CRRRASH!
This time the side panels get scratched and is that a small crack, I see? Josh certainly hopes not, as he tries to wriggle out of the grip of Tough as Nails. Now it's Andy's turn to get a thumping, however, as Biohazard steps forward and gets under both machines at once! The arm goes up, but the two bots together are too awkard to go over! Vlad slams Tough as Nails into the wall as Biohazard tries another assault, only to find itself caught in a pincer movement by Firestorm and Fluffy! Firestorm dives in from the rear, almost getting right underneath, while Fluffy comes in from the side...
CRRRASH!
A skirt is buckled, but not broken! Phil tries to shake it off and ram the pinned Tough as Nails again, who's now lost its grip on Vlad the Impaler. The two American machines gang up on the Dutch entry, who is now getting flicked about from both sides! Vlad provides the brute force, while Biohazard's arm rolls it over at least once. And here comes Fluffy once again...
CRRRASH!
On Biohazard! Another ugly dent in the skirting as Firestorm shunts Fluffy down the ring and into the nearby empty CPZ! Alex V tries a cheeky flip before shoving Fluffy face-first deep into the corner and running away to concentrate on Biohazard again. The spinner quickly gets into gear and manouevres away before Sgt Bash can show up on the scene. By now, Tough as Nails has finally managed to clamber over the two Americans and give itself some space. Not for long, though, as Firestorm gets in an opportunistic ram on the sides before going back to Biohazard! The two dance about each other briefly while Fluffy tries to attack Vlad again. The Brit manages a glancing blows on the side panels again, but this time Josh is ready. When the impact sends Fluffy twirling, Vlad dives straight at the spinner and slams it into the arena wall! Dylan tries to get away, but Vlad is back in pursuit and shoves Fluffy all the way along the wall, bumping the Pit Release along the way. The siren blares around the ring as Fluffy collides with Sgt. Bash! The House Robot swings angrily around and corners it, trying to nibble on the now-static spinning blade! Dylan panics as the jaws bite in and hurriedly wriggles free with some frantic twitching and yanking, nearly getting a faceful of flame for its troubles as it flees! Good thing it's not really fluffy, eh?
As Fluffy goes on the run, Tough as Nails interrupts the ongoing battle between Biohazard and Firestorm, scooping and clamping the latter with a well-aimed charge. Alex V tries to get Firestorm away, but Biohazard is using this timely interruption to take on both bots at once and starts trying to shove Tough as Nails in the general direction of Fluffy. The arm flicks out, nearly sending Tough as Nails over again, but only succeeds shaking Firestorm loose. Alex V wriggles out from under the arms (with a flip of its own for good measure) and zips away for a broadside attack on a passing Vlad the Impaler! Josh has been trying to pursue Fluffy, who lands another glancing blow on Biohazard in a shower of sparks. Instead, he gets wedged, barged and rolled over completely by Firestorm! The flipping plate is now upside-down, but it can still technically work and it's a wedge not to boot! Vlad II decides to take advantage of its new situation by knocking Firestorm aside and ploughing into Biohazard and Tough as Nails. Biohazard slips away, but Tough as Nails isn't so lucky. Vlad II is too quick for Andy to manouevre properly in time and is now right underneath the Dutch machine. A ram into the southern wall lets Tough as Nails get a quick grasp on Vlad II's rear, but Josh simply throws into reverse and overpowers the ex-FRA European champion into the Pit of Oblivion! Tough luck, tough nut!
Meanwhile, Biohazard and Firestorm are still going at each other, and Fluffy is having a hard time getting a look in. The spinning axes are still working, but not as quickly as before. Come to think of it, Fluffy itself doesn't seem as nimble as it did at the start of this fight. All those bumps and bruises and hard knocks do weigh on a robot so. Dylan is still able to get a few blows in on Biohazard and Firestorm, but it's mostly causing dents and scars now rather than tears, and Biohazard is still the one showing the most damage. Alex V can hear that buckled skirting screaming his name, but the Battlebot is proving a very slippery customer still.
Another assault from Vlad II may change that, however, as Josh sends his chosen machine rocketing up the warzone into his fellow American's side. The lifting plate flicks up; Biohazard jumps a few inches! Did Vlad II catch the skirts? Alex V doesn't care because he now sees an opening. Firestorm barges Biohazard, turns, catches one of the front corners and, aided by another smack from Vlad II, finally finds a way under. Alex V pours on the gas, not wanting to waste this opportunity, and fires the flipper in mid-charge across the arena. Biohazard is flicked up...and topples over onto its back! Phil knows the rear skirt prevents him from self-righting properly, but that doesn't stop him activating the arm over and over again to try. Even the Refbot is slightly bewildered as he trundles in for the countdown.
1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10!
Three down, three remains, but time is ticking away and Fluffy appears to be losing its earlier pep. Vlad II isn't helping matters by dogpiling on the Brit and smacking it against the eastern wall. Alex V is still less keen to face Fluffy's blades and instead ploughs Vlad from behind, shoving it into the currently vacant south-east CPZ. Firestorm flips Vlad over, trying to beach it against the wall, but Vlad escapes unharmed and gives Firestorm a smack for revenge. Fluffy tries to join in the fun too, but only gets a smack from Vlad itself! All three robots are now scrapping together in the one corner, desperately trying to some kind of advantage! All that's missing is the giant dust cloud and the words "POW!" and "WHAM!" overhead! Vlad is playing at being a battering ram, Firestorm is gliding and twirling as best it can to avoid any blows and Fluffy is trying to hit anything in front of it. Unfortunately the blades only manage minor scars to Vlad II's casing and in comes Firestorm to ram and flip Fluffy right over! Alex V senses Fluffy is getting tired and shoves his fellow Brit towards the Pit. Dylan isn't ready to die yet though and spins Fluffy away, just as Vlad II rockets in from behind to try and push Firestorm down instead! Alex V is ready for this, however, and dodges the onslaught, nearly letting Vlad pit itself!
Josh backs the Impaler away, only to receive a side-on assault from Firestorm, who still seems as perky as ever. The Robot Wars bronze medallist slams Vlad into the Pit Release (no extra points for that one, Mr Valentine!) and fires the flipper! The American is nearly beached on the fence, but a charge by Fluffy forces Firestorm to back off! It wasn't quite powerful enough anyway, as Vlad topples back onto its wheels and speeds off again!
10...9...8...7...
Firestorm sets off in pursuit of Vlad, with Fluffy following a bit further behind.
6...5...4...
Vlad turns to charge Firestorm head-on, but the two only glance each other! Fluffy narrowly avoids the oncoming Impaler!
3...2...1...

