Posted by simguy on 10/30/2008

Before: "I'll do Michelle the way Sarah did Leighton," Barton says coldly in prefight. "What happened to Meester was perfect - that's exactly what it takes to get it through to these kids that they don't own the whole world yet. As soon as I beat some respect into Trachtenburg, then I might let up - but if I'm feeling any resistance from her whatsoever - I'll keep at her." Trachtenburg openly giggling throughout Barton's oratory: brunette's not convinced. "Mischa reminds me of those people on American Idol at the start - you know - the jokers who can't sing at all, but think they're amazing? That's Mischa. Fighters laugh at Barton - we just laugh at her - and I'm going to clean her clock, and she's STILL probably going to think she's Cat Bell or something. Hilarious!" Mishy T in green lace push up bra; electric baby blue, tie-side bikini bottoms; black leather boxing boots; small black work out gloves. Mishca in jazzy print bikini - mostly teal with brown rectangles in haphazard patterns; small white work out gloves; white leather boxing boots.

During R1: Mishca's hands very low - right at her tummy, left at her hip. She's leaning forward, stepping into her up-jab, then bringing the left hand back to her hip. Trachtenburg sees it - wants to counter with hooks - cat and mouse develops as Michelle weaves, looking to catch Mischa a hook after she jabs. Barton caught plenty - taking a good shot early, and her length allows to reel back out of range on occasion - but Trachtenburg finding the range and rhythm with her left hands in the first.

R2: No adjustment from Mischa - she keeps lifting the upjab, bringing it back low, eating increasingly ringing hooks from savvy Trachtenburg. Midway through, Michelle gets it all together - nice hip rotation; shoulder through the shot; rising out of her crouch after making Meesch miss: hook clangs upside Barton's head, unhinging her knees. Crazy stepping chicken-dance from Barton - then she stumbles to all fours in shock: Trachtenburg grinning, lifts mitts, struts to ropes, and hits a Maryse spot! (right hand on ropes, big stoop forward, then sudden lean-back to send hair tossing back - as hammy a feminine pose as there is in sports entertainment). Plenty of time left: Michelle spends it beating Barton without pity against ropes. Barton a sobbing wreck: hands tight against her face, leaning back into ropes as Trachtenburg whales away to bell. During break, Michelle warned for taunting - ref doesn't like that hair-tossing thing after a knockdown. Jerk.

R3: Meesch lifting either hand, poking at Michelle from the front (left) foot; Trachtenburg weaving nicely, getting in under strokes and stepping into Barton with thumping hooks. Michelle's left hands clouting Barton's flat chest, or smashing upside her head - Mischa scattered round the ring, trying to rally on long, shabby legs.

R4: Mischa still extending that pesky jab: persistence starts to pay off as impatient Michelle takes a snootful of leather coming forward. Barton sorting her feet out - she's poking, bringing the hand back low, but taking a little half step back: helps her evade Trachtenburg's answering hook. Michelle getting nibbled, missing the mark on her counters - latter half the round sees her step out, circle - pretty brunette frowning as she puzzles over Barton's sudden effectiveness.

R5: Answer to Barton's jab: Michelle's own jab. Shorter woman jabbing - keeping right hand at her cheek as she shoots for Mischa's chest, driving blonde back. Trachtenburg finding it easy to step in off the poke - now employing overhand rights upside the head to keep her hooks company. Mischa standing upright, nice and tall, but available as she's pasted 'round the ring, backpedaling in front of a determined Trachtenburg.

R6: Trachs trying to push the pace: midway through, she eats a rising right hand flush to chin, putting her wobbly butt. Mischa smiling as Trachtenburg baby-steps hurt: Barton now working a stiff, stinging upjab, working in between Michelle's raised mitts. Good jabbing drives Trachtenburg to ropes: Meesch walks her down, poking and prodding away rising rights and lefts from the hips as Michelle covers up, blocks to bell.

R7: Trachtenburg visibly discouraged: she was hitting Mischa so hard before - now it's pretty even. Barton all lumped up, but chipping away - upjab and rising right hands from her hips, then little step-outs to keep herself safe. Not a lot of hot contact as Michelle's wary of being hurt: she's circling, trying to mess up Barton's lanky footwork for a pounce-in.

R8: Give her credit - Mischa Barton sticks with her knitting - lifting the jab into Michelle's face, starting to really work Trachtenburg's eyes. Meesch fighting with a contented little smirk: she's touching Michelle up now, as promised. Trachtenburg unraveling - form degrading - she's being picked apart by a girl she laughed at: heartbreaking.

R9: Good, if awkward exchanges - both girls trying to get the other in trouble. Trachtenburg re-establishes her counterhook, answering Mischa's jab and catching Barton licks to right side of noggin. Barton stepping in with rising rights off her jabs - weird looking punch, but with her length behind it, it's spooking Trachtenburg. Down the stretch - Mischa hoisting a right uppercut from too far out: Trachtenburg's already started her right cross, getting there well before Barton's uppercut. DOWN GOES MEESCH! Barton on her back - head up off the canvas all blinking eyes and sniveling lips: she's trembling with shock. Bell sounds before KO can be recorded - Barton hustled to her stool for emergency repairs as Trachtenburg brightens.

R10: Mischa's spirit is broken: she's still wobbly butt, stumbling away from Trachtenburg with arms outstretched don't-hurt-me style. Michelle seething: eyes flashing, teeth bared - she's pouring forward, slugging for chin with both arms swinging. Barton rocked and rocked again - saving herself only by constantly backpedaling. Trachtenburg essentially running Mischa out of the ring, but failure to cut off the ring probably costs her a KO. Staggering Meesch survives - makes it to the bell. Trachtenburg all flaring nostrils, still shouting taunts as ref pushes her back. Comes back UD10 - Michelle Trachtenburg.

After: Barton in tears, but unbeknownst to her, many pundits are actually surprised by her resilience in this fight. "I'm disappointed I didn't stop her," Trachtenburg chides herself in postfight. "She was easy to hit, easy to time - I was hurting her with everything I threw - but she's awkward. I'd pour forward on her, but she was always just out of reach or not quite where I wanted her. Still - feels good to beat that hoochie's ass. Feels even better to see her cry. She needs to do more of that."