One wave of excitement has not yet faded, and another has already begun. Ye Chen found his arms crossed and immobilized. As a result, he could only push against Maha's leg with his other arm. But the moment Maha seized his arm, he leaned back, bringing his other leg up to press down on Ye Chen's neck. Ye Chen quickly defended with his arms, but it was too late to push the legs aside. Even if he had the time, he wouldn't have been able to move them.
The crowd roared again in anticipation. Ye Chen's escape from the triangle choke was nothing short of spectacular. Even with Maha's triangle choke failing, within just two seconds—if even that—he found himself crossing into another submission position. The speed at which it unfolded was astonishing.
In the domestic live broadcast room, the commentators were stunned. They were knowledgeable fighting fans, after all; their insight came from a deep appreciation for the sport. As fans of combat sports, who wouldn't want to see an exceptional fighter emerging from their homeland? Especially in a championship fight as intense as this one.
As Ye Chen endured the triangle choke, his supporters felt a wave of worry wash over them. Commentator No. 1 exclaimed, "Ye Chen must tread carefully; Maha is relentless. Right now, Ye Chen finds himself in serious peril—this cross position is even more dangerous than the triangle choke. We can only hope he manages to escape."
Commentator No. 2 was more optimistic, stating, "Brother Chen can definitely pull through. He can find a way out, just as he did from the triangle earlier."
Meanwhile, the audience watching the live broadcast was filled with anxiety. After facing off with the Eagles up to this point, they felt hopeful on several occasions only for their momentum to shift dramatically at the start of the third round. The collective impatience was palpable.
[The Eagles are incredibly formidable on the ground. They should have put him away at the buzzer in the last round.]
[What on earth happened... We could have won that last round, but they managed to stave off defeat and escaped.]
[This is infuriating. It was so close; we could have taken that round!]
[Can someone explain how to escape from this?]
[Escape? You'd risk having your arm broken off!]
[If anyone can do it, it's Master Ye; he escaped Oliveira's hold before.]
[That wasn't an escape; that was him holding on until the round ended. Just look how long this round is... Even if Brother Chen's arms were made of steel, it would take a toll to withstand that pressure from Maha.]
[For heaven's sake, it's almost out!]
As Maha lay back, Ye Chen felt an intense pressure on his arm, as though it were about to snap. Fortunately, Maha's legs weren't positioned perfectly, and his upper body remained uncontrolled, allowing for a narrow escape route. It wasn't that Maha didn't want to secure the hold; Ye Chen had adeptly blocked the second leg earlier.
Summoning all his strength, he rose sideways in Maha's direction. He pivoted while forcefully pushing down on Maha's other leg. The fierce pain rippling through his arm felt as if it might tear him apart. Yet, he managed to rise from his knees, all while maintaining pressure on Maha's leg with one arm. He was cautious of Maha potentially trapping his head as he stood, an outcome that would put him in a vulnerable position and drain his energy.
Upon standing up, the pressure on his arms diminished significantly due to the leverage change. At that moment, Maha lay sprawled in the ring, one of Ye Chen's arms firmly in his grip. With legs bent and feet planted on the mat, Ye Chen knelt on one knee, using his free hand to press down on one of Maha's knees. Even though the tension on his arm had lessened considerably, the pain continued to throb.
Maha then loosened his grip on Ye Chen's arm to attempt seizing his leg. Ye Chen felt his heart race. Quickly shifting his position, he grabbed Maha's hand that was reaching for his leg, knowing that if Maha successfully secured it, he couldn't stand back up. With a burst of effort, he stood tall, lifting Maha along with him. Had he failed to counter the grip on his leg, he surely would have toppled sideways.
With a powerful slam, he hurled Maha onto the mat. While he couldn't lift him much due to exhaustion and weight—Maha was a hefty 180 pounds—it was enough to disrupt both fighters who struggled to regain stability. This grappling round had taken its toll on them both, and although Maha had a slight advantage in strength, his energy from earlier rounds had been depleted. Ye Chen, too, had exerted considerable effort this round.
Ye Chen stood again, hurling Maha to the ground for a second time. Upon impact, Maha immediately raised his legs, attempting to ensnare Ye Chen's head with them in an effort to limit his movements. Yet, Ye Chen had anticipated this and successfully countered the maneuver, thwarting Maha's plans once more.
