Nate McCloud steps into the ring. The masked fox had just finished helping to set up a makeshift ring on the beach--wooden posts for the corners, tied tightly together with hempen rope. The canvas is constructed of palm wood planks covered with a sheet of foam and a length of canvas, with tires underneath to give it some bounce.

Now, he stands in one corner as Agua Toxico--his water-themed wrestling persona--but in a pair of speedoes as opposed to his usual tights and boots. At this time of day, in this particular setting, it's too hot for that much clothing.

Today's match is a Gutpunching Match; one similar to a boxing match, but with a twist: only blows to the gut and maneuvers to expose the gut may be used, and one fighter may pin down the other for more gut destruction; however, the down penalty will then apply to the pinner instead of the victim.

This match will be won by knockout or TKO only.

Ricky steps up to the makeshift ring and climbs in, wiggling out any sand that happened to get between his toes on his way from the changing rooms. He decided to fit the theme and don a simple, purple speedo to go with his new purple and yellow luchador mask. The now lucha tiger stretches out a bit, letting the cool sea breeze caress his skin through his fur as he loosened up. This being his first public appearance, he let out a deep breath to calm his nerves. He smirks at the fox in the ring with him, who was just as exposed as he was.

Yarred waited on the ring but outside the ropes, just behind one of the neutral corners. He was wearing simple white shorts and a black and white referee style tank top, there was no such commodity as an auto-ref out here. He looked over the two masked fighters with a smirk and simply waited for them to exchange any pleasantries they had.

"Oh," Nate comments at his opponent, a wide grin forming on his muzzle as he stretches in his corner, the powerfully-built fox looking ready to pound on Ricky. "Well, it looks like today's match will be even more fun than anticipated." He cracks his knuckles once he has finished stretching.

"I guess today, we see who has the stronger abs."

Ricky chuckled and cracks his knuckles as well, rolling his shoulders a bit. "Oh you bet. But I know for sure both of us will enjoy this." He gives a somewhat lustful grin as he got into a loose boxing stance.

Nate takes up a rather clumsy-looking imitation of a boxing stance of his own--being a wrestler through and through, he knows little about boxing technique. He licks his chops as he stares at the tiger through the tinted lens of his mask. "Every grunt and groan, right down to the last of the match~" He waits for the...uh...the coconut shell to clonk.

Yarred chuckled a bit, admiring the two fighters before clearing his throat, "As you may already know, this match can only be won with a KO or a TKO. You can try to pin your opponent to land shots more easily but do it too much or for too long and i'll have to kick your ass out of the ring. If you get knocked down or try to pin your opponent 3 times you loose...with that said!" The black fox throws a rock at the coconut shell, making a loud clonk sound.

Ricky slowly approaches and begins to circle the fox. He kept his eyes on the prize but made sure to keep an eye on the fox as well, in case he decided to be sneaky. However, he took advantage of the fox's poor form and charges in with a hard front kick straight for his gut!

Nate moves out of his own corner and countercircles the tiger. His mind being other places at the moment--namely, Ricky's gear...and his build...he almost immediately drops the attempt at a boxing stance into his usual wrestling stance. As he moves in to try to grapple, however, he remembers that this is a gutpunching match, not a standard wrestling match. Even taking the sloppy form out of the equation, that moment of hesitation was enough for that kick to sink in to his brick wall!

"Whuff!" He bends over the foot and staggers backward a couple of steps, looking up at Ricky and grinning. "Nice shot..."

Ricky grinned as he returned his loose boxing stance. "Thanks." He then goes in to try and grab the fox's shoulders to knee him a few times in the gut, hoping to slowly back him up in the ropes.

Rather than straighten himself up after taking that first blow, Nate lunges toward the masked tiger in hopes of slipping past the grab and delivering an uppercut to his opponent's solid abs. That is, if he manages to slip in. Otherwise, he'd end up taking those knees to his gut...though this time, they'd be flexed.

"Ooooff!" Ricky instinctively tightened up just as the fox landed an uppercut right into his abs, curling over that fist a bit. Finding himself still above the fox, he quickly tried to stand back up and jump back before the fox could try anything else. If he didn't do so in time, his abs would still be opened and exposed right where the fox would want them.

