Vs
(Written by Girls Friday/Results by Lookout!)(Girls Friday vs Bonzo's Gym)Intro:The main event in the Rod Laver Arena; Melbourne, sees two girls who know each other well step up to face in other in a truly top 10 ranking clash, as Michelle Ryan meets Katrina Law for the second time in their careers.
Ironically the first time these two girls met was back in both their debut bouts in 2010 in Cardiff, Wales, with Michelle beating Katrina in the seventh round by knockout.
Now Michelle is 32, has a record of 15 wins, 12 by knockout and 11 losses to her name, finally breaking into the top 10 welterweight rankings last year, but losing to now former champ Kate Upton two months ago.
While Katrina is 31 and holds a record of 14 wins, 9 by knockout and 11 losses, her last year wasn't great, with two high profile losses, but she remains strong in the top 10 ranked fighters in the welterweight division with good reason, ask Mandy Moore and Cassidy Freeman.
At the press conference for this event, the two girls met up and Michelle clearly remembers the first time these two met as a grin crosses her pretty face, Katrina not biting, just simply nodding as the girls stand face to face.
Asked to sit down at their tables, Michelle's grin is seemingly glued on as they head to their tables for this event and the English girl is asked to speak first.
"To be honest, I was shocked you took this long Katrina to find me, I mean I did beat you when we started out, people from the States gave me no hope, but I guess I'm just better than you" states Michelle as if speaking fact, judging by the face of Law, it isn't.
She continues "admittedly I wanted a small break, losing to Upton and seeing Atkinson swoop in for the spoils hurt me, I had Kate on the ropes but I wasn't good enough to finish the job, but I'm a battler, I've been down and I've gotten up to get myself where I feel I belong, the top tier of the welterweights and I plan on staying there for a long time"
Then she nods at Katrina, giving her the floor it seems and getting the American even more angry, feeling disrespected by her fellow fighter.
Standing up, Katrina knows how to hit back at Ryan "so you wonder why I never came calling? Why would I? You disappeared off the map, hiding back in England, by the time you came back here, you made a joke of yourself and no one batted an eyelid at you" mockingly says Katrina, venom dripping off every single word she said.
Michelle clearly getting annoyed, clenching her fists, but Katrina continues "while you went down hill, I stepped up, I fought the best and everytime I was knocked down, I got up and kept going on and on"
Both girls glaring at each other, but Katrina seems to try to calm things down, finishing by saying "look, I respect what you did last year, you reinvented yourself to get into contention, but I did the same all those years ago, so don't expect to walk over me Michelle, you're in for one hell of a fight and I'm going to kick your f***ing ass!"
Michelle shoves her chair back, wanting to go for Katrina, but she holds back, both girls red faced, clearly hoping the other makes the first move.
Then they change their minds, Michelle lifting her chair back up, the two fighters saving any ill feeling for tomorrow night in the ring.
Led off stage, cameras on both sides of the stage catch both girls faces, clearly red faced and counting down the hours till they can get at each other.
Fight night, Michelle is out first, wearing a red sports bra to go with her workout trunks, she has white gloves and shoes as she bounces on her toes at the top of the entrance ramp with Melanie Sykes and Eva Carneiro with her as her corner crew.
Ryan starts walking down the ramp waving her fist at the crowd, as they cheer her on, as she climbs into the ring the noise gets louder and she can't hide a smile on her face as she heads to her corner.
Out comes Katrina, the stunning American has Nadia Bjorlin by her side as her trainer tonight, how will the new trainer do? Well judging by her confident smile behind Katrina, she is evidently enjoying her new role.
Katrina starts walking down to the ring, she's wearing a black sports bra, shorts with a white Bonzo gym logo on her left leg and Law written in the same colour on her waistband, to go with her black gloves and shoes.
As she climbs into the ring, her eyes stare directly at Michelle, focusing in like a predator sensing it's next meal, Katrina can look almost primeval at her best, but Michelle simply glares at her, just wanting to wipe the floor with this fellow rival to her spot.
Both girls are asked to come to the ring centre, quickly they march up to each other and nose to nose go the fighters, the crowd getting a good look with how close these two girls are in height, weight and looks.
Asked to touch gloves, each girl gives the other a questioning look, they decide to touch them up and head back to their corners.
The referee looks over both girls, who are getting final pep talks from their coach and their gumshields in, after all that is sorted, the girls are ready and so is the ref, the bell rings to start 10 rounds of welterweight action.
Round 1:Off we go and the girls quickly head out to fight, both girls know what the other can do; so no real feeling out process, just two fit girls up on their toes trading snapping shots.
Michelle steps in first, looking to make her mark early, but Katrina won't let her and we have our first fiery exchange, both girls just lashing hard shots to the others heads, before they both step away from each other.
Their faces quickly turning to a mask of hatred for the other, buy neither girl can get an advantage since they are like two mirror images fighting.
