BEFORE: Tough tournament draw continues for Eliza: she's in with another committed Dushku-buster. "Elisha's had success against me," Dushku admits in prefight. "She's similar to Munn - dumb and dangerous - a little smaller than Olivia, so if I get the same bodywork done, I should stop Elisha. That said, her handspeed and combinations are better than Olivia's: it's trickier to trade with Cuthbert, 'cause she hits you with shots you don't see. So yes, there is danger, but there's also opportunity: I take care of Elisha, the field is that much weaker going forward." Cuthbert bouncing in her seat: she's hungry for Eliza. "Can't wait!" Pretty blonde bubbles at podium. "Cutting down Alba has me busting: I KNOW I've got the game right now to destroy Dushku. We've had wars, and she's tuff, but I know I can get to her and hurt her. Eliza's not taking the punch she used to - I don't care what anybody says. If I land clean, I'm sitting her down!" Eliza in red leather bra-style bikini; slick, curly ponytail/ringlets framing face; small black workout gloves. Elisha in midnight blue fighting bikini; small baby blue workout gloves with navy palms; hair in scrappy should length beach tousle.

During R1: Eliza jabs to close...edges left shoulder into Cuthbert's chest...turns a tight right hand across jug...lays in snug with right left shoulder pressing blonde chest. 'Lishy baring teeth...bumps Eliza off...fits tight right uppercut to jug: a short, shoveling shot. Dushku grunts on receipt...throws the left shoulder into Elisha's plump rack, then turns tidy-righty against jug: sneaky little one-two dirty-boxing style. Cuthbert back with lusty right uppercut to jug. Eliza laying in snug, cheek to cheek as she squirms to tuck right hand into jug. That's the way of it: midring...both girls digging in all sturdy legged...plugging and pumping rack with short shrugging/swatting/swiping cuffs and clouts...breathy grunts/pinched faces all 'round as each looks to impose will in a brutal close-in first. Bell: ref pushes em apart...heaving chests, seething expressions as girls glare each other down.

R2: Dushku to the jab - rotating clockwise around her poke, showing class. Cuthbert turning, parrying - she's stooping, jabbing for Eliza's tummy without success. Dushku in control till late: Cuthbert gambles, overhauls brunette with power. Elisha stepping in close, dragging thick right hand into Dushku's tits, then catching her the hook as Eliza's trying to sidestep-right. Overhand right clobbers off Eliza's brow, chasing her to ropes: she covers up face-in-gloves, stooping forward at waist. Time winding down: Cuthbert steps in...tips left...detonates a FURIOUS left hook off Eliza's liver, digging in behind right elbow. Eliza cries out in shock - eyebrows high, eyes shut tight, mouth wide open, cringing forward butt-in-ropes as Cuthbert steals the round.

R3: Good tactical mix Eliza: she's looking to buy time for her still-shaky legs. Boxing and evasive manoeuvres early: Eliza steering Elisha, making her miss. Dushku stepping in and out off her jab - hooking Cuthbert's mouth; tossing right hands into Cuthbert's rack. Elisha bangin' back: clobbering side to side action buffetts Eliza - forcing her to cover up and weave. Thickness to the body from both girls: they're just bouncing right/left tic-toc off each other's waists, whenever the other's covering up.

R4: Eliza builds off the stalemated third - boxing Cuthbert midring, turning her, selecting moments to move in and get off. Dushku thick about her blonde's middle - whacking and carving at it with either hand - swiping extended, almost straight arms to rake Elisha's belly and ribs. Elisha whining, giving ground: Dushku very aggressive in pursuit over the last half the round - stepping-to with penetrative straight right hands down into Cuthbert's tummy. Bell: Elisha cramped up, hugging her body...Dushku struts away fierce-eyed, well pleased with herself.

R5: Bitter two way slugging as Cuthbert steps into Dushku's torso with swinging right hand gusto. Eliza clawing hooks/pivoting to her left around planted left-heel: it's bull and matadora stuff as Eliza attempts to blunt Elisha's offensives. Cuthbert wheeling to the attack, baring her teeth as she steps in/hauls the right hands into tummy, flank, or tits: slamming, beefy contact moving Dushku out of her stance. Eliza's footwork the equalizer - she's able to circle and vex, trade space for time and nibble her way back into good positions, tattooing Elisha's head/shoulders in combination. Bell: Eliza hooking Cuthbert's tits, banks a little insurance...tempers flare as blonde takes exception to late jug-mugging.