Nate tries to take advantage of the openness, of course! And he would have managed, had he been a little quicker with his thinking. The next punch ends sounding like the whooshing air of a missed swing rather than the satisfying smack of a fist hitting solid muscle, as the first one did. He takes a step back and straightens up, staring Ricky down with a toothy grin.

Ricky barely takes any time to catch his breath as he charges at the fox again, only he would try to quickly sidestep and get behind the fox. If successful, he would then immediately put the lucha fox in a chokehold and bend him back a bit to stretch out those abs wide open.

Now Nate wasn't expecting that. He would immediately try to grapple with Ricky as soon as he got within range, but the tiger managed to slip behind him and put him in the chokehold, the fox grunting as he's bent back, his abs arched up and exposed! "Grf!"

Ricky grinned wide as he slowly rolled his knuckles along the fox's abs. "Better tighten up foxy! Oh wait. You already are!" After his little tease, he began hammering away at those abs, infrequent, but hard and solid.

Nate struggles in the choke hold, grunting softly and firming up his abs against the rolling knuckles, arms going up to try to pry Ricky off of him...but not before...

"UUUNGH! UFFFF! RRRRF! GUHHH!" The loud grunts and groans fire out of the fox's mouth as each punch smacks in, gradually sinking a little deeper with each hit. After the first few hits, he swings a wild punch in the general direction of Ricky's abs, hoping to land a strong enough hit to free himself.

"Hhhhhnnngg!!" Ricky grunted as he nearly lost his grip on the fox, but quickly locked it back in. "Oh now you're gonna get it!" He would briefly let go of the choke, but immediately try to grab at the fox's face to push him downwards, kneeling at the same time so that the fox would be stretched out over his knee.

Nate gasps, finally free from that choke hold...but of course, now he's stretched out over the tiger's knee, in a prime position to be pounded. He tries once again to punch his way out of the hold, but in this position, it's quite a bit harder to hit his opponent's abs.

Ricky grunted a bit as the fox tried to hit his abs; the fox seemed to hit quite hard at such an awkward angle. He tried to ignore it and cranked back on the stretch before balling up a fist. "We both know you're loving this." He then slammed his fist down hard over and over, doing so much faster this time, grunting hard with each punch.

"Grraah! HUFFF-UUUGH-RRRGH!" Those strong punches are quickly working their way past his defenses, as evidenced by his grunts turning to longer groans, and his body jerking more and more with every blow. He cringes, tries to twist so he can wind up a decent punch...at least decent enough to do some damage. He swings his fist up into Ricky's belly; the fox is at a severe disadvantage with how much punishment he's already taken this match!

"OOOOFF!!" Even though Ricky tightened up, the fox still swung his arm up with enough momentum to pound his abs. He gave one final punch to the fox before letting him slide off his knee and stood up, backing up to see if the fox will get up as well.

"Uuuuughk..." Nate curls up with that last punch, sliding off the knee and landing on his back at Ricky's feet, coughing. He took enough punishment that he definitely won't be able to get up immediately...

Ricky backs up to a corner, holding his abs some and catching his breath as they both wait for the ref to start the 10 count.

"One...Two..." Yarred began counting right after the other fox fell flat on the canvas.

Nate coughs and pants, rolling onto his side and pushing himself up to his feet. The count would be up to 5 before he was in a full standing position.

"That's one on Ricky's favour. Now get ready...and go!"

Ricky got back into a loose boxing stance and slowly made his way to meet the fox in the middle of the ring.

Nate took his wrestling stance once again, but this time, the lustful grin was mixed with a more...serious look, and his breaths mixed with soft grunts. He doesn't waste any time launching in once again, trying to get close to the tiger and throw in a flurry of quick punches, trying to back Ricky up into the corner.

Eyes widening, Ricky grunted as each sudden punch jabbed at his belly, barely having any time to tighten up or react. He found himself slowly getting backed into the corner, but tried to stand his ground as best he could. He tried to counter by throwing a few fists to the fox's sides as best he could around the flurry of jabs, hoping to throw him off.

Nate seems to be going all-out on the offensive, drilling those fists deep into the tiger's gut as he finally seems to be making some headway. Two of those punches do smack into his sides, pausing the fox's own assault with a pair of strained grunts, but the third is blocked with an elbow, and countered with a heavy uppercut to his opponent's solar plexus!

