Ye Chen capitalized on Gage's momentary lapse in breath and landed a flying knee strike.
Gage swiftly dodged the knee, trying to avoid the cage net at all costs. But Ye Chen had a counter ready. He extended his long arm to keep Gage back, then launched into a furious flurry of punches from close range.
Ye Chen was careful not to let Gage get too close; he knew that in the chaos, a single opening could turn the tides.
After a barrage of blows, Gage shook his head in an attempt to clear the cobwebs.
"Hmph, hum..."
At the same time, Gage threw three sharp punches in rapid succession, desperate to sweep Ye Chen's legs from under him.
…
Back at home, the live broadcast was electric. The audience was on the edge of their seats, waiting to see if Ye Chen would bring Gage down for good.
Commentator No. 1 exclaimed, "Gage's low sweep is extremely dangerous. We can't afford to delay any longer! Will Ye Chen score a knockout? If he hesitates, Gage's legs are going to take him down!"
"Wow, what a beautiful uppercut! Is Gage's chin made of titanium? He's barely fazed!" commented No. 2. "Brother Chen has landed so many punches, and his standing game is really impressive. But Gage is just too tough. If he can't land accurate hits, it'll be hard to score a KO."
The crowd erupted with cheers.
[Brother Chen, keep it up! Land a solid punch!]
[What is this guy made of? After all those punches, he still can't be knocked down!]
[I don't think he can defend against that low sweep much longer.]
[Let's finish this! A guillotine would solve all the problems!]
[Really? You think you can just guillotine him by grabbing his neck? Brother Chen knows Gage should be handled standing up; just believe in him!]
[Diamond legs, right? Tietou Kung, right?]
[Gage seems a bit disoriented. This is insane.]
…
At this moment, Ye Chen completely cornered Gage against the cage. With a continuous combination of punches, Ye Chen drove Gage back, and his determination shone through despite his battered state.
Gage hung on, head tucked and hands over his face, trying to weather the storm, but the pressure was relentless.
Whitman in the audience screamed himself hoarse, but it proved futile.
Gage was pinned, taking blow after blow from Ye Chen's whirlwind of punches, leaving him with blood streaming down his face yet refusing to go down.
Despite the fury of Ye Chen's strikes, Gage's defense held strong; only a few significant hits landed on his head.
"Pah, pah..."
Gage retaliated with wild swings, like a man hitting a punching bag in a frenzy.
Now, it was a matter of who could endure the punishment longer, who would be the first to falter.
Snap!
Another low sweep, targeting the same spot.
Ye Chen winced with intensity, the pain radiating up his leg and nearly sending him crashing to the ground.
Reacting quickly, he thrust one arm against Gage's forehead, pinning him into the cage. Then, with his other arm, he unleashed a series of brutal elbow strikes.
Gage wasn't going down without a fight. He struggled free, rising like a phoenix, swinging wildly overhead before catching Ye Chen with a signature uppercut.
Ye Chen barely dodged the blow, instead blocking it with his arm just as the punch connected.
The sweat and blood flew as the crowd roared, fully invested in the gripping spectacle before them.
This was the raw, visceral battle they craved—the most brutal, intense showdown.
Logan gasped, "Wow, this might be the most savage match I've ever seen. Are they really trying to knock each other out for good?"
Bisping struggled to find words, finally remarking, "I've never seen them fight so fiercely without holding back. It's rare to witness.
In 2020, the Wolf King rushed onto the scene, but at just 22, Ye Chen's already showcasing an impressive all-around skill set. His striking ability is thrilling to watch, and he's avoided many of Gage's heavy punches."
DC, caught up in the excitement, shouted, "I honestly think the referee should step in soon. If they keep going like this, they're going to seriously hurt each other.
The adrenaline might be masking their pain now, but the aftermath will hit them hard."
As the commentators spoke, the audience began to worry for both fighters.
The kind of fighting they were witnessing was reminiscent of the early days of MMA, when technique was still developing.
Now, they were seeing raw intensity live and direct, and it felt almost dangerous.
…
While the audience felt an array of emotions, He Bo, the referee, remained focused. Known for his reluctance to intervene, he stood firm, watching every move intently.
Many joked that he sells coffins, unwilling to stop the fight until someone was left defeated on the ground.
Despite the tension in the air, he saw Ye Chen still striking and Gage still defending. He wasn't about to pull the plug just yet.