From the quick exchanges of jabs to the swinging punches, mere seconds can change everything in the ring.
"Wooo..."
"Ye Chen, Ye Chen, Ye Chen."
The fans rallying for Ye Chen lost themselves in excitement, their fervor wildly contagious. The enthusiasm was even more palpable back in China, where support for Ye Chen swelled exponentially. While Covington's influence left Wusman's domestic popularity somewhat lackluster, the stakes were particularly high in this bout against Ye Chen. Thus, it seemed almost unanimous support for Ye Chen surged among viewers. Only a few die-hard fight enthusiasts regarded Wusman as the stronger fighter, yet they too wished for a Ye Chen victory. After all, a win for Ye Chen would crown him as Daxia's first double champion.
Commentator No. 1 exclaimed, "What a counter! Absolutely stunning. Ye Chen seized the moment perfectly as Wusman threw that punch. I've said time and again, Ye Chen masterfully capitalizes on opportunities." He continued, "While Wusman certainly possesses strength, his boxing style tends to fall into a routine. Meanwhile, Ye Chen brings a dynamic presence to the ring; his entire striking technique is clearly superior to Wusman's. But let's hope he doesn't aim for a takedown on someone who proves nearly impossible to bring down."
Commentator No. 2 chimed in, "Brother Chen displays sharpness and certainly holds his ground against Wusman in standing strikes. Yet, Wusman's durability is formidable; aside from Hua Zi's kick, no one has managed to knock him out. I'm curious how Chen Ge's newfound power will translate with the added weight. Typically, moving up a weight class may diminish a fighter's knockout ability. It's not so much a regression of strength, but rather that the talents among the welterweights possess a different fighting skill set than those in the lighter categories."
[666, Brother Chen is incredible! I never imagined Standing H would be able to challenge Ban Wusitai.]
[Brothers, are you even watching? If you follow the previous bouts between Wusman and Chen Ge, it's clear Chen Ge holds the edge in standing skills. Wusman may present a more stable posture and has undeniable strength, along with extraordinary resilience. Also, his ability to maintain an upright position against the cage poses an uphill challenge for Brother Chen.]
[Is this guy serious? His head jolted like that after being hit???]
[A bunch of people are claiming Brother Chen is on substances. I've been grinding through their comments endlessly, what a drag.]
[Are you all fools? If he were indeed using performance enhancers, it would have been discovered ages ago.]
[Let's take down Wu Siman, this presumptuous, self-righteous opponent. Are they really trying to target Chen with drug tests?]
[In a fictional world, it's like they're extracting Brother Chen's DNA for experiments (laughs).]
[Thinking that gives me the creeps, but it's a possibility!]
[We need this win, Brother Chen! He seems to be in fantastic condition; his body is just as formidable as Wusman's and appears significantly more muscular than when he was a lightweight.]
[Currently, he's weighing in at 193 pounds. Brother Chen specifically mentioned it in an interview, estimating that Wusman might weigh in around the same. But visually, Chen appears lean and perhaps lacking in muscle mass.]
In the arena, Ye Chen pressed the offensive, continuing his relentless pressure on Wusman. Known for his defensive counterstriking, the intensity of this match marked a stark contrast to Wusman's usual approach. It was clear he was dealing with an adversary who possessed a longer wingspan and greater mobility. Even as Ye Chen absorbed a few jabs from Wusman, the damage was far from catastrophic. While he had practiced these scenarios within a simulation, facing Wusman's new tactics live in the ring proved to be an adjustment.
At this juncture, Ye Chen began mastering the distance. Past competitors had overly respected Wusman's power, making them hesitant to fully engage. But Ye Chen had no fear, moving relentlessly toward Wusman and applying pressure purposefully.
With each exchange, Ye Chen dodged Wusman's heavy jab, closing the distance to deliver swift strikes to the body, jabbed to the abdomen, and landed hooks with precision. Wusman staggered back, but before retreating, he launched a flurry of jabs in desperation. Ye Chen adeptly dodged the first but took a hit from the second.
"D"
Wusman backed away, his playful demeanor replaced by a serious countenance, eyes narrowed with intensity. It was apparent to anyone watching: Ye Chen's standing offense now overshadowed Wusman's. The longer Wusman let Chen dictate the pace, the more he risked considerable damage. However, despite this, Wusman's few landed punches had proven ineffective against Ye Chen, who had landed more meaningful strikes throughout the bout.
Ye Chen was acutely aware of his capabilities; his skills were on par with Wusman's, and physically, he matched him pound for pound. However, prowess doesn't always equate to winning. Some fighters can simply execute a technique more effectively than others. Wusman's straight punches carried both weight and accuracy, representing a serious threat.
"Kamanu, don't engage him directly. His standing game seems to have evolved again..." Whitman exclaimed, taken aback.
Having tailored their strategy based on Ye Chen's prior performances, Whitman hadn't foreseen the remarkable integration of Diamond's boxing techniques into Ye Chen's arsenal. This revelation changed everything. Upon hearing Whitman's comment, Wusman resolved to adjust his approach. Realizing that engaging aggressively wasn't effective, he aimed to tire Ye Chen out, looking for opportunities when he sensed vulnerability.
However, Ye Chen's speed and pressure proved overwhelming. Without a second to spare, he surged forward again, firing jabs in quick succession, seeking openings.
732k…
"DIA!"
After yet another series of probing attacks, Ye Chen identified his chance. When he executed a low sweep targeting Wusman's leg, his opponent attempted to block. Seizing the moment, Ye Chen altered the trajectory of his attack and landed a blow to Wusman's waist. The impact echoed through the arena, sharp and shocking, as if something vital had cracked.
"Walterfak, did you just break something?"
"Maybe it's a rib?"
"What on Earth just happened?"
The spectators gasped and the commentary team echoed their astonishment. Even He Bo rushed in to check on Wusman, concern etched on his face, "Are you all right?"
As He Bo approached, he noticed Ye Chen's agility—he appeared unscathed, while Wusman wore an expression of pain, retreating hastily. Despite Wusman's insistence that he was fine, it was clear he was in discomfort; his pained demeanor was evident. A narrative among certain fans suggested that Wusman had a vulnerability in his abdomen; it seemed they may have been onto something.
Consequently, Ye Chen zeroed in on that target area, keeping Wusman at bay. Anxious to avoid getting cornered, Wusman retreated further. Ye Chen attempted a swift back kick but missed, quickly shifting sideways to crowd Wusman closer to the cage.
Observing Ye Chen's intentions, Wusman raced forward with a straight punch. In a split second, Ye Chen dodged, but Wusman advanced aggressively, dropping low to perform a takedown, effectively swapping positions and forcing Ye Chen against the cage.
This maneuver was iconic for Wusman and had proven pivotal in his previous victories before his boxing strengths developed. Recognizing that his standing exchanges weren't yielding results, he shifted tactics, aiming for control against the cage. This change in strategy unfolded seamlessly, catching many spectators off guard as Ye Chen suddenly found himself pinned against the cage net.