"Gaaahhh!" The uppercut managed to knock Ricky back and double him over some. He began to breath a bit hard as he tried to continue his counter of hooks to the fox's sides while he was still leaned over, not caring where exactly those strikes landed.

"Hrrgk! Uurf! Nnngh!" As Ricky continues to tenderize the luchafox's sides, his breaths grow shaky, and his punches more frantic, though not quite as hard-hitting as before. He tries to maneuver himself so that his body is over his opponent's. If successful, he will lean his chest down on Ricky's back and try to wrap one arm around the tiger's chest while the other concentrates on trying to hook punches through that furry brick wall.

"Ack! Grrr!" Ricky soon felt the fox rubbing his chest on top of him and hooking his arm around his chest. He started to grab at the fox's waist until those low hooks came in. "Hhhnng! Aaaah!" He grunted loudly as each hit slammed up into this abs, popping him up a bit and loosening his grip on the fox and only hanging on for support. Between the hooks and having his chest compressed against the fox's body, he tried to take in as much breath as he could only to get it forced back out again.

Nate pants heavily, his arm beginning to get tired. He gets an idea, but he would have to gauge Ricky's weight vs. the remaining lifting power in his abs. If he waits too long, Ricky will get his breath and resume his assault. He'll just have to chance it.

The fox ceases his punch assault on his opponent, wrapping that arm around the tiger's waist now. With a strained, pained groan, he'll attempt to lift Ricky up into the air, as high as he can manage...then stick his knee forward around the area of his gut, and let gravity do its job.

Ricky felt the fox change up his hold on him and soon found himself being lifted up. Not wanting to find out what scheme he had in mind, he quickly jabbed at the fox's sides again, though they were a bit weaker and sloppier by now. He hoped to take advantage of the fox's weakened core to not get lifted up.

Ricky's tactic had worked...sort of. The fox did manage to lift him, and the tiger's assault caused him to drop him from a lower point, lessening the impact and causing him a good deal of pain. Regardless of how much damage he dealt, he would have to back up before Ricky could make a comeback.

"AAAHHH! Shit!" Barely having enough time or energy to brace for the impact, Ricky felt his abs get pressed in as he was dropped on the fox's knee. He slumped onto the canvas on his side, holding his abs and breathing hard, gritting the pain. He knew he had to get up before the ref finished the count and tried to get on a knee at least.

Nate McCloud steps back, having to fight the urge to pin him down and continue to assault him.

Yarred winced after witnessing that sick gutbuster and began counting once the tiger slumped on the canvas...though not for long as he was on one kneed soon enough. "That's a point on Agua's favour, its one to one. Now get back in position..."

Ricky was eventually on his feet and got back into his stance, though a bit looser than what he'd like from the knee to his gut. He couldn't help but put a paw briefly over his abs to nurse them, and it took a lot of willpower for him not to do that and ignore it. He panted quite a bit and glared at the fox, still staying on the defensive for now.

Nate slips into his stance again, the grunts with his breaths a bit more prominent now after that assault to his sides, added on to the strain on his abs from the lift. "Should've stayed down, jobber..."

Yarred looked from one worn wrestler to the other and shook his head while holding back a chuckle. "Alright, you may continue!"

Ricky willed whatever energy he could muster and with a roar, he charged in for a knee to the fox's gut, hoping it would be enough to knock him flat on his back. If successful, he would try to get close enough to the fox just to let his elbow drop right into his belly.

It looks like the cat still has some fight left him him yet. The knee does knock Nate back with a hard groan, thought the ropes barely keep him from losing his footing completely. If Ricky tries to approach him there, he will attempt to retaliate with a foot planted in his opponent's solid gut!

Ricky decided to change up his plan after finding the fox was saved some by the ropes. He managed to grab the fox's wrist but grunted loudly when he retaliated with that foot. Desperately trying to ignore his aching midsection, he would pull at the fox's wrist and irish whip him as hard as he could into the ropes on the other side. If successful and regardless of how taut the ropes were, Ricky would immediately charge and shunt the fox with his shoulder, throwing all his weight and remaining strength into it, making sure to aim low. He hopes to knock the fox down this time.

