BEFORE: "Alana's pretty, I get that," Shan allows in prefight, "but this is the Hurt Game, not the Flirt Game. I've blown the doors off Charlize Theron and Cat Bell in their primes...I'm a legend-killer and former champion, not some floosie Alana can just punch and have her way with. De La Garza's going to get busted up in this fight - hurt - probably stopped. But yeah - she's pretty. I'll give her that."

Alana holding firm in the face of intimidation: she's used to be downgraded for her alluring looks. "I'll admit, at first I was choked with my guys for yanking the title bout," Alana says at podium. "But I've come around to their way of thinking over the course of this training camp. Ali Larter's a real force - a legit top 5 lightweight - and when I face her, I want to know that I can beat her. Taking on Shannon in a dangerous tune-up gives me that confidence. I beat her, I go into Ali with real momentum and a true mandate to challenge for the title. If I can't beat Shannon, then I don't deserve a shot at this time anyway. Simple."

Shannon in stars-and-stripes bikini (navy top with the stars; bottoms with the red-and-white bars); white gloves; hair in battle braid with wispy strands framing face. Alana in black bikini; white gloves.

During R1: Shannon showboating: big smile; right hand high, left at her hip. She slap-bats the right at Alana's ear (blocked); slides to the right; jabs at Alana's tummy; slaps a hook to Alana's ear (blocked); slides to the left. De La Garza dukes up, elbows in - slight bobbing head movement as she steps forward, ranging-in. Midway through, Alana astounds Shannon with a slinging hook - rising, diagonal swipe clips chin, putting Elizabeth wobbly butt. Slinging right up top and extra hooks chase Shannon ropeside: follow up pounding knocks Shannon's head about as she stumbles to her right along the apron. Alana's lips tight, eyes fierce with concentration: she's tidying up - punching Shannon groggy to the head - hooking the waist thick n' strappy at intervals. Bell: Elizabeth frazzled, staring - unnerved by Alana's willowy pop/uncanny accuracy early.

R2: Similar stuff - Shan swatting up top just to distract Alana, keep her guard up - then Elizabeth wheeling around her girl, testing De La Garza's footwork. Alana's footwork proves sound when she tracks Shannon down by the midway point, stroking her heavy, licking hooks body and head - set up by prodding straight right hands. Elizabeth wobbly butt, confused again: she's stumbling around, hands disorganized - allowing De La Garza to step-to and bounce noggin. Shannon pasted - head routinely swatted about - ribs and tummy slashed via strapping hooks. Good hounding beat-down issued as Alana stays in patient, in command through 2.

R3: Alana quickly upon her girl this time - punching Shannon's nose an oily straight right, then curling that licking hook up and around - De La Garza planting on left foot, popping hips-right to clip Shannon's chin-tip. Shan unravelling - knees a-knockin' as she staggers about: eyes glassy, moist with how-could-you tears. Alana walking frazzled beauty down - ripping hooks to body as Shan wilts. Elizabeth stumbling to ropes, desperately trying to rally. Alana steps-to...ranges in with the poking lead right hands, then torques those hooks: vicious, lashing left hand licks, carving across Shan's front to follow through past Alana's right ear. Terrible stroke stripes Shannon's liver, sitting her stricken in ropes: lashing, lathering follow up of straight rights and limber left hooks pounds at Shan's staring face, putting her out. Ref steps in, hugging Shan to safety before she can actually fall, but she's limp in the man's arms. TKO3 in style - Alana De La Garza.

After: Mission accomplished: Alana wipes the canvas with the much feared Shannon Elizabeth...De La Garza earning her mandate to move against Ali Larter with flying colours. "I found her slow, easy to hit," says the virtually untouched De La Garza, breezy in victory. "She's very slender - hitting her in the body I could tell she wasn't taking it well - I was just too strong and good for her. Stopping her is perfect - just what I wanted to do. Not only do I feel I have a terrific chance to topple Ali now, but I know I put the fear of God into Tricia Helfer as well with this performance. I've really gone to the next level and I'm ready to secure my first title!"