00:03
00:55
Chandler was feeling the weight of exhaustion.
He had hoped to shove Ye Chen against the cage net—maybe rattle him a bit, see if he could get him to fall. But little did he know, he had underestimated Ye Chen's mastery of balance and his incredible reflexes. In an instant, Ye Chen lowered his stance, shifted his weight effortlessly, and dove in with rapid-fire punches to Chandler's abdomen.
Caught off guard, Chandler found himself in a precarious position, arms trapped and head bent low. He struggled to free himself even as Ye Chen continued to unleash a flurry of well-placed strikes. It felt like a battle of attrition; to sum it up, Chandler was racking up a staggering number of hits against himself while trying to contend with his opponent. In that moment, Chandler realized he was burning through energy far faster than Ye Chen.
…
Around them, the atmosphere in the arena was electric, charged with a chorus of mixed reactions. The audience was far from shy with their critiques.
"That's just nonsense! Wasn't this supposed to be a stand-up brawl? Mike dove headfirst into the ground!"
"He's clearly under Ye Chen's control. If he keeps holding on, he'll be wiped out in no time!"
"But wait, isn't he known as the most entertaining slugger in the lightweight class? Why is he wrestling?!?"
"If he can't even handle a fighter from Daxia, maybe it's time for him to think about retirement."
"This fight's unfair! Ye Chen has such an advantage in size. It's not a level playing field."
"Is this some conspiracy? Why is the UFC favoring this Daxia player? Is he even famous?"
Among the crowd were many who weren't seasoned fight fans—they were merely here for the spectacle, ready to cheer or jeer at the drop of a hat. Some openly mocked Chandler, claiming he was embarrassing the beautiful country, while others slammed Ye Chen, accusing him of using his physicality to bully the competition. In reality, even though Ye Chen stood tall, weighing in at 181 pounds, he was merely a heavyweight in a lightweight division. He wasn't the only muscle in the ring today; Chandler had some serious weight behind him too.
At the commentary table, the analysts were equally bewildered. They had expected an all-out slugfest, not this grappling game. Logan, a seasoned commentator, offered his insight. "Perhaps Chandler's trying to mix up his strategy here, maybe hoping to throw Ye Chen off his game."
DC interjected, shaking his head in disbelief. "But Ye Chen did a fantastic job avoiding the fall. Most fighters would've crumbled under that pressure. Look at those timing and technique—he's got it locked down! Chandler, however, is clearly trying to change gears to finish this match. After all, there's no rule against throws and wraps, is there? In Daxia, they say that a soldier never grows tired of deceit. It's a smart play by an experienced fighter like Chandler when he's on the back foot."
Despite DC's attempts at reasoning, the crowd remained restless, a wave of boos echoing around the arena as they rallied against Chandler. The online chat lit up with furious comments, adding fuel to the fire.
Amid the chaos, Chandler felt the weight of the audience's scorn. Pushed to his limits by Ye Chen's relentless offense, he decided it was time to change the rhythm. With a sudden resurgence of energy, he broke free from Ye Chen's hold and leaped into the air, delivering a formidable jumping knee strike that forced Ye Chen to back off.
Just as Ye Chen leaned against the cage for support, Chandler took his chance, swinging a powerful fist towards his opponent's head. Thankfully, Ye Chen was quick on his feet—he anticipated the blow and raised his arms to defend himself, barely deflecting the punch as it landed heavily against his arm.
The crowd's mood shifted like the wind—one moment, they were jeering Chandler, and the next, they erupted into chants of praise for the "Beautiful Country," filling the arena with raucous cheers and whistles.
Logan exclaimed, "Wow! What a comeback! Chandler's still got his fighting spirit. No one can truly keep him down in the first round!"
DC's eyes widened in shock. He had put his faith in Ye Chen, and seeing him under pressure made his stomach churn, "If Ye Chen doesn't escape that cage soon, he's facing a real threat for the first time. He needs to use that knee strike and push back hard—because Chandler's wrestling game has turned this fight upside down."
Despite Chandler's raw strength and aggression, one solid hit could mean the difference between victory and defeat. Underneath it all, Dana felt a knot of anxiety grip him. Why was Chandler pitted against Ye Chen? Because of his immense potential. The stakes were high: if Ye Chen faltered, it could mean a disastrous shift in his future.
"Ahhh!" Catwoman, seated in the VIP section, couldn't contain her nerves any longer. She leapt to her feet, her heart racing as she shouted, "Dodge! Move quickly!" But alas, Ye Chen couldn't hear her cries, too focused on the battle at hand.
Outside the ring, the buzz intensified. Any hint of casualness had vanished; those who had once cheered for Ye Chen were suddenly on edge, their moods mirrored by the rising tension in the air. The moment had taken on a life of its own.
…
Back in the domestic commentary booth, the urgency was palpable. "This is tense! Ye Chen, you've got to push Chandler away!" exclaimed one commentator, while another urged, "Strike with a knee! You can't afford to get cornered like this!"
In the chat rooms, silence fell; no one dared to distract themselves from the action unfolding in the ring.
…
But Ye Chen, cool under pressure, knew he had this. Why? He had faced this very scenario a thousand times in his mind before. Every punch thrown, every swing attempted consumed energy. And Chandler? He would tire out soon enough.
The chaos around them felt immense, but if you slowed it all down, if you truly observed, you'd see: Chandler's fierce swings rarely found their mark. Even when they did, it was only against Ye Chen's resilient arms, bouncing harmlessly off. Learning from past mistakes, Chandler had certainly upped his game, employing more uppercuts this time around.
But Ye Chen was ready. He wasn't about to let this chance slip away. The battle was far from over; it was only just beginning.