Mass Effect 3 Launch Event

Major videogame launches were almost as big as movie premieres nowadays and Mass Effect 3 was poised to be one of the biggest of the year. It was truly a star-studded event with many major Hollywood stars as voice actors in the production of the game. Talented actors and actresses such as Martin Sheen, Seth Green, Adam Baldwin, Carrie Ann Moss, Keith David, Lance Henricksen, Micheal Hogan or Shoreh Aghdashloo were all present. In addition, many respected voice actors such as Mark Meer, Jennifer Hale, Cara Pfiko, Liz Sroka, Ali Hillis, Kimberley Brooks, Brandon Keener and Natalia Cigliutti were included in the game. Respected and beautiful videogame journalist Jessica Chobot from IGN voiced one of the characters as well. Oh, and Freddie Prinze Jr. too.

Two of the more well-known actresses involved in Mass Effect 3 , to many genre fans, were Tricia Helfer and Yvonne Strahovski.

Tricia Helfer was best known for her role as “Number Six” in the re-imagined series of Battlestar Galactica. Helfer has dabbled in voice acting for years, appearing as a voice in other videogame series and other similar ventures, such as the Black Cat in many iterations of “Spider-Man”, both animated and in video game properties. Helfer's willingness to appear in many similar genre projects had endeared her to the gaming community at large and in Mass Effect 3, had an important role as the voice of “EDI”, the ship's onboard computer.

Yvonne Strahovski was known for her role as secret agent Sarah Walker on the recently completed television series “Chuck.”, a role that had won her critical and cult acclaim. Strahovski was newer to American audiences and it was unclear where she would head next, whether it was back to her native Australia or to Hollywood at large. At the current time, it appeared she would be headed to Hollywood and her success there would be something many fans would be following with a watchful eye. In Mass Effect 3, she provided the voice and model for the character of Miranda Lawson, a sometimes ally of the main character whose true motivations were never quite clear.

Both of them had worked before on the the series "Chuck" with a guest appearance by Tricia Helfer and reports from the set of "Chuck" were that they get along - for the most part, anyway. In the ring, was a different story, however.

Having both of them involved with the game and with much of the cast and crew following their respective careers in the FCBA, it was too tempting to ask them not to take on a little exhibition match at the Mass Effect 3 launch event. It became an even higher priority as video of them competing a few weeks earlier, in a match that Tricia Helfer won, was widely spread around the cast. After a little bit of persuading and a lot of extra cash incentives to participate in a boxing match, the two of them agreed. On the grounds, of course, that it was going to be just a friendly exhibition match. The cast and crew that knew both of them personally, knew it was likely to be anything but friendly.

The official Mass Effect 3 launch party was built up with numerous regional launch parties, attended by one or two members of the cast, along with some of the actual design crew. At each event, copies of the science-fiction game were actually shot into space via weather balloons, to be retrieved by lucky gamers at a later date as they are tracked over GPS prior to the actual release on March 6th, 2012. Tonight, however, was the official party and although the game itself was the main event, many audience members were attending for the match between Tricia Helfer and Yvonne Strahovski.

BEFORE: Tricia Helfer beams confidently prior to the match, “If you look at the tape from a few weeks ago, I absolutely dominated her in a match that we both had to have. Being one of the best at lightweight is a huge priority for me and one of the biggest tests in the division at the moment is Yvonne. However, it's a challenge that I've obviously got figured out. Just go to the body and she's going to go down. I've heard people say I'm a Strahovski-knock off, but tonight it's time she learned, she's a Helfer knock-off. It's time for the Sorceress to work her magic again and Yvonne is definitely going to fall under my spell.”

Yvonne Strahovsi flashes a grin, dismissing such talk, “I would never, ever say that Helfer is a knock-off of me or anybody else. She is definitely one of a kind. I will, however, show her that I know what it takes to knock her off her perch near the top of the division. Trish is absolutely right that this is a match that we both need to have. It's important for the future of my career at lightweight and important for our division to have us competing. She is one of the best in the division and competing against the best is how I'm going to get better. Winning against her is how I'm going to be one of the best. If she thinks she's solved me, she is in for a long, long night.”

Both fighters also talk about the game and what a pleasure it's been for them to work together, but nobody is buying it right now. Both Yvonne and Helfer clearly feel that one of them is the knock-off and are eager to prove it's their opponent. Already, it's shaping up to be an exciting match-up.

Yvonne is wearing a bright white sports bra and a pair of matching tight shorts, a pair of small black gloves on. Tricia is clad in a black push-up sports bra and a matching pair of shorts, with small black gloves on her fists. Both outfits are adorned with the ME3 logo, to advertise the game at the event itself.

R1: Both fighters are tall and imposing in the ring, circling each other around in clockwise and then counter clockwise. Moving in closer to exchange some jabs, feeling each other out with the audience watching and displaying good footwork. Leaning back as they trade jabs, arching away to avoid any counter-punches. As the round progresses, both girls lean more into their attacks, delivering hard hooks towards tummy and torso. It's clear Tricia intends to go right back to work where she left off going after Yvonne's ribs and although Yvonne has no intention of letting that happen, it's not clear that she's able to stop it either. Helfer pounding in her glove behind Yvonne's right elbow, digging into that right flank as Yvonne is forced to gasp out in clear pain, though does get a nice combination of jabs into Tricia's tummy to force her backwards as the round ends. The crowd is very vocal as the round ends, with the first round going to Tricia on clear points.