CEASE!

Crash! Bang! Wallop! What a punch-up!

Three - count 'em - three robots are still in the picture, but only one will have pride of place on the Grand Final mantlepiece. Who'll get cropped out of the frame? Smile and say "Cheese!" for the Judge:

FIRESTORM 5
DAMAGE: 4 / 5 (Caused the least physical damage, but scored the most knockouts)
AGGRESSION: 4 / 5 (Very often on the offensive, rarely on the run for long)
STRATEGY: 5 / 5 (With two KOs and minimal damage suffered, Alex V's detailed planning paid off)
CONTROL: 5 / 5 (Precise throughout. Getting under Panic Attack and Biohazard and dodging Fluffy's blades for so long is proof of that)
TOTAL = 18 / 20

FLUFFY
DAMAGE: 4 / 5 (The most physically dangerous of the three, yet the only one not to deliver a knockout)
AGGRESSION: 4 / 5 (Started strong, but grew weaker as the fight wore on)
STRATEGY: 4 / 5 (Did well to avoid Tough as Nails and focus on its chosen targets when possible)
CONTROL: 3 / 5 (Again, good at the beginning, but its encounter with Bash and gradual weariness soon wore it down)
TOTAL = 15 / 20

VLAD THE IMPALER II
DAMAGE: 4 / 5 (Dealt plenty of painful rams, as well as the KO of Tough as Nails)
AGGRESSION: 5 / 5 (Relentless throughout. Rarely on the backfoot until the very end)
STRATEGY: 4 / 5 (The plan lacked focus, but hey, it worked. Very well, too.)
CONTROL: 4 / 5 (Steady for the most part, even if it hit the walls instead of the robots now and then)
TOTAL = 17 / 20

It's close - painfully close - but there's no more at 'stake' for Vlad and Fluffy. What a hair-raiser!

FIRESTORM 5 GOES THROUGH TO THE FINAL!

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LATER ON:
ELIMINATOR 4
Brutality Vs Chaos 2 Vs Envy Vs King B Powerworks Vs Last Rites Vs Slicer
HOUSE ROBOTS: Cassius Chrome & Mr Psycho

No joke, that was the hardest fight I've had to choose a winner for in several years. No shame to those who missed out on the Final, 'cos damn, them's good bots.

I'm keen to try and keep the rest of the tournament to a semi-regular schedule, so if NWOWWE, GF93, Mystic2000, NFX, Kody and Martijn can get their tactics in over the next week or so, that would be fantastic.

Thank you.