect for her, look at her career! She has done everything I am dreaming of doing, so when she stepped up to me I wanted this fight as badly as she clearly did, I want to test myself against the best and she certainly fits that bill" smiling as she looks stunned to actually be talking about this fight.
Alicia asks how Dua will go about beating Yvonne, the singer admits "it won't be easy I know, when we step into the ring itself trust me I won't be this giddy fan girl, I will be my normal self, I believe that I am faster then her, can outwork her and when the opportunity comes don't worry I will take it" looking more serious as she speaks before she heads off.
Yvonne is next wearing a black Lookout! Stable T-shirt, with blue denim jeans and black trainers, she looks relaxed as if it is another day at the office while talking to Alicia about how life is treating her.
Then the serious questions come as she is asked why she came out in the Missy/Dua fight, Yvonne answers "I wanted to see Dua myself, Missy wasn't exactly complimentary about her let's say in the locker room, I was worried she was going to take the kid lightly, it proved to be the case" shaking her head as if upset by her stablemates attitude.
"Once I saw Dua in knew that she seems the real deal but do you know what us legends are supposed to do Alicia?" Yvonne asks Alicia, who shrugs as Yvonne grins at that reply as she puts her right arm around the interviewer.
"Always remind the young that the best are that for a reason, Dua is good but I will show her that she has plenty to learn before she is on my level" Yvonne tells Atout as the Canadian nods with a smile.
Fight night, Dua steps through the curtain with her coach Gisele Bundchen beside her, she waves to the crowd as she jogs down the aisle, looking full of energy as her supporters cheer her on.
Dua is wearing a white sports bra with red trim, matching trunks and shoes, red gloves, while her hair is braided for battle, she bows to each side of the ring at the center then heads to her corner to get ready, Gisele telling her to not get too hyped up.
Now out comes Yvonne with Nicole Kidman in her corner, both looking serious as they step towards the ring, the Yvonne fans are cheering her as she acknowledges them with a pump of her right fist into the air.
The Aussie actress is wearing a yellow sports bra, matching trunks and shoes, yellow gloves with green thumbs as she pays tribute to her country, stepping into the ring Yvonne jogs over to her corner, thudding her gloves together as she nods to Nicole that she is ready for this.
Brought together at the ring center, the fighters eye each other up as Dua has a more serious look on her face, Yvonne shaking her arms as Nicole rubs her shoulders to keep her loose, Dua bouncing on her toes.
When they are told to touch gloves, they touch them up respectfully with their own opponent, they return to their corner with a nod to each other, the bell rings to start 10 rounds of lightweight action.
Round 1:
As they come out their corners, they give a quick fist bump to their opponent before the jabbing exchanges begin, both up on their toes, text book stances as they move around the ring center, parrying and trying to land their jab.
The opening thirty seconds are like a chess match, each starting to land more as they get a feel for each others reflexes, hitting forearms as much as the do land cleanly as they look evenly matched.
That all changes when Yvonne tries to up the tempo, she misses with a left cross as Dua sees it coming, stepping back quickly to dodge then slamming a straight into the cheek of the former champion to knock her head back.
Dua starts to open up now as she shows off her hand speed, Yvonne caught flat footed as Dua lands several combos where she mixes up her punches, not just going squarely for the face of Strahovski.
Who has to take her time to work out how to strike back, doing so with less then forty seconds to go as she lands a left across the face of Lipa as she slips a straight, landing a straight of her own afterwards as she starts to come back at the singer.
The round ends though with Dua looking pleased with how that went, Yvonne cursing herself for showing Dua a little too much respect, getting told off Nicole to not give Dua too much breathing room.
Round 2:
After a tentative start to the last round, both are firing in more punches now as they move around the ring, Yvonne on the front foot as Dua tries to use her footwork to stay out of trouble.
She finds herself in some trouble though as Yvonne quickly steps to the left to cut her off, snapping her head back with a straight punch as Yvonne presses back Lipa against a neutral corner, working away with a flurry of punches as she looks to pay the brunette back for the last round.
After a clinch by Dua forces the referee to step in to split them up, the singer gets into space where she doubles up her jab now, forcing Yvonne to match her as they box around the ring, Yvonne still looking the aggressor.
Yvonne just misses with a right cross as Dua dips under it, banging in two hooks to the body before an overhand left grazes the jaw of the blonde as she retreats, Dua starting to come on strong in the final minute.
