Ivan tried one last desperate move, he arched his back and pushed against Brian's hips to ease some of the pressure.
His legs kicked against the mat, trying to create enough momentum to roll over or slip out of the choke.
But Brian's grip was like iron, and the more Ivan struggled, the tighter the choke seemed to get.
Whittier's voice echoed faintly in the background, "Come on, Ivan! Don't give up! Fight it!"
But Ivan could barely hear him now.
His heart pounded in his ears, and the edges of his vision went dark.
His chest heaved as he tried to suck in one last breath, but his airway was completely crushed by Brian's arms.
Ivan refused to tap, even as his body betrayed him.
His hands weakened, and his arms dropped limply to the mat.
His eyes fluttered, and his last conscious thought was a vow to never give up, no matter the cost.
Then, darkness.