Nate gruffs. Seems he didn't kick Ricky hard enough...nor would he have the chance to try again this time as he's whipped into the opposite ropes. Being made of hemp, the ropes don't exactly have enough stretch to make them particularly bouncy, so his rebound from them is weak...however, strong rebound isn't needed in this case. The luchafox jackknifes over his opponent's shoulder with...quite the painful-sounding groan. He does indeed get sent flatter than a pancake to his back, the impact causing him to bounce a few times thanks to the tires under the canvas.

Ricky stumbled a bit to stand a bit more straighter, breathing hard and feeling the ach in his arms and abs. But he decided to position himself above the fox, just to raise his arm and let himself fall for an elbow drop right in the middle of the fox's belly.

Nate just lets out a groggy groan as his opponent lifts himself off of him, the luchafox not even able to muster the strength to look up at what was coming next. This leaves him thoroughly surprised by, and unprotected from, the dropping elbow, which causes the fox to fold upward with a long, low groan before flopping back to the mat.

Ricky rested his arm on the fox's abs, breathing hard still as he laid on top of the fox. He took a few moments to catch his breath before getting up, pressing a paw on the fox's abs to help boost him up, figuring he won't be getting up soon. He groaned and gritted as he raised himself up, very slowly and having to pause once in a while from the ache in his abs. He figured the knockout count started while they were both down.

Yarred waited for the tiger to get off the masked fox to begin the countdown, just to make sure he wasn't going for something more. "One...Two..."

Nate takes shallow, shuddering breaths, not even making an attempt to stand just yet...

"Three...Four..."

Ricky managed to make it on one knee, but had to pause from his abs screaming in pain.

Nate looks like he might be...nope! He looks like he's pretty much done.

Yarred kept the count going, looking at the downed fox and shooting a glance at the bruised tiger occasionally until..."Nine...Ten! That's a KO. Victory goes to Stripes the Masked Menace!"

Ricky facepaws as he feels his body shaking a bit from his awkward stance. "Ok...I am NOT...using that name...maybe...or at least part of it..." He tried getting up again, just about to fully stand before he needed to pause again from his aching abs. But he eventually lowered himself down again, slowly, to at least a sitting position near Nate.

Nate hasn't moved from that position since...well, since being folded up by the masked tiger. He flops his head to the side to look at Ricky...and the first thing out of his mouth is a wheezing cough.

Yarred shook his head while letting out a sigh before jumping in the ring, getting behind the two bruised wrestlers. "You need help foxo?"

Nate pants for a few more moments, before trying to speak. "Think...so." He groans softly, using his arms to try to push himself up to a sitting position, but very carefully. "Might...have been...a bad idea..."

Ricky tries getting up again as Yarred helps Nate up, still managed to get a leg up and on one knee, but having to pause part way from his bruised abs.

Yarred crouches down and wraps Nate's arms around his shoulder, grabbing him under his other arm and helping him stand up slowly. "Um... I guess you need help too?"

Ricky waved a paw at Yarred. "You take care of him first...I'll be here...most likely." He barely let out a chuckle between his heavy breathing, starting to cough a little as well then groaning at his abs.

"UUuuuufff...th-thanks..." Even talking hurts. Nate pants heavily, trying to catch his breath, afraid to even try touching his battered and bruised abs. "Wh...whaddaya say...next time...regular match?"

Ricky looked at Nate and managed a half smile. "Just as long...as we...change it up a bit...instead of tenderizing each other." He barely chuckled before coughing a bit.

"H...heh...y'got a deal." He moves slowly over to help Yarred with Ricky, though he won't be much help honestly. "Better to have...more pleasure than pain...in a pin~"

Yarred chuckled a bit as he carefully leaned down to help Ricky up and help the two bruised fighter keep standing. "Call me if you do that. You'll probably need someone to carry your asses out of the ring again."

Ricky grabbed onto Yarred and allowed him to help pull him up the rest of the way, though it wasn't without feeling every ache in his abs. "Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow." He gritted his teeth when he finally stood fully.

Nate pants heavily as he leans on the other side of the other fox. "All right...I guess let's head back."

Yarred looked from one fighter to the other and sighed. "You definitely will need someone for that next time..." Then the foxes and tiger headed to wherever the lockers are supposed to be in a tropical beach.