A double jab snaps back the head of Strahovski, with a right hook now sending her back into a corner as Dua now roughs her up, both women firing punches but the more harder ones are coming from Dua since she can pull back more on her punches.
At the bell both raise an arm in the air thinking they won the round as they stare at each other harder now, the need to win starting to show through over being respectful as they return to their corners.
Round 3:
Trading more punches in their early exchanges now, both are certainly warmed up to the task now as they work inside and out, trying to grasp control of the action, Dua looking to be landing the greater volume of punches so far with her hand speed.
That changes somewhat as Yvonne times her charge beautifully, deflecting a straight to land one of her own as she steps in closer, a left hook turns Lipa's head as Strahovski starts to press her back to the outside of the ring.
Dua trying to match Yvonne's aggression but is being knocked back as the Aussie looks in full flow now, even some punches to the chest of Dua stop her rhythm as Yvonne is striking anywhere she can get at.
The fighters coaches are yelling at them to step it up, Yvonne can't really get in too close as Dua is doing enough to keep her on the outside, the problem for Dua is she can't get too far away from the ropes.
A straight smacks Dua on her lips late on, with a left cross on her cheek, Dua needing to get into her shell as now Yvonne turns the heat on her, if not able to smack the Brit upstairs Yvonne clubs her to the body with hooks to make Dua groan.
At the end of the round Yvonne definitely can firmly claim this round as she returns to her corner, Dua knowing she let that one get away from her as she talks to Gisele.
Round 4:
Stepping back out looking a little more relaxed after her slow start, Yvonne is taking the fight more to Dua, who is doubling and tripling her jab up to give Yvonne somewhat of a headache to deal with.
The veteran though finds ways around the jab as she starts to move her upper body more, digging straight body shots in to try to slow down her younger opponent as Dua is firmly on her bike so far.
Second minute in and Dua is starting to land more cross punches as Yvonne dips down, adapting to what Strahovski is showing her to keep the Aussie on the outside, where she looks more comfortable with her hand speed.
Things get worse for Yvonne as she misses with an overhand right, an uppercut lifts her head back, A CLUBBING LEFT HOOK AROUND HER EAR SENDS YVONNE TUMBLING TO HER LEFT SIDE!
The Dua fans go wild as their fighter whoops at the sight of Yvonne down, 1...2...3... Shaking her head as she moves to all fours, Yvonne was certainly buzzed by that combo, 4...5...6... Getting to her right knee, Yvonne nods to her coach as if to say "yep she got me good" 7...8.. Beating the count with fists raised.
For the final minute of the round Yvonne has to box defensively, Dua showing Yvonne respect by not barrelling in on her, still landing some crisp punches through the mitts of the hall of famer to the delight of Gisele.
Who is almost jumping for joy on the ring apron when the round comes to an end, Yvonne meanwhile slaps the top ropes in her corner downwards in a sign of her rage at being put down, Nicole reminding her that she has faced down the barrel of defeat before and proven she is too good for that before.
Round 5:
Full of confidence as she steps out her corner, Dua catches Yvonne early on with a three punch combo straight through her guard to her face, the younger fighter opening up more now as Yvonne can only fire back single punches.
Backed towards the ropes as now Dua controls the ring center, Yvonne is forced to shell up, blocking most of the blows as she reminds the world of her staunch defence, problem is she can't get any momentum going.
Though Dua seems lost in her own world as Gisele yells at her to switch up her attacks, Dua mostly trying to take the head off of Yvonne, wasting energy with her one dimensional attacks as she smells victory over the biggest name she has ever fought.
But as the round goes on she is getting a few punches banging off her chin, before Yvonne misses with a left hook as she now tries to take the fight back to Lipa, only earning herself a right across her left brow for her troubled as Dua follows with a double jab into her face to push her back.
At the bell it was a strong round for Dua on paper, the question is how much energy did she waste on those ineffective attacks? Gisele giving her an earful over them as Yvonne gets wiped down as her cheeks are reddening up.
Round 6:
Yvonne is coming out a little more aggressively but is met quickly by a straight right to the top of her head to ward her off, Dua stepping after her as she looks to take the fight now it seems.
The Brit though isn't landing as clean as she hopes, Yvonne showing signs of life as she ducks more punches to bury hers into the stomach of Lipa, who hisses out when her stomach takes a jab/straight firmly.
