Ye Chen, tall and agile, shifted his stance and inadvertently struck his armpit against Wu Siman, disrupting Wu's balance. Without a solid center of gravity, Wu was rendered ineffective—even with his exceptional skills in fall prevention and wrestling, he could do little to counter the situation. In a swift motion, Ye Chen twisted his body and drove Wu Siman against the cage net.
Could it be happening again?
At that moment, spectators recalled the intense moments of the previous round. Many suspected that Ye Chen was simply repeating his tactics. Even Wu Siman couldn't help but feel the pressure; he responded with quick jabs to Ye Chen's ribs, sensing the urgency to regain control. Yet, only those well-versed in submission holds would have noticed the strategic adjustment Ye Chen made, positioning his arms around Wu's neck. To the untrained eye, it may have resembled a simple choke, but Ye Chen's shoulders were firmly lodged under Wu's armpits, lifting one of Wu's arms and a portion of his body off the ground.
Wu Siman, still trapped in the memories of Round Two, failed to register immediate danger. He frantically hammered at Ye Chen but suddenly felt a jolt of realization. Desperate to break free, he grasped Ye Chen's hand, but at that very moment, Ye Chen exerted pressure, maneuvering to push Wu's head to one side.
It was a panic-inducing moment. However, it was far too late for Wu. Ye Chen's grip was tight and unyielding. He used one leg to pin Wu's, effectively eliminating any last vestiges of movement.
"Arm triangle!" exclaimed DC, voice rising with excitement. "Ye Chen has stealthily secured a submission position! How few have even noticed this? I must admit, I thought he was going for the cage net maneuver again."
He had outwitted everyone: the spectators, Wu Siman, and even Wu's team, who were still instructing him to back away from the cage, blissfully unaware of the trap he had fallen into.
Suddenly, the atmosphere erupted with adrenaline. Observers who looked closely could see the execution of a standard standing arm triangle choke unfold within just a few heartbeats. Ye Chen had it locked in, and the crowd was only beginning to stir in disbelief as they processed what was happening.
In the commentary box, excitement reigned supreme. Commentator No. 1 was nearly breathless, shouting, "Brother Chen, twist harder! You can do this!" The momentum was palpable. "Did you see that? Brother Chen snuck into the standing arm triangle position without anyone catching on in the middle of all the excitement. But pulling off a standing triangle choke is no small feat, especially against someone like Wu Siman."
On the other end of the booth, Commentator No. 2, an ardent fan of Ye Chen, couldn't contain himself, almost bursting with joy as if witnessing a remarkable feat in a World Cup final.
"It's precisely because the standing triangle choke is so difficult to achieve that it often gets overlooked during attacks. If Brother Chen can successfully pull this off, it would be incredible." He cautioned, though, about the toll it could take on Ye Chen's muscles if this technique backfired.
The tension was palpable across the live broadcast as viewers sent their well-wishes.
"I hope Brother Chen takes this win!" echoed one comment. "Is it really possible to apply a choke like that?" mused another.
Although rare, female fighters had succeeded in this standing choke, but it was even less common for men to do so, especially against a powerhouse like Wu Siman. Others noted the extraordinary physical demands such a maneuver placed on the attacker, given Wu Siman's explosive strength.
As Ye Chen poured every ounce of effort into this hold, he felt Wusman begin to falter. The initial seconds had seen Wu still engaging, but as the challenge ramped up, his resistance began to slacken.
"Ah…" a muffled noise escaped Ye Chen, feeling the strain of the contest. Suddenly, he sensed Wu Siman's hand relinquishing its grip, resting limply against him. "Is he out?"
Ye Chen pressed forward, determined to sustain the submission further. Then, observing closely, He Bo, nearby and alert, called out, "Kamanu, are you okay?"
As He Bo reached for Wu Siman's arm, he felt it drop sluggishly, confirming the gravity of the moment.
"Stop, stop!" He Bo shouted frantically, attempting to intervene.
Ye Chen had been attuned to the referee's intentions, prepared to maintain pressure until a command was issued to halt the fight. He had seen smart fighters exploit such moments, playing for a submission hold just long enough to force a concession when the pressure to respond became too great.
Setting caution aside, Ye Chen intensified his grip, but upon hearing He Bo's urgent calls, he decided to ease his hold slightly. As he began to pull away, he noticed Wu Siman slump helplessly against him, his breathing shallow.
Ye Chen instinctively reached out to support Wu, his reflexes kicking in as if to catch a falling object.
The arena stilled; Wu Siman lay motionless on the mat.
Initially raucous cheers for Ye Chen waned, replaced by disbelieving silence. Had he just secured a victory that felt almost too easy? Even Ye Chen couldn't shake the feeling that this win had come with unexpected ease, so contrasting to the grueling efforts he had anticipated.
It had been about overpowering the opponent while cutting off their mobility—a tactic he had executed with surprising effectiveness, more so than he had ever managed in simulated bouts.
"What a surreal experience…" he thought, reflecting as he combed through the collective noise of the crowd.
As the fight ended in a decisive manner, he couldn't help but feel the weight of the moment. It was a testament to his growth—not just as a fighter but as an agile strategist who had tackled an opponent with finesse.
[Eager to win even more.]
[This choke technique has been a revelation!]
[It's downright rare to witness such skill in males!]
[Reflecting on strength disparities, who could rival Andrade's fire? But Wu Siman excels in sheer power.]
Meanwhile, Ye Chen firmly locked in his triumphant position. If he were to fail, it would certainly take a toll. The initial seconds had seen Wu Siman still engaging with resistance, but that dwindled as Ye Chen channeled everything he had into the submission.
Then, in a singular moment, Wu Siman's grip loosened, and Ye Chen stifled a grin, knowing he was on the cusp of victory.