The atmosphere in the arena was electric. The three commentators eagerly reacted to the unfolding spectacle, their voices filled with excitement and suspense.
DC exclaimed, "That was an absolutely brutal back straight—Covington nearly went down! Remember, this is a guy who survived a broken jaw from Wusman's punch and still managed to stay on his feet." Logan's eyes were wide with shock as he leaned back, absorbing the intensity of the moment.
"Covington is a force to be reckoned with, but he was hit hard right at the start of this fight, and that was a significant blow to his confidence. While he excels in wrestling, his boxing skills are decent but not infallible. His biggest vulnerability has always been distance," Logan continued, shaking his head. "It seems that despite all his preparations, that issue still haunts him."
Rogan chimed in, agreeing with his fellow commentators. Ye Chen had also picked up on Covington's struggles with maintaining an effective distance during the fight. As he charged in, there were moments when he found himself either too close to effectively counterattack or too far to avoid being controlled.
Ye Chen recalled Covington's record-breaking performance, where he had exhibited both a high output frequency and volume in his strikes. Yet, due to issues with the quality and accuracy of his punches, he failed to secure a KO or even a TKO against his opponents. Ye Chen believed that no matter how hard Covington trained over a few months, he wouldn't be able to resolve these persistent shortcomings, especially given how he had performed in previous bouts against Big Eye. His sense of distance remained shaky; Covington had always been a fighter who used standing techniques as an auxiliary skill, primarily relying on his wrestling prowess.
His ten-round battle with Wu Siman was not a testament to his boxing excellence but rather a reflection of his inability to knock Wusman out of the fight, even though Wusman was equally unable to take him down. Thus, when these two fighters clashed again, audiences were treated to what they anticipated would be an incredible contest. Both were physical powerhouses with high output frequencies, formidable striking capabilities, and stamina to last all five rounds.
At that moment, Covington found himself staggered by Ye Chen's rapid jabs. He instinctively raised his arms, positioning his elbows close to his cheeks, hoping to effectively use them to parry Ye Chen's jabs. Yet, for him, this defensive posture was still far from comfortable. Ye Chen moved in and out with such swiftness that Covington could barely land a clean strike, even while standing.
"Let's close the distance and throw him down; standing here isn't going to work," Covington murmured to himself, gradually regaining his composure after the pounding he had taken from Ye Chen. His coaching team echoed his thoughts, urging him to close the gap for a takedown. However, remembering the punch that nearly knocked him out, he hesitated to engage Ye Chen in a clinch.
Meanwhile, the domestic fans watching the live stream were rapidly going wild. Comments flooded in, filled with enthusiasm and analysis.
"Brother Chen is incredible! That punch broke his jaw, right? I must admit, Kazi has an iron chin and is impressive in taking hits."
"Isn't Covington supposed to be strong on his feet? He fought Wusman for ten rounds and held his own. What's going on now?"
"Do you really not get it? It's all about perception; I can spar back-and-forth and make it look intense while barely inflicting any damage."
"Kahuang's stand-up game looks shaky, which puts him at a serious disadvantage against Brother Chen. I used to think his boxing was pretty solid."
"Honestly, even Wusman doesn't hold a candle to Brother Chen's standing prowess. Watching the match carefully reveals just how many times Wusman was caught in traps and thrown off by Burns. It's more of a messy exchange than anything resembling equal skill."
"That messy match-up does convoluted things to perceived abilities. Wu Siman's boxing may not be top-tier, but it suffices for a wrestler. Compare him to stand-up fighters like Brother Chen, and the gap becomes glaringly evident."
"Magical combatants can pull it off, but Brother Chen is in a league of his own! He's hexagonally invincible!"
"Where's Kazi's bravado now? Let's see if Brother Chen can knock some sense into him!"
"You could knock his teeth out; I heard he lost one to a motor incident!"
"It seems that Shafqat is the only one that could pose a threat to Brother Chen at this point."
"Shafqat isn't even in the right league to challenge him. I would much rather see Brother Chen go after Wolf. Wolf is reckless and lacks ethics. He gets on my nerves just by being there. It'd be gratifying to see Brother Chen take him down for good, perhaps leaving him with no choice but to retire in peace."
The commentary swirled with excitement and analysis. Commentator No. 1 glanced at the barrage of comments, stating, "To be clear, Wusman and Covington might not be the best stand-up fighters when matched against those who specialize in it. But let's not forget their primary focus is wrestling. Wusman's got power and a long reach—few can stand against him effectively. Brother Chen's unique strength in standing has changed the game. I've watched every fight he's had, and I still can't quite grasp his striking style—it's a mesmerizing blend."
Commentator No. 2 responded, "That complexity is what sets him apart. It's like a cocktail of different techniques. While most fighters attempt a mix, none do it with such refinement. Brother Chen has this innate talent for reading the game, adapting his tactics instantaneously. He's a fusion of strategy, skill, and sheer force. His abilities would make him an exceptional coach or corner man, even beyond his fighting days."
Just then, Covington unleashed a high sweep in the ring, attempting to push the momentum back in his favor.
"Smack!" The high sweep met the firm resistance of Ye Chen's arms. Just as Ye Chen prepared to retaliate with a powerful kick, he spotted Covington going low for a sweeping leg attack. The two movements cascaded into a flurry of action as Covington dove in to execute a takedown with remarkable speed.
In a matter of moments, as Ye Chen's kick fell short, Covington already had a firm grip on one of his legs. Just as it seemed Ye Chen was about to be brought to the mat, he instinctively locked his arms around Covington's waist, making a last-ditch effort to counter. Covington was focused on the upper body, leaving Ye Chen an opening.
With a swift motion, Ye Chen fell backward, leveraging his weight to throw Covington off balance. As he landed on the mat, he saw Covington being propelled away from him. However, Covington maintained a tight hold on Ye Chen's legs.
In a flash, Ye Chen used his head to roll, completing a backward somersault that placed him back on top of Covington, gaining the advantageous position. The entire sequence unfolded within mere seconds, inducing a wave of excitement among the crowd. Cheers echoed in the arena as Ye Chen launched a counterattack, seizing the upper hand.
Yet, because this position was acquired so hastily, Covington exhibited his own strong ability to escape. Nearly instantaneously, he performed a half-body sweep, knocking Ye Chen off. Before Ye Chen could consolidate control, Covington skillfully utilized his limbs to regain his position.
Ye Chen, understanding the stakes, quickly maneuvered on the canvas, trying to maintain a fighting distance. Covington pounced, intent on landing a decisive blow. Aware of his own limitations in the grappling realm, Covington felt an urgent need to dominate this exchange.
His strategy remained unwavering: take down the opponent, establish control, take them down once more, and repeat. However, Ye Chen was not about to grant him that luxury.
As Covington lunged towards him, Ye Chen swiftly seized Covington's ankle, expertly elevating his body and pulling away from the grip that had threatened to keep him vulnerable. By the time he rolled, he had widened the gap between them again, but Covington was quick, lunging forward in response.
Just as he felt the pressure closing in, Ye Chen strategically wrapped his legs around Covington, aiming for a heel hook. The match was heating up in a chaotic dance of strategy, resilience, and the unwavering fight for dominance.