R2: Yvonne eager to reverse the momentum of the previous round as both girls immediately head to mid-ring. Crowding and bumping each other via their shoulders, then hooking their gloves down towards their tummy and cleavage. Both of them eager to maneuver against one another eager, intent on working the torso as they rotate around the ring, clockwise at first. Yvonne starts to push clockwise to push Tricia back towards the rope, but at the middle minute, Tricia starts to use her long legs to push counter-clockwise. Pushing Yvonne back to her butt in the ropes as she starts mixing in a few stiff jabs with the hooks to her blonde rival's abs as Yvonne blinks in pain. Again, still fighting back as she manages to dig in and push off of the ropes, a quick compact uppercut manages to catch Helfer under her chin and a follow-up series of jabs towards Helfer's chest manages to make her back off. However, another quick hook to Yvonne's abs makes her double over in pain and Yvonne is unable to follow up as the round ends with another clear round to Tricia.

R3: Helfer appears absolutely relentless as she moves forward, rotating to the left and then the ring, displaying good footwork as she keeps up the jab and mixing in some hooks to Yvonne's trim waist. Straho fights back, however, bringing in a jab off of her left foot that keeps shooting her glove out to spank leather off of Helfer's face. The loud pik-pak of leather hitting across toned bodies echoes in the ring, both of them slugging it out mid-ring though it does appear that Yvonne is backing up slightly. Late in the round, a swinging right-hook to Tricia's temple sends her head whipping to the side. Tricia's legs buckle, a stiff right uppercut to her own waist folds her over and another quick clipping uppercut underneath her jaw sends her opponent backwards butt-in-rope as it's Yvonne turn to deliver gut-busting hooks to Tricia. Banking in a few insurance jabs as the bell rings as the two of them separate, with the two of them exchanging determined glances. Straho takes round 3 with the late assault on Helfer's abs.

R4: Helfer's legs looking a little bit rubbery from that attack to body at the end of the last round and still appears to be feeling the effects. Both of them step forward to each other early as Yvonne is eager to follow up, pushing off of her lead leg to push Helfer back to the rope with stiff jabs digging in right behind blonde elbow to drive her backwards, hooking her tiny glove deep into liver to fold Tricia over. Forcing her backwards as Tricia gives ground early, but digs in with resistance before she reaches the ropes again. Both of them trading in blows, Yvonne forced to retreat a few steps as ringing blows attack the ribs, tummy and tits. Yvonne bumping her shoulder up against Tricia's guard to break it up, then hooking right hooks to Helfer's head towards the final minute. Tricia giving ground, but definitely not giving in as she keeps firing out a resolute jab to keep Yvonne from pinning her against the ropes again. Steadily outworking Helfer this round to her body keeps Tricia doubled over for the most part and has Yvonne take this round on points, with both fighters tied up after 2.

R5: Yvonne storms forward out of her corner, eyes flashing angrily. Moving swiftly across the ring to push Helfer back into her corner, as Tricia is forced to cover up and try to weather the storm, her strong legs digging in Yvonne just whacks her gloves forward against head and tummy. Occasionally digging in a strong hook into Helfer's chest as Tricia responds with a few sharp uppercuts against Straho's tits and a few managing to land a little higher against her jaw. The battle moving out of Helfer's corner, manuevering back to mid-ring. Yvonne commits harder, delivering punishing jabs to Tricia's firm torso as she doubles over but keeps bumping her shoulder back, delivering a punishing right-hook into Straho's temple in the final minute Yvonne's head swivels, and a quick clipping uppercut that follows up sends Yvonne crashing down to her buns in the middle of the ring. Sitting down as she gazes up at Helfer, dazed as Tricia stands over her, gloves on hips, glaring down at her. A hard fought round between the two, but Tricia steals the round with a late knockdown and perhraps the momentum of the match as well.

R6: Straho comes out shaking her head, clearly dazed but not out of it yet. Tricia appears confident, but cautiously so. Both of them come out aggressive, swapping blows back and forth between the two. One girl forced to cover up as the other bounce gloves off of tight abs and head, but then the other manages to dig in and fight back, delivering brutal spanking punches to rival midsection to fold the other over. Vicious back and forth until late in the round, Yvonne manages to drift a clipping uppercut into Helfer's chin that loosens her legs. It's a torrid follow up as Yvonne hooks a quick hook to tummy and another hard jab to her temple. Helfer's wobbly-butt, reaching for the ropes but Yvonne won't have it. Another hard jab to her tummy doubles her over and a quick uppercut sends Helfer crashing to the mats. Helfer is up at 7 as the round ends, but Yvonne gets the late answer knockdown to take the sixth round. Both fighters now tied with 3 rounds apiece.