Michelle will lands a hard straight to start driving Katrina backwards around the ring, then Law lands a meaty cross right and now she bashes Ryan backwards.
Trying a different route, they both square up and get in tight to work each other's bodies, both just pounding away to the others flanks, while trying to shove each other back up top.
Again they step away, frustrated that they can not make the other back down, circling each other and smacking single shots over the others guards, hoping to final an opening.
But as the round is coming to an end, desperately they just let breeze with their punches, snapping each others heads back and around.
As the bell rings, both girls charge to get into each others faces, screaming abuse as the frustration boils over and it's just the first round!
The referee shoves both girls apart, warning them he expects a clean fight and he won't stand for any bull between the fighters.
Both nod, but their eyes burn right through each others, before they finally head to their corners, already their corners are working on cleaning them up and trying to stop the redness on their faces and bodies becoming more.
Round 2:This round starts pretty much the same as the last, two extremely even fighters just cancelling each other out in the early going.
Bouncing on their toes as they sneak their punches through the others guards, both sets of eyes look fully focused on the task in front of them.
Katrina tries to step forward quickly, but Michelle finally times her to land a counter right cross, then charges in herself to shove back Law by several shots to the body, not much power exactly in them, just more to score points it seems.
Law shoves Michelle back and then lands a left cross of her own to look like she's going to press the English fighter back.
But Michelle ducks a right cross and comes up to land a right to the body of the American, the gameplay like the first fight it seems is to work Katrina's body.
Easier said then done as Katrina comes back at her, landing a right hook to turn Michelle's head, now she powers forward, pounding Ryan's sides.
Both girls grimacing as they land to the body, red marks already starting to show as they fight around the ring.
Not long left in the round, Katrina gets caught once more trying to find that opening, a straight punch gets parried and Michelle catches with a stiff right cross.
Katrina looking annoyed behind her guard as she stops a three punch combo from Michelle and just misses her own returning left hook.
The bell rings and the girls do as told, heading to their corners when told to, but the frustration on their faces is there for all to see.
Clearly each fighter is heard telling their coach "I hate that bytch" as the respect could be there, but this is getting more personal as the seconds tick by.
Round 3:Michelle looks to start off strong, dancing around each other, she digs a few shots to the body of Katrina, who comes back quickly with three punches up top to force Ryan to retreat back several steps.
The action is all over the ring as the crowd dual chant their names, the noise is unreal as the girls are trying to control each other.
Back and forth they go, trading up top, then one tries to get in tight and gets countered back, both girls showing why they are contenders at this weight.
Katrina lands a hard right hook, pushing Michelle onto her heels, finally there seems to be someone getting on top, a two punch combo through the guard of Michelle burst her lips open.
But the taste of blood seems to spur Michelle on, back comes Ryan, landing an uppercut after a straight punch of her own.
The girls clinch up for the first time in the fight as they clash bodies, both had lunged with a punch and mistimed it, neither giving an inch in the clinch either, pounding away with free right hands to the others sides.
As they get more annoyed, they rip away to the others kidney area and groans are coming from both girls, till the referee fights his way between the girls to pull them apart.
Not long left in the round, the girls again go head to head, ripping shots to the others bodies, gasps can be heard from both girls and there's the bell.
The girls shove each other away, the referee shaking his head as he just senses that something is going to happen soon if he isn't careful.
Back in their corners, Michelle needs to get her lip cleaned up, it looks to be stop bleeding; but for how long?
While Katrina sits stewing in her corner, wanting to hurt Michelle badly, make a statement tonight, but is hitting a brick wall it seems.
Round 4:Back out come the girls with a vengeance, keeping in close as they try to keep themselves mobile, they're find holds through the others defences to slam their fists into as the noise in the arena has went down a single decibel since the fight begun.
Michelle lands a cracking straight punch and a left with a right cross now busts the lips of her opponent, payback for her own lips.
But in the same way it got Michelle going in harder last round, Katrina forces her way forwards again, landing a hard piercing like shot to the body.
As Michelle winces, Katrina piles on the pressure, landing three punches up top to shove her English opponent back, this is the first real drive that seems to succeed without being pushed back as Law gets Ryan to the ropes.
The girls slug it out on the ropes, both girls freeing their shots up and planting their feet as blood runs down from their lips to their chins.
Michelle manages to fight her way off the ropes, with the fighters not rushing to engage, instead trying to measure each other up as they both realise something has to give soon.
Again the girls manage to work themselves in tight, using their heads to try and shove each other backwards, that leads to a clash of heads and the referee breaks them up for a moment to check for any injuries.
Happily there are none bar bruised egos, the girls smack gloves together in a way of apology, no one in the arena really buying it.
