Before: "When there's buzz about a fight, it makes the fighters excited," Erica grins, rubbing her hands at podium. "I'm looking forward to this as much as the fans - I want to see what Yvonne's bringing too. I've heard from the sparring grapevine that outside, she's a match for me, but inside she's a little suspect. Girls are saying I'm rougher inside, stronger, more rugged. They're saying Yvonne can't handle determined pressure, so I'll definitely be putting the hypothesis to the test. I don't want to get programmed in though: there's not enough tape on Yvonne yet to really get a sense of her tendencies, so I'm just going to see what works with her, and bury her in it!"

Strahovski equally giddy - smiling shiny for cameras - signing autographs: she's right where she wants to be. "In a lot of ways, I was brought to America to deal with Erica Durance," Yvonne says in her Aussie drawl. "Whatever problems she had, she's worked out - I have no problem acknowledging that I'll be the underdog in this one, because Erica is the total package right now. That said, I won't be fighting like I'm her biggest fan. I plan to be first and last in the exchanges, and I'll be making her regret her choices. However it goes, guys: Erica Durance will know she's been in with a fighter! Oh, and Erica - you don't have to be so diplomatic: I KNOW it was Winstead who told you I can't handle pressure. What a little weasel!"

Pleasing atmosphere of healthy competition between these two: during weigh in, Erica even wolf-whistles and applauds as Strahovski shreds her abs on the scales, getting a laugh out of Yvonne.

Strahovski in black bra/boy cut panties; white gloves. Erica in crimson Smallville bikini with navy bottoms and the red belt; red gloves. Both girls sporting frisky gym-rat ponytails and swept bangs.

During R1: Yvonne intense, baring her teeth while pumping left jabs, right hand curled into her cheek. Good tight hook off the jab from Yvonne; quick pivot left: she's crisp, agile early. Durance weaving stick, encroaching, but getting turned early: Strahovski surprising with tempo, class. Middle minute - hook/right hand startles Erica: she's still bewildered when a piercing right streaks across her chin SITTING HER DOWN! Durance punched to her buns - she's sitting up, blinking in shock as Strahovski jogs all ponytails and grins to neutral corner. Stunned 8 Erica; Yvonne upon her VERY quickly - spearing the jab to belly, then right/left hup-hup to either jug. Hook to chin/right hand: Erica getting pelted, covering up as she leans back into ropes. Strahovski having her way: batting lefts and rights tan Erica's sturdy ribs; carving right uppercut scrapes against guard as groaning Durance stoops forward. Yvonne finishes up strong - pouring combinations to Erica as D blocks/rolls at ropes. Look at the way Strahovski shifts weight one foot to the other, pointing the toes of the off-foot while whacking power with either mitt!

R2: Durance cold-eyed, almost snarling: every inch of her butt got kicked last round and she's hating that it happened. E circumspect - stepping right around a stiff jab, punching in between Yvonne's breasts. Strahovski getting the range she wants, but she's over-anxious: Durance hanging back, waiting, then catching Strahovski brisk right hand counters as blonde's trying to score. Not a lot of damage - Durance punching to disrupt rather than hurt. Mission accomplished as Erica stabilizes her front, touches Yvonne up, messes with blonde timing and footwork.

R3: Erica working behind the jab, rotating counter-clockwise: converted southpaw tends to move well to her right, breaking off come-along left hooks against Strahovski's jumping jugs. Yvonne baited forward, eats blunt right hands to chin: minute in, she's hurt, knees a-knockin'. Durance quickly over to lead, crouching as she reaches in, chesting Yvonne to ropes. Rowdy shove-and-slug initiated: Durance bullying Yvonne, getting on top, getting grabby and rough. Strahovski grunting, baring her teeth with the effort of pushing Erica off, only to free up enough space for Durance to beat blonde ribs and belly. Erica drawing warnings: tough shoulder bumps, little bit of forearm creeping into her brawling here. Durance unapologetic, grinning fiercely after working over Strahovski's jugs in one sequence.

R4: Another brawling shutout for Erica. D doing it smart: jabbing chest and body, driving Strahovski to ropes, then bodying up to secure her. Tummy to tummy, Erica makes it about strength - pushing on Yvonne, mauling her - then tidying up big, banging rights and lefts ribs and tummy. Strahovski really catching it: stooping forward behind her mitts, lips pursed as her abs take a roasting - Erica just swinging away and loving it. Yvonne proving durable - soaking up a ton of bodywork this round without really buckling...but her inability to get off the ropes is a problem. Strahovski getting reminders during the break: keep the fight midring; jab Erica without pity.