A straight pushes Yvonne back as a left hook soon follows to turn her head, Yvonne clinching up to Dua as the sweat soaked fighters wrestle a bit, Dua wanting to be free so she can keep at Yvonne, instead needing the referee to step in to break them up.
As the clock ticks away to the end of the round, Yvonne slips a left cross to land a right uppercut into the body of Dua, a clubbing left looks to shake her up, AS A RIGHT HOOK SENDS DUA BACK ONTO HER BACKSIDE AFTER A STUMBLE!
That stirs the Strahovski fans as they jump for joy! 1...2...3.. Dua blinking as she looks to be buzzed like Yvonne was, 4...5...6... She pushes up to her right knee with her eyes on the referee, 7...8... Raising her gloves to show she is OK to a sigh of relief from Gisele in her corner.
Soon enough the bell rings to save Dua more punishment, Yvonne bellows at the top of her lungs "come on!" As her fans respond with a loud cheer, Dua almost looks to have receded into her shell as she sits on her stool looking a little timid seeing what is happening around her.
Round 7:
They resume fighting around the ring more evenly fought now Dua has tasted the canvas, Yvonne starting to pick her punches better now she has the momentum behind her, eyes firmly on her prey it seems as Dua gives up ground.
A missed straight by Dua leaves her open to two counter rights into her stomach, her eyes are shut as she takes another clubbing blow to the left side of her head, AN UPPERCUT SENDS LIPA TO HER BACK!
This turnaround has been amazing as Yvonne looks reborn to the woman who was hurt earlier, she bounces on her toes in the neutral corner watching Dua, 1...2...3...4.. Who gamely turns to her front, 5...6...7.. Grabbing the ropes after crawling to them, 8...9.. Dua beats the count just, blinking as she walks to the referee, who waves Yvonne on as the fight continues.
It doesn't look like for much longer as a straight rocks back the head of Dua, she finds herself stumbling into a corner, GISELE THROWS IN THE TOWEL, SIGNALLING SHE IS PULLING DUA OUT THE FIGHT BEFORE SHE GETS BADLY BEATEN! REFEREE STOPS THE FIGHT!
Winner Yvonne Strahovski TKO Round 7
After:
What a comeback from Yvonne! She looked like she was doomed during the middle rounds, never doubt her toughness even after so many wars in her career, she shuts her eyes as she clenches her fists to roar to the ceiling "Yes!" As her emotions get the better of her in the moment.
The next moment sees her go over to check on Dua, who looks shell shocked by the beating she took, welcome to the school of hard knocks Dua, as Yvonne gave her a lesson on not to count your chickens till they are hatched.
Gisele a little frosty around Yvonne as she comes out to help Dua to her corner, mumbling "thanks" for the way Yvonne checked on Dua as most might try to humiliate the youngster, Yvonne just stares hard at Gisele as the Girls Friday vs Lookout! Rivalry won't die so easily because two fighters have respect for each other.
Instead Yvonne returns to her corner to be met with a warm embrace from Nicole, who tells her "you need to stop scaring me like that" making Yvonne chuckle as she feels her puffy looking right cheek that ate those jabs.
Across the ring Dua still looks a little glassy eyed as Gisele wipes her down, telling her "you did good kid but I hope you realise good isn't going to cut it at this level, you need to be the best and that means taking my advice, no wasted attacks OK?" With Dua nodding as she looks grimly at her coach, knowing she threw away the biggest victory of her life tonight.
The fighters once ready come to the ring center, Dua gives Yvonne a fist bump to show her respect to the legend, though her expression looks cold as Yvonne gets her hand raised, going through all the different things she could have done to be the one to have her hand raised in victory.
Instead Lipa has to leave the ring with the sting of defeat, while she is on the up, there is plenty it seems for her to learn on her way, Gisele walking beside her letting Dua think as she knows how the sting of defeat feels in these situations.
In the ring Yvonne gets handed an Australia fan as she proudly lifts it up in front of her body as she smiles for the cameras, yelling "I wish all my country people a happy holidays, bar you Miranda (Kerr) you bytch" winking as she stirs up that old rivalry.
Going on a lap of honour with the flag over her shoulders, the Australians in the crowd certainly loving it as they whistle and clap Yvonne on, till she takes a bow at the ring center to finish off her lap.
Stepping out the ring with Nicole beside her, Yvonne will most likely be in the title hunt again before we know it, the legendary Aussie at the top of the tree just seems inevitable, she showed tonight she isn't going to move aside for the young guns so easily.