The instant Ye Chen embraced Diamond, he knelt down as was customary. His knee struck Diamond's chest, though the impact wasn't severe, and Diamond was merely pushed back. Ye Chen's quick thinking alleviated some of the pressure. In a frantic move, he executed a high sweep, aiming to intercept Diamond, who was trying to escape.
"Snapped." The high sweep connected with Diamond's frame, inflicting little damage, but effectively served as an interception. However, it had been a rushed motion; he swept out while his balance was compromised, nearly losing his footing. Such slips are common in the ring, particularly after a long match replete with blood and sweat that has left the surface slick.
Just as Ye Chen fell, Diamond saw his chance. He whirled around, unleashing a precise front punch followed by a backhand hook. Opportunities like this are rare and can dictate the match's outcome – and the championship title. Sparked with excitement, Diamond planted his hands on the ground, and as he regained his footing, he noticed a blur darting towards him from the corner of his eye — the blue tape encasing Ye Chen's glove.
He instinctively protected his head. "Boom." The blow landed solidly behind his ear, disorienting him for a moment. More concerning was the backhand uppercut looming in the wake of it; should it connect, he risked significant injury. Fortunately, the first punch had shifted Diamond's head just enough to avert disaster.
With the momentum of the moment, Diamond seized the opportunity. After the uppercut missed, Ye Chen struggled to rise. Diamond swiftly delivered a kick, not intending to knock Ye Chen down but to destabilize him further and maintain his advantage. This strategic strike ensured Ye Chen's balance would remain precarious as he retreated, setting the stage for Diamond's pursuit.
As anticipated, upon contact, Ye Chen instinctively thrust his hands backward, pushing himself up from the ring to stabilize. Rather than standing directly, he turned, quickly creating distance, preparing to regain a proper stance. Although he could have mimicked Oliveira and gathered himself quickly, Ye Chen instead chose to maintain his distance from Diamond, opting for strategy. As DC observed, it is his versatility that allows him to match ground fighters, wrestling masters, and stand-up specialists alike.
The Diamond team felt urgency. "Good chance, Dustin! Finish him off!" The commands echoed: "Pressure him, maintain distance, and capitalize on long-range strikes!" Diamond, fired up, lunged, wrapping his arms tightly around Ye Chen's waist. With sheer force, he pushed Ye Chen from the center of the ring to the cage's edge.
With a resounding "bang," Ye Chen crashed heavily against the cage net, facing outward, ironically positioned at his own corner. Catwoman prepared to strike, her knuckles readied, but paused, noting the bizarre sight of Ye Chen smiling amidst the chaos, unbothered by the pressure of the cage.
This moment didn't go unnoticed – cameras captured the scene, leaving the commentators and spectators puzzled. "What is Dustin doing? Is he trying to outplay Ye Chen in cage-side tactics? That's not a wise move," DC remarked. Unfazed, Ye Chen continued to hold his ground. "Listen to DC," he cautioned.
Logan chuckled, commenting on Ye Chen's quip to the opponent, and DC noted Ye Chen's unwavering confidence despite the fight's intensity. Both fighters were equally skilled, showcasing their strengths. But Diamond had no intention of letting up. He pressed down heavily, determined not to let Ye Chen slip free.
Minutes ticked by painfully slow. Ye Chen remained trapped, Diamond's strategy to wear him down evidently effective. Diamond kept a watchful eye on the referee, monitoring their movements as he pressed Ye Chen's thigh, magnifying the pressure in the clinch.
Then, without warning, Diamond released his grip. Seizing this rare opportunity, Ye Chen turned sharply. Diamond lunged, intent on exploiting the moment, but as he raised his knee, Ye Chen twisted and nearly escaped, switching his stance. This sudden maneuver drew a warning signal in Ye Chen's mind; he sensed Diamond's next move.
Diamond executed a quick shoulder thrust into Ye Chen's lower back, simultaneously launching an elbow strike. Just when Ye Chen prepared to react, he felt the impact graze his head, forcing him to block rather than counter. Anticipating the ensuing strikes, Ye Chen fortified his defense, raising his arms in preparation. But in a moment of instinct, he launched a backhand punch in retaliation, though Diamond dodged gracefully.
Diamond responded quickly, delivering a backfist to Ye Chen's chest, then following up with a rapid succession of strikes. "Diamond Star Fist K!" shouted DC. Logan noted the calculated precision in the striking strategy. Bisping commented on the defensive measures Ye Chen had to employ to withstand Diamond's relentless flurry.
1:40 remained in the first round, and the excitement among the crowd was palpable. Amid the noise, an unknown spectator began to chant, igniting the entire arena. "Dustin, more body shots!" urged one commentator. "He can increase the damage by targeting the torso!"
With newfound momentum, Diamond sought to capitalize on Ye Chen's defenses, firing off a series of strategic combinations, each one landing with precision. Ye Chen dodged as best he could, but the onslaught wasn't without its impacts, as punches found purchase that stirred the crowd into a frenzy.
With pulses racing and arms swinging, the intensity heightened as Ye Chen retaliated. He landed a series of impactful jabs, but while his strikes did manage to rock Diamond, they didn't completely shift the dynamic of the fight.
Just then, Diamond feigned a lunge that turned into a brutal punch aimed straight for Ye Chen's head. Instead, Ye Chen expertly blocked some of the assault. But it wasn't enough to prevent the strongest blow from passing through, striking with precision and causing a surge of pain to pour in.
Realizing he couldn't afford to hesitate, Ye Chen leaped back into action, throwing a forceful hook that landed squarely on Diamond's jaw. The crowd erupted as they witnessed Diamond stagger, a battered testament to the fight's intensity. As Diamond instinctively dropped low to regain his footing, Ye Chen began to surge forward, aiming to exploit this opening and land a decisive blow – yet Diamond responded with unexpected speed, regaining his stance in defiance.
Amid mounting anxiety, the Diamond coaching team felt the weight of the bout. The stakes were high, and the implications of a loss weighed heavily on their minds. Diamond's survival instincts and training kicked in as he fought to reestablish control.
The audience screamed in support as both fighters weathered the storm of strikes. Each blow, whether received or delivered, shaped the pulse of the match. Although Ye Chen's punch hit Diamond accurately and hard, it shook him but did not decisively shift the flow of the bout.
Diamond suddenly rushed forward, and this time his attack rhythm was evidently much faster. All sorts of combinations began to rain down on Ye Chen, a flurry of strikes that appeared almost choreographed, fluid and relentless. Despite Ye Chen doing his best to avoid them, several punches connected, and the chaos unfolded in a dazzling display.
Ye Chen, however, refused to lose the opportunity to counterattack. He forced himself into the fray, landing several sharper jabs before sensing the intensity of his competitor's assault.
In this exhilarating exchange, an unexpected blow landed on Diamond's temples; it might not have been the hardest strike of the match, but it was one of the most damaging, ringing through his head and potentially affecting his balance.
As the clock counted down, the adrenaline-fueled battle consumed both men, each dedicated to ensuring their victory. The first round had become a true test of will, skill, and endurance, each fighter weighing the fight's outcome heavily with every exchanged blow.