R5,6,7: Yvonne's plans aren't working: Erica imposes her will, taking Strahovski to ropes and beating her there without mercy. Minute after minute - Durance setting that bruising, miler's pace - working out of a loose crouch, putting punches together in 2's and 3's. Steady, strapping blows applied to waist - carving in under Yvonne's defensively placed elbows: Erica owning the other woman's tummy. Strahovski grimacing, sponging up a terrible beating, but she's defiant: clipping back the odd short left uppercut to Erica's chest; chopping in occasional rights to jaw. Durance a master of apron-management however - bodying up and pushing Yvonne deep to ropes to prevent her escapes; wrapping the left arm round Yvonne's shoulders to slump her forward for pumping rights, tummy and tits. Rhythmic beat of Erica's 3 punch combos pounds out against flanks, shoulders, skull: Durance compact, keeping elbows in, going at her girl with frightening professionalism. All three rounds wide for Erica: Strahovski lumping up badly, looking shopworn and puffy through 7.

R8: Yvonne able to box in space for a full minute - rotating left around her jab, working on Erica's left eye to good effect. Determined right hand counters from Durance eventually punch Strahovski into compliance - blonde covering up in earmuff midring, groaning as Erica moves in, rips a triumphant right/left across that aching waste. All Durance once Yvonne's flat footed and soaking punishment again: Erica muscling her blonde to ropes, bodying up to secure her, then shovelling home the harm. No one punch does it, but steady, non-stop pummelling puts Yvonne tragically wobbly butt, little bit weepy by the bell.

R9: Strahovski starting to take legendary punishment now - sliding numbly along the ropes as Erica steps with and delivers. Durance's grinding pace rarely seen in celebrity fighting: few women can lay down a steady barrage of hard, bashing blows, round after round like this. Erica unconcerned with placement: she's bashing at Yvonne's head and shoulders when blonde's showing earmuff; working wide to either flank; dippin'-n'-diggin' to gut. Yvonne sitting in ropes for support, curvy legs holding her up, but she's absorbing hellish abuse - should be clinching or even taking a knee. Erica bell to bell, cheeks flushed hot with her labours: she steps back in wonder at the bell, chest heaving as battered Yvonne pushes herself up off ropes with a defiant aspect.

R10: Yvonne sorts Erica out with long belly jabs - stepping to the right, backing away, circling back in from the left. Jabs spanking abs, breasts - Yvonne shooting to torso, staying low as she scoots out of range. Durance forces exchanges in the middle minute - frustrated with Yvonne's effective nibbling: blonde out-hits brunette as girls stand at middle distance, taking turns whaling away at prepared defences. Down the stretch, Erica makes a determined bid to stop Yvonne, pushing forward with a walking barrage: Strahovski sliding back, making E with jabs, then diving in to catch her a limber, overhand right to face as Durance is loading up. ERICA'S DOWN! Durance's right hand sails; back (right) knee gives way, corkscrewing her into the mat and ONTO HER BACK! Yvonne stunned, blinking down in surprise, then scurrying to neutral corner as badly rocked Erica swims about, trying to roll over one or the other hip. 8...9...10...DURANCE IS UP! Erica blinking in swoon, but lifting her mitts: ref waves Yvonne in. STRAHOVSKI APPLIES THE LASH! Blonde squares away, teeth bared, eyes blazing, OH HOW SHE POURS IT TO ERICA! Durance covering up earmuff, slumping to a seat in ropes, wilting under the wiry onslaught. Yvonne straining, huffing and puffing, but she can't blow Erica's house down. D survives - ref bodies a seething Yvonne back at the bell: it's UD10 Erica Durance.

After: Mutual admiration society in the aftermath: Durance composing herself after suffering a terrible shellacking in the tenth: she hugs Yvonne, rubs her back and chats with Strahovski in the postfight mill. 8 rounds to 2 for the veteran brunette, but the rookie blonde's 2 rounds bode well for the future.

"I thought I was going out," a battered, lumpy Erica admits during in-ring interview. "I wanted to knock her out so badly - I'd been softening her up and I knew she was ready to go...and she caught me. The girl is tremendously well conditioned - to hurt me like that after I'd been giving her business all night? You've got to be in serious shape to do something like that. She's going to be great, no doubt about it. I know now to expect nothing less than life-and-death when I face this girl!"