Originally posted by Simguy on 08-Sep-00 18:43:28

Before: Long time coming for this bout—mentor/protégé relationship broke down on the set of “Buffy” as sparring sessions gradually developed into wars. Dushku’s move star status now a real threat to Gellar as Eliza finally has the name to make the fight. Line on the girls is Sarah still has the skills edge, but Duskhu a little bigger overall, can body up and punish the blonde if Gellar isn’t careful, SMG in slick ponytail, white bikini top, white satin straw string pants, Dushku in slick ponytail, black sports bra, red adidas terrycloth bottoms.

During R1: Dushku reefing double left hooks to the right side, backing Buffy up—Gellar countering nicely midway through with a stunning left hand cuff on the jaw that sends Eliza reeling backwards, Dushku hurt—Gellar able to pat jabs, mix in the odd right hand, and turn the brunette with a deft pivot—round to Gellar.

R2,3,4: Eliza shaking off Sarah’s power, goes right at the slender blonde in round after round of smash mouth boxing, Gellar purely counterpunching, slipping a lot of leather, but Eliza’s pressure backs Buffy up all over the ring and puts a  of mileage on the blonde’s usually springy legs. All 3 rounds go to the busier brunette—blonde maybe a little too patient waiting for openings.

R5: Sarah stepping back, bending side to side and dragging big sweeping counter punches onto Eliza’s jaw as the brunette wades in—Dushku goes wobbly butt after fielding several huge wallops on her jaw. Gellar uncharacteristically loading up, pivoting to her left, turning the groggy brunette with a hand at the elbow then bending into another haymaker to bash Dushku’s head back—big power punching shut out round for Gellar leaves Eliza wide eyed and reeling at the bell.

R6: Gellar sitting on the counter punch, but Eliza recovers very well during the break—she;s back on top and smothering the blonde with thudding left hooks to the body, curling right hands to the ribs or jawline, Sarah had been landing the hardest shots, but she’s getting buried on the cards as Dushku wades in , bodies up and lets her hands go.

R7: Wild action as Sarah turns puncher again, coolly slipping punches as she retreats, then bending into looping right hands to catch Dushku flush on her face with dramatic force. Eliza wading through the artillery, busts up keeps punching and midway though a thudding right hand on the jaw, scooping left hand to the pit of the stomach crumples Sarah—blonde crumples—blonde turns to the side and slumps to her hands and kneeds winded. Eliza taunting, pacing in the neutral corner, rushes in to finish in the final minute and promptly takes another crashing right upside her head—Dushku staggering past Sarah to hit the ropes face first. Eliza turns around only to get savaged by Gellar’s ripping combinations to the body and head at the bell.

R8: Once again, Dushku comes out fresh—Gellar’s fists just aren’t discouraging the brunette Eliza walking SMG down all over the ring, pounding out the exchanges, then following as Sarah steps away with concern growing on her face. Dushku loving it in the trenches clearly banging ribs with the greater authority as the girls lean in, lift punches up into one another.

R9: Dushku once again wide open for the counter—After a minute of bruising body work, Eliza is caught flush with a sweet counter uppercut in close—Sarah falling off to the right, slings in the left hook, then a chopping right hand over the brunette’s shoulder to send Dushku stumbling away in shock. Once again, Gellar can’t finish—her fists digging into the firm meat of Eliza’s belly as the brunette stands tall, covering up high and weathering the round in decent shape.

R10: Sarah finally leading, utilizing that nifty footwork in close to make Dushku miss, then pay with clean slicing left/rights across the face, Dushku still tanning midsection when she gets a chance, but she’s outclassed by Sarah’s handspeed this round—Gellar’s timely lateral movement robbing Eliza of the opportunity to trade. Round to Gellar, but the decision comes back a shocker: Eliza Dushku by a single point.

After: Gellar clearly rocked by the decision, mopes hollow eyed in the ring as Dushku pumps fists and thumps her chest in triumph. Gellar outhustled, really lost this fight in the first half by not being busy enough, satisfied to make her opponent miss. No question Sarah landed all the highlight reel punches, but Dushku took them all without complaint, recovering well, and sustaining pressure to the body to eke out the win. Upset puts Gellar at the crossroads as Dushku wins their first confrontation.

Reposted by Archer 5/10/09.