R6: Two ways to look at it: one of the worst rounds of Eliza's career, or one of the best Elisha's ever put up against the sheriff. Starts early: concussive trade in batting hooks off the hips goes Elisha's way, driving Eliza backward. Cuthbert drives in and down via right hand, pounding Eliza in her ribs, sitting her into ropes. Follow up assault on midsection a thing of savage beauty: Cuthbert flashing-eyed, snarling as she swings rising rights and lefts across tummy/ribs/tits in diagonal swaths - carving out a withering X pattern against Eliza's torso. Dushku windlbown, crying out, cringing with right hand at left cheek/left across waist as she turns to her right, trying to deny Elisha body. It's no use: savage, non-stop assault beats Eliza along ropes - Cuthbert ripping away, strapping at flanks, tits, tummy, arms...it's all too much. Battered sheriff sustains terrible beating - eventually rolling to her left and sinking to all fours. Cuthbert throwing back her head, braying in triumph: Eliza's head bowed, tummy panting in and out as she temporarily overcome. Dushku beats the count ragged, blinking back tears, elbows tight against throbbing body as Elisha's wading back in at bell.

R7: Dushku grimly battling back: savagely beaten last round, she's just looking to halt the jailbreak. Stiff jab from Eliza; pivot left to turn Elisha's right flank. Dushku coming in with hooks - turning 'em tight against Elisha's knockers, then clipping her tidy left uppercuts as the girls lay in. Cuthbert slamming back to hips and flanks - anxious to close Eliza out to the body: Dushku grimacing, but staying compact, answering the wide strokes with jagged, digging left uppercuts into Elisha's sternum/jugs. Dushku holding shamelessly, tying up behind Elisha's elbows: Cuthbert bitterly complaining to ref for breaks rather than fighting her way out. Slowly but surely - sheriff stabilizes her front.

R8: Whacking, batting trade in hooks - girls swinging from their hips while keeping right hands close to jaws. Girls stepping in off stubby jabs, curling tight hooks across throbbing jugs: both claiming heavily in opposing rack tonight. Digging hup-hup forehead to forehead: fighters leaning forward, lapping hands into offending breadbaskets in furious lather-sessions. Sensational, busy stuff: Cuthbert slowly fighting Eliza to ropes by midway point. Dushku grimacing, clubbed and belted about her head and breasts, but she's alert...weight on right (back) foot...leaning away from Elisha...then CRACKING her a sudden, short right hand counter on the chin! Cuthbert caught as she's loading up, knocked backwards, then scooting awkwardly to rump-and-elbows: she's a shell-shocked beauty! Wonky 8 Elisha...she's up, ragged, blinking at ropes and ON COMES ELIZA! Dushku hard-eyed, dukes loose at chest as she wades in, squares away. OH THE RIGHT HAND TO THE MIDSECTION! Eliza dipping and pumping it in thick. OH THE LEFT HAND! Eliza dipping left, popping hips-right and denting Elisha's ribs. Eliza bobs down after the hook, then straightens into left uppercut, picking Elisha's face up with a crack. Cuthbert swooning back into ropes, eyelashes fluttering, hands drooping: ELIZA'S ALL UP IN ELISHA'S RACK! Oh the humanity - Dushku baring teeth, stamping away right/left crisscross on helpless, plump jug - her elbows in tight, the fists just swishing away and THE REF STEPS IN! Elisha out on her feet, just soaking it up: TKO Eliza Dushku!

AFter: Dushku emotional - bellowing in Elisha's blubbering face as Cuthbert's held in official's embrace - HISC girls guiding Eliza back to home ground to celebrate. Dushku badly battered - visibly cringing in pain when Claire tries to lift her arm in victory: courtesy Cuthbert's savage body attack throughout. Eliza weeping prettily - it's one of her best showings under pressure in some time. Sheriff blossoming in the tournament format, turning away another hard-punching rival: she's through to the semi final with a shout.