Right now, Ye Chen's body was covered in blood.
Catwoman averted her gaze, lowering her head and closing her eyes, hesitant to look at him.
Unable to contain myself, I asked, "Are you injured?"
Ye Chen shifted slightly and assessed the situation.
"Fortunately, I don't think so," he replied.
Glancing over at Oliveira, Catwoman remarked, "He seems pretty exhausted. Shouldn't he be easier to handle in the next round?"
Ye Chen chuckled, "Are you in a hurry?"
His excitement was palpable, and a bit of humor helped ease the tension, allowing him to relax.
On the other side, Oliveira had managed to calm down somewhat.
While he sported some notable bruises on his face, they seemed more cosmetic than serious. His nose, however, was a bit askew—a common occurrence in the fighting world.
"Remember, OV," the head coach instructed, "you just lost the championship match. You can't afford to lose this one. You're the champion; you need to retrieve your title."
"Stick to your tactics. Don't get drawn into his rhythm—don't follow Ye Chen."
During the first round, Oliveira had started strong, but somewhere along the way, something shifted. He began to falter, possibly due to pressure from his coach or perhaps old habits resurfacing. The tactics he used were now almost unrecognizable.
Instead, Oliveira struggled to execute both his current strategy and the previous one. He appeared somewhat constrained and awkward. Yet once on the ground, he showed a sharp edge, successfully defending against Ye Chen and causing him considerable trouble.
At that moment, Spider squatted in front of Oliveira, looking him in the eye.
"You're incredibly powerful, but after a hit, you tend to become impulsive and lose sight of your tactics. In the next round, keep your cool. Don't forget our sparring sessions. Treat Ye Chen as your training partner—stay protected, play relaxed, and conserve energy."
Spider had carefully analyzed the situation, pinpointing Oliveira's mental state.
During round one, Oliveira had faltered mentally, getting caught by a high kick from Ye Chen, which broke his concentration and disrupted his advantage.
This reminded everyone that before his defeat to Maha, Oliveira had been considered a formidable presence.
Getting swept while standing was one thing—he had faced that challenge in past fights. Yet when he went to the ground, he had failed to gain any advantage against Maha or, now, in this bout.
Hearing Spider's words, Oliveira lifted his gaze, taking them to heart.
"Just like training," Spider said. "You excel in practice, don't you? It's akin to driving—if you panic after a bump, you might crash when it counts."
Spider aimed to reignite Oliveira's confidence, pushing him to perform better.
Round two began, and once they stepped back onto the mat, Ye Chen immediately perceived a change.
Oliveira's stance was lower; whether due to fatigue or tactical adjustment, it was hard to tell. Regardless, the first round had drained Oliveira's energy. Coupled with the injury to his nose, it was crucial to keep the pressure on in this next round.
The two fighters cautiously probed the air with tentative jabs, looking for openings. Oliveira paused, exhaling deeply before jumping in place a few times, smoothing his hair as if to signal a moment of calm.
Seizing the opportunity, Ye Chen executed a low sweep.
Oliveira raised his knee in classic Thai-block style, preventing the sweep, while firing off a quick jab that struck Ye Chen squarely between the eyes.
This was a speed Ye Chen hadn't anticipated. He'd trained with Oliveira often but had never seen him deploy this maneuver.
In past encounters, Oliveira would have lunged in, attempting a knee or uppercut. Instead, he jabs and quickly creates distance once more.
"Is he really executing his tactics now?" Ye Chen wondered, impressed yet cautious as he responded with a wide-sweeping strike.
As expected, Oliveira blocked it with his knee.
The sound rang through the arena as Ye Chen landed a deceptive low sweep. Just when he thought he'd evade Oliveira, his foot struck Oliveira's arm with a crisp thud, eliciting gasps from the crowd.
They collectively held their breath, concerned for Oliveira.
However, this gave Ye Chen the chance to advance, throwing a punch with intent to breach Oliveira's defenses. Yet, Oliveira expertly sidestepped, firing off another jab.
This time, Ye Chen anticipated the move, blocking it neatly as Oliveira unleashed a front kick to his midsection.
The objective of Oliveira's strikes was not necessarily to inflict damage but to disrupt Ye Chen's attack rhythm.
In the ring, a rhythm interruption can be excruciating for those who struggle to adapt quickly.
