What Ye Chen yearned for the most were battles against Wusman and Burns.
He couldn't help but admire Wusman's knack for fall protection and was equally intrigued by Burns' Jiu-Jitsu skills. If he could spar with either of these champions, it would tremendously boost his chances for the upcoming match.
Glugia, nestled in the elevated lock area, was teeming with wrestlers who possessed incredible strength. The likes of Chima and the Eagles hailed from this very place, making the competition fiercer than ever.
Yet, he held a secret advantage: the ground was unfamiliar territory for his adversaries, and no one knew the depth of his capabilities. Over the past couple of months, he had meticulously analyzed countless matches of Georgia's own Jima before stepping into the UFC. While the opponents he faced were formidable wrestlers, they hadn't quite reached the elite level.
Primarily, they typically began standing, seeking opportunities to pin him against the cage, trip him down, and hammer control punches. It wasn't that they lacked ground skills; their prowess simply wasn't top-tier.
Of course, Ye Chen was eager to reconnect with Gazi. After all, he had been Gazi's sparring partner for a month three years ago. Back then, their rapport was good, but he wondered if Gazi even recalled their time together.
In the bustling Sanford training hall, filled with at least forty to fifty dedicated athletes, the sounds of punches landing against heavy bags and the yells of competitors filled the air.
Bang, bang, bang...
With every exclamation, Ye Chen felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through him. The energy was electric, and he longed to join the fray.
Still, he hesitated. He was not yet sure which training facility he should call home. Additionally, he didn't plan on staying abroad for long. If the wait for the next fight turned out to be lengthy, he would head back to China.
Choosing a gym too hastily could lead him to train alongside opponents in the same weight class. How could he muster the courage to face them in the ring later?
Take Gazi, for instance; his gym was bustling with top-tier talent—Wusman, Burns, Staghelit, Shafkat, and lightweight contenders like Chandler and Wang Qiang.
Just then, a voice with a thick accent broke through his thoughts.
"I know this guy! He trained with me before! I can't believe he's here to compete now. I'll go lend a hand…"
The speaker's words were in Bactrian.
As Ye Chen turned to look, he spotted three sweat-soaked figures in simple attire striding towards him. Yes, it was Gazi, accompanied by his coach Doss and, to Ye Chen's delight, the renowned Burns.
Gazi puffed, wiping sweat from his brow. "Honestly, when we trained together, I thought he had potential, but after watching his fight against that pickle guy, I realized I underestimated him. That punch was so incredible; it deserves a spot in the best KO collection of the year, maybe even the top tier!"
"Exactly! Some folks still debate whether that punch was fluke. If it was planned, then his stand-up skills are unnaturally sharp…" Doss chimed in.
Suddenly, Doss halted and pulled Gazi's attention away from adjusting his shorts. "Hey, look up!"
Gazi glanced up and his eyes widened in recognition.
"Ye Chen? Is that really you?"
They hadn't crossed paths in three years, and Gazi admitted he might've struggled to identify him at first. But despite missing Ye Chen's recent match, he had followed the livestream.
"Brother Liang, it's been ages! You've bulked up a lot since you came to the States for training!"
Ye Chen felt no need for modesty. Gazi may not hold a high rank in China now, but his muscle definition was evident.
The bond between them remained strong, and though Gazi seemed eager for a hug, they settled for a friendly fist bump, both drenched in sweat.
As the camaraderie continued, Burns offered Ye Chen a warm fist bump. Admittedly, he didn't recognize Ye Chen; newcomers outside the rankings weren't on the radar of lightweight stars.
Gazi added, "Here overseas, I keep my weight around 85 kilograms for competitions. But back home, I bulk up to over 90 kilograms when I'm not prepping. Speaking of, how did you cut down to lightweight? That's impressive!"
Gazi couldn't hide his curiosity as he gazed at Ye Chen, who stood taller than him.
"Well, I…"
Before Ye Chen could elaborate, he felt a jolt.
[Simulation successful. Establishing contact. ]
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[Documenting all match records and fighting styles of Li Jinli. ]
Excitement bubbled within Ye Chen as he welcomed another potential sparring partner. Burns would be his next target; he had to seize this opportunity.
Keeping his composure, he quickly added, "It was simple, really. I had to step in as a substitute, and 155 pounds was my only shot. If I wanted in, I had to drop the weight. I ended up finding my stride at lightweight."
"Second place?" Gazi teased, his expression bemused. "Just don't call me Zhen when you're at Zizhong. Don't go grappling with our own!"
Ye Chen chuckled, recognizing the friendly jest.
Gazi's tone turned serious as he cautioned, "Just keep in mind—the lightweight division is fierce. The Dagestan fighters are relentless."
Ye Chen nodded thoughtfully. "It's a battleground. And the middleweight division has its own share of monsters, too."
Gazi agreed, their laughter fading into a sigh. With rankings in flux, there was little left to say.
In the end, Gazi extended an invitation for dinner at his place, with Burns tagging along.
…
As the competition loomed, Ye Chen was wary of overeating or indulging too much.
Yet, the atmosphere overflowed with joy, and after a few sips of Daxia Baijiu, Burns urged Ye Chen to join him for some real training tomorrow.
At that moment, the familiar hum buzzed in Ye Chen's mind:
[Simulation successful. Establishing contact.]
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[Documenting all match records and fighting styles of Burns.]