R7: Strahovski immediately pushing out to clean up, but Helfer won't have it. Helfer meets her mid-ring, eager to avoid being pushed towards her corner again. Helfer goes back to town on Yvonne's abs, delivering hard jabs into blonde tummy but Straho works her jab into Tricia's face as it forces her to go earmuff. Yvonne then strikes low, delivering efficient and energetic blows to tummy. Tricia bends at the waist, bobbing and trying to move away, but Yvonne moves in quickly to cut off any avenue of retreat. Straho in quick pursuit, just beating in black leather against blonde ribs, digging into Tricia's flank over and over. Yvonne punching in low, just digging in repeatedly as Tricia doesn't go down, but it's Yvonne for most of the round as she takes the round on points.
R8: At this point, it's Yvonne who appears fresher, at least initially in the round. Straho aggressive, pumping in steady jabs, mixing in a few uppercuts and hooks to Tricia's trembling tummy. Tricia gasping in pain as the blows land cleanly, but once again, Helfer doesn't go down. Trying to maneuver in time with the jab, Helfer manages to bump her guard against Straho's mitts. Getting her blonde rival to move backwards a few steps, Helfer appears to catch Vonnie off guard as she delivers a steady diet of hooks to taut tummy and pushing backwards. Helfer is resetting the pace of the contest, rolling her rival backwards with a few chin-checking blows to force Yvonne towards the ropes. Yvonne manages to keep from hitting the ropes, a few pounding hooks to tummy keeping Helfer from totally ruling the end of the round. But, at the end, it's the ref who needs to pull Helfer off from landing a few insurance jabs into Straho's waist as both fighters are tied up heading into the final stretch.

R9: Both fighters come out careful, though Helfer certainly more confident as she felt she answered Straho's best assault and was able to win the previous round. Both of them combative though in the early minute, steadily going after one another's body. Testing the reflexes and stamina of the other, as Helfer is aggressive in her pursuit, but Straho stays committed to the jab. Helfer, for her part, continues her assault on Aussie abs. Straho keeping her elbow in tight, delivering in short, shrugging uppercuts to Tricia's sternum. Whipping her gloves back and forth, it's Tricia who is forced to retreat back towards the ropes. Yvonne bobbing a bit, making Helfer miss just enough to allow her to deliver a few hooking jabs into breadbasket. Helfer blinking as she manages a few redeeming jabs, but this time, the ref is pulling Yvonne off at the bell as she delivers a hard hook into Tricia's temple as the bell rings. Helfer staggering at the bell as Straho hops back upbeat.

R10: Both fighters worn out, but still it's an uptempo round as neither of them can stand, professionally or personally, the idea of losing this match. Straho took the previous round, but it's Helfer the aggressor this round. Helfer coming in hot, moving across the ring to go after Yvonne early. Maintaining her assault on her ribs and body, with Yvonne folding up and blinking back tears of pain, gasping as the blows land clean against her ribs, turning them a shade of pink. Yvonne's eyes well up with tears, but also determination.
Landing in hard, whacking blows against Tricia's tummy as it's Tricia's turn to double over in the middle minute. Rotating her shoulders as she keeps delivering hard pumping gloves, rotating right and left hooks, just making the former BSG star double up in agony. Spanking leather off of face to make Helfer close up her guard and go earmuff, opening up the tummy again. Tricia refuses to go down, but is forced to go backwards into her corner. In the final minute, it's Helfer face in gloves, Yvonne gazing down coolly at her as she banks in a few last hard jabs to tummy, just heartless shots to Helfer's throbbing middle as Helfer bleats out in pain muffled into gloves.In the end, it's Yvonne who ends up storming back down the stretch to take the match UD10.

AFTER: Reasserting herself after the stretch, Yvonne comes back after the knockdown to score a knockdown of her own and work Tricia's body in the 10th to take the match. It's hard stuff from both fighters and definitely worth the price of admission for all at the ME3 launch party. Yvonne and Helfer both show that they deserve their place among the elite lightweights, although Yvonne takes the lead in their rivalry at 2-1 and a healthy restoration of her confidence heading into her next match.
Yvonne gracious, for the most part, in the post-match, “This was a big, big win for me. After taking down Charlize, I was hoping to capitalize on that momentum and ran right into a very determined Trish. I need to get back on track and taking down Trish was a big step towards that. In the eyes of matchmakers, we're very close and I need to separate myself from her. Hopefully tonight, pounding and breaking her body down at the end, I did that.”
Only time will tell whether that occurred, but for now, it doesn't appear that either of them will be backing away. What is clear that the event is a huge success, promoting the FCBA as well as the upcoming launch of Mass Effect 3, on March 6th on Playstation 3, PC and X-Box 360. No doubt you'll see Yvonne Strahovski and Tricia Helfer in the ring again soon, but before then, see them in [url=



-Lookout! Boxing / HMK Productions

OOC: Thanks for HMK for working with us on this. We are huge fans of Yvonne, Tricia and obviously, the Mass Effect series of games. Hope everybody enjoys this as much as we do and cannot wait until tomorrow for the release of Mass Effect 3! (March 9th for fans overseas, so be patient) Rest assured, it's going to be awesome. So very awesome.