But it doesn't matter, the girls are back at it, fighting around the ring again with not much time left in the round, which ends with Katrina landing a left to the chin of Michelle, who shakes her head to Law and taps her chin.
Katrina smirks as she doesn't care for Michelle's games, she's just happy to finally have a round she's sure she has won in.
Neither can stop grimacing as their coaches start to patch them up, there cheeks are swelling up and both girls have red marks up and down their bodies.
Round 5:The first real mistake comes from either fighter, Katrina overextending a left jab and Michelle deftly moves out the way and comes back to land two scything hooks to shove Katrina onto her heels.
Michelle staying right on Katrina, making her have to fight hard to try and get back to an even footing, but another hard left across the eye of Law opens a cut on her cheek, just under her eye.
But now she has a target for Michelle to go for and after some vicious shots are exchanged, another left cross to that cut forces Katrina to retreat and try to find a way to fight back.
Katrina blocks another attempt by Michelle to go for that cut and lands a hard counter right to start her own attempt to force her opponent back.
But that's snuffed out as Michelle comes back at her with a hooking drive, forcing Katrina to use her agility to escape out the way, the fact she's being forced to retreat has Nadia looking slightly worried, she knows that her fighter is far from finished.
As shown by her tenacity to get back in close to Michelle, digging three good body shots in that make her opponent gasp and take a step back.
That cut continues to present a problem though as she takes punch to it and she grunts loudly in pain, stepping back once more to give Michelle time to work her way forward with a barrage of punches, most missing as Katrina is still showing her agility off.
Not long left in the round, Katrina lands a right just under the ribs of Michelle, the English girl curls slightly around the punch and has to retreat as Katrina comes full force at her.
The girls trade up top till the bell rings and Michelle gives Katrina a light tap to the face where the cut is and a wink.
Katrina shoves her back and as both fighters faces turn a feel shade of red, the referee somehow manages to get between the girls, who spit insults at each other, their coaches are needed to pull both girls back to their corners.
Both fighters are bloodied faced, Katrina's right side of her face looks a real mess, but she still looks ready to charge out the corner when that bell rings.
Michelle rubs her side, the punch near the end of the round really hurt her and Eva is icing it up as Melanie tries to clear up her face of blood and reduce the swelling to her cheeks.
Round 6:The war between these girls continues, the pace has slowed somewhat now, each girl starting to breath harder and faster but they are still going hard at each other.
Michelle lands a double jab to set up a right around the guard of Katrina, Law stumbles back a few steps towards the ropes.
The girls are in tight once more, but Katrina is against the ropes, Michelle trying to open up the American, it is quickly becoming another stalemate, with both girls punishing each other around the others guard.
Law manages to force her way off the ropes with three unanswered body shots, smacking that red mark on the side of Michelle's body, forcing her back a few steps.
Ryan back into the fray quickly, head down, nearly smacking her head into the chin of Katrina, bashing her fists into the sides of Law, who has to clinch up with her.
The girls struggling in tight, sneaking their right hands into the others abs, their breathing is starting to get faster, both girls resting their heads on each others shoulders, blood dripping from both girls faces to the others backs.
Separated by the referee, the crowd roar both girls to get back at each other, each takes a moment to catch their breath before they rip away at each other.
Knocking each others faces side to side, the girls rocking each other and falling into a clinch once again, the referee separates the girls.
Michelle lands a left cross that snaps the head of Katrina around, but Katrina digs a right into the side of the body of Ryan.
The English girl gasps, her left fist drops slightly, trying to protect her side and as the seconds tick away to end the round, Katrina lands a hard right hook up top and now reels Ryan into the ropes.
The round ends with both fighters slugging it out, the girls continuing after the bell till the referee with help from the coaches step in again.
The girls are forcefully dragged by their coaches to their corners, the referee warning both fighters to calm down or he will disqualify both girls.
Cameras catch that Michelle's left eye is swelling shut and her side has a bruise forming as her corner crew get to work on fixing her up.
Katrina isn't any better, her face shows the signs of war with blood up her right side of her face, both catching their breath as the pace of the fight is wearing both girls out.
Round 7:The girls meet up at the ring centre, trading single shots as they try to will themselves to fight hard, keep their workrates up.
Working their ways closer, stiff shots are exchanged to bloody faces and suddenly an opening appears for one fighter.
Michelle groans as Katrina lands two hammer like shots to her abs, the American is starting to press Ryan back, whose doing everything to fight back, but her shots don't seem to have the sting they did earlier.
The girls end up near the ropes with Law clearly controlling the action, keeping a resilient Michelle on the back foot.
A right to that bruised flank of Michelle nearly seems to gut her and Katrina can see light at the end of the tunnel.
But as she tries to drive her advantage, Ryan grabs onto her pulling her into a clinch, the first real desperation clinch of the fight.
Michelle's face can't hide the pain she's in as Katrina presses her to the ropes, showing her dominance over her rival before the referee finally separates the two fighters apart.
