There was an electric atmosphere in the air, punctuated only by the deafening silence that followed Ye Chen's last punch. It was not just brutal; it was cataclysmic and perfectly timed. Just as Covington attempted to rise from the canvas, Ye Chen's fist connected with astonishing force. Despite Covington's defensive movements, the blow seemed to send him soaring. It looked almost like an unintentional backflip before he crashed down onto the ring mat, a heavy thud echoing throughout the arena.
At that moment, Covington was rendered defenseless, both hands involuntarily dropping. His mouthguard was ejected, and blood spilled forth, illustrating the sheer brutality behind Ye Chen's strike. The collective gasp from the crowd was palpable; it felt as though everyone present was struck by a wave of unease. Players seated in the front rows, including Wu Siman, Diamond, and others who had previously faced Ye Chen, found themselves breaking out in a cold sweat. Though they had their own grievances against Covington, an unexpected wave of concern swept over them, as they feared the unthinkable—serious injury or worse.
Logan was the first to break the stunned silence. "Oh my God! What a terrifying hook! It looks like it could obliterate everything in its path. Will Hebo call for a stoppage?" he exclaimed, eyes wide. "DC, do you think Colby is truly capable of defending himself after that blow?" he continued, the tension evident in his voice.
As Ye Chen dove into action, instinctively following up with an aggressive approach, Covington tried to mount a defensive 510 move. However, it appeared more like an instinctive flinch than a strategic decision. Ye Chen, undeterred, transformed his fist into a sharp elbow strike. In this moment, the range and power of the elbow would have made it far too likely for any stunned opponent to be rendered unconscious as they tried to regain their composure.
Just then, a flash of movement caught everyone's attention; a black figure surged onto the scene, barreling towards Ye Chen and colliding with him before he could launch another strike. The intruder yanked Ye Chen off his opponent, momentarily halting the display of dominance. Ye Chen, despite the interruption, stood with arms raised, filled with a mix of adrenaline and triumph. He could hardly contain his excitement; victory was so close, yet the referee's intervention meant lingering frustration as he couldn't return to the fray without risking serious disciplinary action.
Outside the ring, Catwoman jubilantly leaped, an infectious energy radiating from her. The audience erupted in chants of "Ye Chen! Ye Chen! Ye Chen!" echoing their adoration. "The terminator of Daxia," they proclaimed, their excitement palpable, ringing through the arena like a thunderous applause. "DEOS!" they howled in unison, a euphoric frenzy flowing through the crowd as they celebrated Ye Chen. The raucous atmosphere intensified as Ye Chen, climbing atop the cage, pointed toward his supporters, reveling in their cheers. Catwoman reached out, her enthusiasm uncontainable; moments later, Ye Chen scooped her up and they shared a celebratory kiss, igniting a wave of cheers and screams from the arena.
Yet, not everyone was celebrating. In Covington's corner, chaos erupted. Team members yelled, "No! The fight isn't over!" and "This is an unfair stoppage!" Their voices pierced through the jubilation. Dana attempted to silence the commotion, urging them to "Shut up," but the dissenters persisted, their voices rising in defiance. After all, they were there representing Covington, who was effectively their paycheck, while Dana's influence meant little to them. UFC history is laden with instances of teams facing bans due to misconduct, and the seriousness of the situation was not lost on anyone, especially with past controversies still fresh in their minds.
As the fray continued, the crowd expressed their confusion. Just as Hebo was about to examine Covington for injuries, he surprised everyone by springing to his feet. He approached the cage net, retrieved his mouthguard, and emphatically inserted it back into his mouth. Even then, he returned to the center of the octagon, wiping the blood from his face as if to signal he was ready to continue. Ye Chen saw this with a mix of indifference and understanding; it wasn't unusual for fighters to contest a referee's call, especially when things appeared to be going awry. Regardless of the reasoning, once the referee calls a stop—it's a stop.
In the meantime, Covington's team swarmed the referee, arguing vociferously. Ye Chen, unfazed, continued his celebration, intentionally ignoring the commotion. Catwoman, however, was less at ease, frequently glancing back, questioning, "What's their deal?" Ye Chen quipped in jest, "Just like you; you're not satisfied when the odds don't fall your way."
With a playful punch, Catwoman shot back, "When have I ever lost and not accepted it?!"
Meanwhile, Hebo remained resolute, declaring, "I stand by my professional judgment. If I hadn't called a timeout, Covington could have sustained serious injuries." Though his statement trailed off, the implications were clear. Dana, meanwhile, appeared conflicted, caught between the decision to uphold the rules or navigate the swirling chaos surrounding him.
As the tension grew, both Logan and DC, known for their fair assessments, stepped into the cage. Dana's frustration boiled over, his face reddening. "Listen to me; I don't see any issues with the stoppage," Logan asserted, while DC nodded in agreement, stating unequivocally, "That punch was too hard; Colby was out, plain and simple. He couldn't have continued."
Stubbornly, Covington shook his head, gesturing with an exasperated wave. "I'm perfectly fine to keep fighting! My mind is clear, and I have defensive awareness. That was just an accident." His coaching staff echoed his sentiments, hopeful that they could convince the officials of their stance. Having only twelve seconds left in the round, they were determined that Covington could withstand the time and escape to recover during the break.
But Dana firmly countered, "Let's all show respect for the penalty! Hebo is renowned as the best referee in the UFC, earning accolades for eight consecutive years. His decision stands."
Some members of Covington's team interjected, citing past matches where they felt Hebo made critical errors, like during the infamous bout between Conor and Khabib, where foul play went unchecked. The air grew thick with debate, spanning reasons and justifications from both sides.
Meanwhile, spectators in the front row exchanged glances, clearly uncertain about the assumptions floating in the air. Would the outcome hinge on the referee's judgment? They could scarcely fathom having endured the strikes that had just taken place without the match being paused. Yet, a lone voice bubbled up from the audience, resonating with defiance. "This is a battle of grudges! Let them continue until one falls!"
That single outburst ignited a wildfire of agreement, spreading through the crowd like a fever. "Keep on! Keep on! Keep on!" they chanted, their fervor rumbling like distant thunder, creating a cacophony that drowned out all other sound and left everyone perplexed.
Catwoman sighed, shaking her head, "Don't mind them. Just trust the professional referee's expertise. Colby was down. You won."
Ye Chen raised his brows, almost incredulous. These fans truly seemed to crave violence over reason, dangerously close to wanting to witness an injury. Dana, grappling with the crowd's fervent energy, contemplated calling security to intervene, in fear of escalating chaos.
Faced with mounting pressure, Logan—a seasoned host—stepped up, announcing, "We will review the footage closely before making a final decision!" The anticipation in the room shifted as attention turned to the replay, with thousands of eyes glued to the screen as they awaited resolution.
As the cherished clip rolled, the audience gradually fell into a thoughtful silence, their previously aggressive zeal now tempered, as they absorbed the scene they had witnessed just moments earlier. The tension lingered, yet hope remained that clarity would reign once the replay concluded.
In sum, whether spectators were rooting for Ye Chen or resting their hopes on Covington, the shared love for combat sports united them even in tumultuous moments such as these. At the heart of it all was a battle, fierce and spirited, driving everyone to the edge of their seats, waiting for the final verdict that could change everything.