Oliveira, having distanced himself momentarily, spread his arms and flashed Ye Chen a playful grin, as if saying, "Try that again, big brother. It won't work."
This taunt both unsettled Ye Chen and reinvigorated Oliveira, flipping momentum in the arena.
In the commentary booth, Bisping observed, "Oliveira's shift in tactics is reminiscent of a certain fighter."
He meant Spider, the legend who had overshadowed many contenders in the heavyweight division.
Meanwhile, Logan added, "This is a smart strategy against Ye Chen—he's bested fighters skilled in positional warfare. I'm curious how he'll respond to an opponent trained by Spider."
DC interjected, "Oliveira, in this state, is indeed formidable. Ye Chen will need to adapt quickly, or face adversity."
Ye Chen pressed forward, increasingly cautious, testing Oliveira's responses with various strikes.
He wanted to gauge Oliveira's capabilities, preparing to utilize the long-awaited hug-and-throw technique.
Yet, initiating a bear hug against a seasoned Jiu-Jitsu practitioner like Oliveira was hazardous. Ye Chen had to wait for the opportune moment.
One thing remained clear: Oliveira's grasp of distance and defensive techniques was lacking compared to Spider. After all, mastering new tactics takes time.
"Crack!"
Ye Chen spun around and landed a kick just shy of Oliveira. As the latter tried to regain his footing, Ye Chen dove forward, showcasing explosive agility that left spectators in awe.
In the blink of an eye, he secured Oliveira by the thigh and calf, delivering an earth-shattering throw that left Oliveira on his knees in shock.
The crowd erupted.
Numerous eyes widened in disbelief as they witnessed Ye Chen's ferocity—a display of athleticism that shocked the audience into a frenzy.
DC exclaimed, "What a surreal dive and throw! His timing was impeccable; the kicks we thought were merely for flair were part of a calculated strategy all along."
Logan couldn't contain his excitement, shouting, "He's on Oliveira's back! Just look at that position!"
The arena erupted in a cacophony of cheers while commentators lost their composure; the violence of the move astounded everyone watching.
"Wow! Ye Chen's ferocity is undeniable. This strategic shift is a game-changer. If he successfully takes Oliveira's back, he'll gain a significant advantage, even if he can't subdue him right away."
As a devoted fan, another commentator marveled, "He's got to hook those legs!"
The anticipation was electric.
In the ring, Ye Chen glided onto Oliveira's back, but Oliveira expertly secured one leg, obstructing the hold.
Ye Chen fought to break free, targeting Oliveira's support hand. If he couldn't immediately secure that position against a Jiu-Jitsu expert, he would be in trouble.
With a sudden yank, the hand slipped out from support.
The impact jarred Oliveira's elbow against the canvas.
Seizing the moment, Ye Chen wrapped his legs around Oliveira's kneeling leg and pressed with force.
Before Oliveira could fully collapse, he braced himself, striving desperately to resist.
Thoughts of the previous round lingered in Oliveira's mind, propelling him not to give in.
As the pressure mounted, Ye Chen struck Oliveira's ribs, breaking through his defenses.
After a few solid hits, Oliveira pushed back, turning anxiously.
The audience, fully aware of Ye Chen's intentions, held their breath as he sought to lock Oliveira's neck.
Desperation pushed Oliveira to roll, pinning Ye Chen's arm below him and slowing his grip.
This momentary lapse allowed Oliveira to grasp Ye Chen's right hand, trying to regain control.
In a standoff of instinct, Ye Chen aimed to elevate his leg, securing Oliveira's waist—only to find Oliveira deftly blocking him at every turn.
Caught in a web of grappling and counterplay, Ye Chen attempted to draw attention away from his next move.
In an abrupt burst, Oliveira sprang into action, twisting sharply, and escaping the hold momentarily.
Using his momentum, he charged directly at Ye Chen, aiming to take him down.
With Ye Chen at ground level, tournaments of skill transformed into a wrestling match as Oliveira maneuvered, aiming to claim a dominant position.
This sequence escalated quickly, with limbs entangled, as the two warriors sought to assert control.
But just then, Oliveira found space to draw a forbidden choke, nearing the point of no return.
In this tense moment where the choke could seal Ye Chen's fate, the referee stepped in, urging, "Ye Chen, you have to respond, or I'll stop the fight."
Silence enveloped the arena.
As everyone braced for what seemed like a guaranteed end to the match...