Over dinner, chef-prepared and heated in the microwave, Angela talked to Dee about Angela's idea to lease Dee's property and build a shed behind it for an expanded female fight club. Dee was just as surprised as I was that there was anything like a female fight club in Canberra but Angela laughed and told us that the one we were all going to that night had been around for at least the last five years.
"But why do you want to invest money in something like a female fight club," I asked, "it has to be at least borderline illegal and it could be a lot of aggravation that you don't really need?"
"I've had my lawyer look at it and if we continue it the way it is set up now, I'm fine. I can even add a proper ring for pro-rules fights too. There are a few girls here in Canberra who want to fight under those rules but they have to travel to Sydney, Wollongong or Melbourne to compete.
And there are already clubs in those cities that offer bouts for anyone who wants mixed wrestling to those rules ... or even no rules ... and they are popular too. Those clubs are already out in the open and they're not getting any aggravation from the authorities.
"If I have a ring put in there will be more interest here in Canberra and we can invite girls from those other clubs to come and compete and we can go as a club and compete in their competitions. I think that there's enough there to allow me to increase the fees that the club currently charges fighters and spectators. It won't be much but if I can raise the fees, even by a little, then I'm just about guaranteed to at least break even.
"Think of a day and a half of non-stop wrestling with other clubs, comfortable amenities for visitors and spectators, hot food, lots of drinks and snacks that can be purchased, maybe even a bar. That's where I want to take this idea.
"If I can do that then I'll be happy because I'm beginning to think of this as my passion project." She laughed, "Who would have thought it? A hooker with a passion project.
"Anyway, we're heading over to where the fight club meets when we've finished dinner and I'm going to talk to Shanti, the girl who runs the club with her husband. I've known her for three or four years and she is one very cool lady but I've never gone to one of their fight nights before now.
"So are you going to fight?" Dee asked before I could.
Angela looked across the table at me and from the sly smile on her face I knew that she had been planning it all along.
"Of course she is Dee," I looked at Angela and shook my in resignation, "the only question is who is she fighting?"
Angela wriggled in her seat and grinned, "I'm fighting Jay, Shanti's partner, over three six-minute rounds to Ultimate Surrender extended rules ... winner takes the loser anyway they want on the mat although fucking Jay's arse with a strap-on is not in play."
"What are these 'extended' rules?" I wasn't sure that I wanted to know but if a lady I cared about was involved but I just had to ask.
"Hair pulling, punching, kneeing, inflicting pain but avoiding the face ..." Angela stopped when she saw the look on my face.
"It's what I want to do Steve ... if you're not comfortable with it you can choose to do something else with your evening."
I opened my mouth to say something and then closed it again as Dee took my hand in hers. "You heard her Steve, it's what she wants to do ... but don't you dare stay away."
"The thought of staying at home never crossed my mind Dee. I don't walk away from the people who are important to me."
"Good," she said as she squeezed my hand, "because I'll want you there when I have my first fight under those rules." I knew I was screwed, talking one woman out of something she wanted to do was almost impossible but when you have to talk to women out of something you're just wasting your time.
"Speaking of fights," Angela held up her phone, "I checked while you two were making out in the shower and you're fight is still on Dee but the girl who booked you Steve, has backed out and someone by the name of Samantha B has taken her spot.
"Tom S is your guy Dee. He's fucked me a few times and always been a lot of fun so you should have an easy fight with a very predictable ending."
Dee giggled and suddenly she was excited, "Am I allowed to beat him?"
"Don't get too excited," Angela grinned, "Tom is a big guy and I'm sure that he is going to totally fuck your brains out right there in front of the crowd and he could even start before the final round.
"And Steve, you need to come prepared to fight tonight."
"WHAT?" Whatever happened to the idea of having a nice, quiet night at home, or being asked if you wanted to do something?
Angela giggled, "When I was talking to Shanti this morning I might have volunteered you to step in if any guy was a no show ... and she's interested in fighting you if I'm going to be fighting her man."
The fights started at 8pm but when we arrived about 7.30 there was already a bunch of cars parked in the street but no sign of any action anywhere until we walked around the back of a rundown workshop that had looked totally deserted from the front.
Once we were around the back of the building we could see that it was anything but rundown. There was a huge roller-door on the back wall, and it was up so we could see that, half an hour before the fights were to start. the place was packed.
The limited tiered seating along one wall was already taken and there was hardly any standing room left around the other three sides of an elevated area for the mat.
"See, this is why a big shed at Dee's would be a much better venue. Far more private, lot more room for spectators ... perhaps as many as 180 instead of the forty they can pack in here, and better amenities for the fighters."