With renewed determination, Ye Chen stood up for the third time. However, at this juncture, Maha's grip faltered. It took immense strength to lift his opponent, and with limited energy, Maha could only rely on his arms. Ye Chen had proven capable of lifting him twice before, drawing on his remarkable grip. Yet this time, with both arms already drained from previous submissions, Maha could not hang on as he had before.
As Ye Chen freed himself from the hold, the crowd's cheers for "Islam" ceased, stunned at the ferocity Ye Chen displayed in the ring. The commentators pointed out that wrestling is not merely a battle of strength; it's equally about skill and timing. Ye Chen had reacted swiftly and intelligent defense had kept him in the match, transforming his perilous situation into an opportunity for victory.
Logan remarked, "Ye Chen is nothing short of a miracle. He has this uncanny ability to create unexpected turnarounds." Bisping added, "If Islam can't capitalize on this moment, the toll of his energy exhaustion could harm him in the next series of exchanges."
Meanwhile, back in the arena, those close to Ye Chen celebrated jubilantly, each moment escalating their adrenaline. The excitement was reaching its peak as Ye Chen made his next move.
During the silence that followed, Ye Chen burst forward and delivered a ferocious elbow strike. Though impulsive, Maha managed to react defensively; however, the powerful blow knocked him back, and blood began to trickle from Maha's nostrils. Despite that heavy blow, Maha clung to Ye Chen, desperately trying to regain control. He was on the verge of collapse from the impact as he sought to prevent Ye Chen from gaining any breathing room.
Yet, Ye Chen was relentless. With determination in his stance, he pressed his arm down onto Maha's right arm and broke free from his grip. As Maha attempted to clutch Ye Chen's hand again, he found his movements delayed. Seizing the moment, Ye Chen swiftly transitioned to a Kimura lock.
The crowd erupted, as the little eagle called out instructions, urging Ye Chen to block Maha's legs. Although Maha was typically skilled at defending, he now struggled to match Ye Chen's pace.
Ye Chen's legs crossed over Maha's shoulders, effectively restricting his movement. It was essential to keep the pressure on to prevent any last-minute escapes. Each professional knows that controlling space is key to gain the upper hand, and both Ye Chen and Maha embodied that on the mat.
Even as he could feel Maha's resistance beginning to wane, he kept his grip steady, glancing at the referee—who notably remained neutral and vigilant. In that split second, Maha contemplated conceding but held on steadfast.
"Admit defeat," echoed from the crowd, led by the spirited encouragement of his supporters. It was difficult for the world champion to accept such words, but ultimately for the sake of his career and wellbeing, he needed to concede.
The referee's voice broke through, halting the fight, as Ye Chen's grip was finally released. In that moment of victory, all emotions surged forth within him, representing nearly two years of tireless dedication away from home, separated from his family. All of it culminated in this intense battle for the championship belt.
He had come from being a mere sparring partner to toppling a renowned champion; showcasing his strength through fierce trials and ultimate resilience. The moment he claimed the championship belt, the audience erupted in cheers and gasps of disbelief.
The realization dawned upon those who had initially doubted him; standing in the center of the cage, with the noise surrounding them, Ye Chen felt an outpouring of emotions as he embraced the moment.
Turning toward Maha, who sat on the ground visibly shaken, Ye Chen knelt beside him, acknowledging his remarkable skill and effort throughout their battle. "You are a true warrior, and you've shown what it means to fight for a championship. You deserve that belt."
Back at Ye Chen's hometown, joyful pandemonium erupted among neighbors and friends. Some were overwhelmed to the point of tears. His mother's pride shone through her excitement, while Ye Jianguo stood in awe of the triumph his son had achieved.
As the atmosphere shifted and the octagonal cage door opened, others rushed in, celebrating the moment. Yet, a masked woman stood alongside Dana, her presence garnering attention. "I know you and Ye Chen are together," she stated assertively, "but according to the rules, I should be the one to present the championship belt."
Dana looked at her with a mix of disbelief and amusement; her determination to adorn Ye Chen with the belt was evident. He hesitated for just a moment, but as she unveiled her mask, recognition washed over him.
"A...Annie? How could it be you?" Dana exclaimed, caught off guard.
"Relax, it's me. You wouldn't deny me this, would you?" she grinned.
Recognition dawned, and with it, he relented, "Alright, you can present it. It's yours to do so."
With newfound energy and enthusiasm, those around them embraced this turning point as the night transformed with Ye Chen's resounding victory in the octagon.