The English fighter moves off the ropes, but Katrina is quick to press onwards, the girls trading more stinging shots.
But each time Michelle opens herself up, she gets caught by Law to the body and she has to retreat and cover up or risk further punishment.
The crowd seem to be swinging for Katrina, that must be playing on the mind of Michelle, adding to her woes as she gets pressed to another set of ropes.
But with little left in the round, Michelle fights like a wounded animal, shoving herself off the ropes to land a left to that cut on Katrina's face.
It gives her a chance to knock Law back now and suddenly Ryan fans have perked up again, the girls fall into a clinch as they both get too tight when going for their punches.
The girls clearly leaning into each other with only five seconds left of the round and as the referee separates them, the bell rings to end a punishing round for Michelle.
While the girls seemly dislike each other, there is a hint of respect in their eyes as they look at each other, then they simply head back to their corners, each wincing as they are sore from this fight.
Sitting in their stool, both slump down, facing the canvas till their coaches tell them to sit up, where they lean back into the turnbuckles and rest their arms on the ropes, their eyes shut as their corner crews work to fix them up for the last 3 rounds.
Round 8:Both girls look at each other with disdain once more, needing to use their hate it seems to power them, the girls move around on heavy feet, smacking hard and spiteful shots over the others guard.
Michelle on the back foot early in the round, but her eyes look wild as she comes back at Katrina with a flurry of punches.
Law covering up and being pressed back under the barrage, but looking cool and collected, knowing she isn't being hurt and she steps into space to escape the wrath of Michelle.
Both girls guards is starting to drop and as Michelle comes for another desperate assault to try and hurt Katrina even more, she gets caught with a right hook that turns her head.
Michelle stumbles back, her legs starting to turn to jelly, she's desperately throwing her jab out, trying to keep her opponent off her.
But Katrina summons what is left in her tank for one more drive, parrying the jab of Michelle and landing three vicious body shots.
Michelle falls to her back! Then rolls to her left side, cradling her stomach as her eyes are shut and tears start running down her face.
Katrina slowly heads to a neutral corner, staring down at Michelle, clearly hoping she stays down for the count.
While Michelle just quietly sobs on the canvas, she knows she is beat and when the referee reaches 10, it becomes official that she's lost.
After:Katrina falls to her knees, the strain of victory finally hitting her fully and she lifts her head to see Michelle looking up at her through her right eye, her left still seemingly shut from the pain she is in.
Nadia rushes into the ring to lift Katrina up to her feet and give her one hell of a hug, Law shutting her eyes as her body is hurting like hell and she has to whisper to her trainer "can you loosen the hug please"
Her coach Nadia loosens up and replies "oh God, sorry Katrina; guess I got excited watching you kick her ass" before she points at Michelle.
Who is being helped to sit up by Melanie, while Eva helps her clean her face up, blood covers the left side of her face where it ran down from her bloody lip.
Both girls are helped to their corners to be cleaned up and their gloves taken off, there is still an air of animosity between these two as they glare across the ring at each other, even after two wars, they still can't accept that they are so alike, instead they want to destroy each other to prove they are superior, tonight it's Katrina who has that bragging right.
But cameras pick up a special guest coming to the ring, Hilary Rhoda; a stablemate of Michelle's and the PPV opponent of Katrina heads from ringside, as she's being sitting in the front row and she climbs into the ring.
First she heads to Michelle, giving her friend and stablemate a hug and telling her how proud she is.
Before she then heads across the ring to the surprise of many and offers her hand to Katrina, telling her "great fight and a great win"
Katrina shoves herself up to go nose to nose with Hilary, the two big powerful brunettes are an awesome sight to see, even as one has went 8 brutal rounds.
Then Katrina takes the hand of Hilary, showing she'll take the sign of respect, but she clearly isn't interested in being friends with her.
Hilary heads back to Michelle's side of the ring and an interviewer rushes into the ring to talk to Katrina, but Nadia tells him "no interview sorry, but you'll get one when Katrina is rested" the interviewer doesn't push his luck, simply nodding.
The action inside the ring clearly spoke for itself say some pundits as they discuss the fight and the aftermath that had just occurred.
Both girls are helped out of the ring by their coaches tonight, but before they are helped out, the crowd is on it's feet for both ladies, showing respect for the fight they just witnessed.
Katrina smiles as she is led out the ring and to the Bonzo locker room for an ice bath, clearly proud of winning this massive fight for ego and title contention.
Michelle doesn't smile, no amount of cheers or clapping can remove the stain of defeat, her mind just wondering when she can get Katrina back into the ring to remove this loss from her mind.
The big question now is, what state will both fighters be in come the PPV on the 25th of February? With Katrina going for Hilary and Michelle after Charlize Theron, two more major fights that could decide how the rest of their year go right from the off.
