Hei Long is someone whom Ye Chen admires deeply. He is recognized as one of the most seasoned competitors in the entire UFC arena. Over the course of his career, he has engaged in more than 70 kickboxing matches, with a number of these taking place in Daxia. During that period, the Daxia tournament organizers viewed him as a prodigy who could uplift the profiles of the fighters they celebrated.
Everyone is aware of the dynamics within the domestic fighting community. It's all about promoting certain fighters as legends, boasting about their victories over international champions, and reminiscing about their childhood triumphs. Who doesn't remember the tales of the reigning champion from the Feng family? This is how Black Dragon came to be perceived as a "monster" to those fighters who were heavily lauded by the industry.
As a result, the tournament officials began to showcase the Black Dragon, leading to the renowned phrase: "Black Dragon, Daxia Heart." Even in contemporary times, the Black Dragon is often seen draped in the national flag of Daxia, and footage of his performances still floods the internet.
In addition to his kickboxing accolades, the Black Dragon has also competed professionally in boxing. Later, he transitioned to mixed martial arts (MMA), accumulating over 20 fights in that domain as well. If you add these experiences up—those countless tournaments, big and small—he has likely battled close to a hundred times throughout his professional journey. Is it possible for someone with such an extensive resume to lack experience?
During the last fight, both the Black Dragon and Pereira faced rampant ridicule from countless observers before the match commenced. Many labeled him as weak and claimed he was intimidated. From Ye Chen's perspective, such criticisms are quite unfounded. After competing in hundreds of events, do you truly believe he would be paralyzed by nerves, fearing loss? To suggest he lacks courage is misguided, in Ye Chen's opinion. It is worth noting that he has faced Pereira previously, though he didn't win both times; surely there's pressure involved in such scenarios.
"Ye Chen?"
Heilong glanced at Ye Chen, who was concealed under a hat and mask amidst a throng of reporters. It's tough to find a UFC athlete who isn't aware of Ye Chen. Such knowledge would be impossible to escape, especially for someone like the Black Dragon who has made it a habit to watch every match. Moreover, the two have shared moments together, posing for photos in the past.
Ye Chen removed his mask and greeted, "Hi, it's been a while." With that, he extended a fist, and they exchanged a friendly fist bump. The Black Dragon even stepped forward to pull Ye Chen into a brief embrace, exclaiming: "This is the closest I've been to you since you moved up a weight class! I remember the last time you faced Wusman; I was also there, but I failed to grasp just how powerful you truly are..."
Ye Chen found it humorous that he couldn't recall specifics from that encounter. It's entirely reasonable; with the sheer number of professional athletes attending those events, how could he possibly remember every single one?
At this moment, the Black Dragon seemed genuinely convinced of Ye Chen's determination to shift to middleweight. Given his physical frame, it's evident that he would not suffer too much moving up in weight. Ye Chen too took a moment to assess his own stature alongside the Black Dragon and found that he stood comfortably without appearing diminutive or excessively large. The Black Dragon has a slender, agile physique, which is not too surprising; even lightweight Oliveira weighs the same as the Black Dragon on any given day, despite being shorter.
In fact, the Black Dragon qualifies as one of the smaller fighters in the middleweight category, primarily because he needs to maintain control over his weight while ensuring his agility. Excess weight can be a disadvantage; increased strength is futile if one cannot land a solid hit. The Black Dragon excels at leveraging his mobility to outmaneuver opponents and secure victories.
One of the reporters then inquired, "Ye Chen, what are your thoughts on this upcoming match? You share a good rapport with Adesanya; perhaps you could offer some insightful advice."
Heilong has adeptly handled reporters in ways that Ye Chen hasn't quite mastered. He quickly replied, "I know what you're really after—you're just fishing for headlines!"
With that, he gave a friendly pat on Ye Chen's shoulder, adding: "Bro, just be candid. I can handle anything you throw at me."
Taking a moment, Ye Chen replied, "Adesanya and Pereira haven't clashed in a while, so I'm sure they've cooked up new strategies and ideas since their last bout. It's quite challenging to predict the outcome of this match, given how closely fought their previous encounter was. The betting houses still seem optimistic about Adesanya when looking at the last fourth round of their previous battle, indicating that most observers still favor him.
Both fighters possess exceptional skills, and I truly believe they will deliver a spectacular showdown at the Vegas Arena. Ultimately, it's all about the outcome, but we should really focus on enjoying the journey of witnessing two warriors clash."
Ye Chen's words may seem vague, but they resonate with his genuine sentiment.
In this match, it is highly probable that the two will take it to the ground, as they are both still feeling their way around these techniques. Whoever demonstrates greater improvement during this preparation period stands a better chance at victory. This isn't merely Ye Chen's solitary perspective either—many others believe that in this matchup, it could very well be a battle of "landmines" and "earth dragons."
Yet Ye Chen felt that as long as he kept an eye on how each prepared, he could sense who might have an edge. After all, when two individuals are novice grapplers, if they manage to hone their groundwork proficiently, it could result in significant gains. Transitioning from zero to one forms an easier upgrade, while the leap from ninety-nine to one hundred proves substantially tougher. Human potential has limits, and this makes the predictions for this bout absolutely daunting...
With a grin, Heilong declared, "Did you catch that? I'm entirely confident I'll reclaim whatever is rightfully mine in this fight. Nothing can stand in my way. The night of the match, I'll be all in because I'm prepared to give everything—sacrifice it all for the fight."
Truly, the Black Dragon embodies the essence of a character driven by passion, seamlessly crossing into a two-dimensional world of combat. After a bit more banter with the reporters, Ye Chen moved into the training hall alongside Black Dragon and his team.
"Hey," Heilong suggested, "what if we go out together tonight?"
"Let's see. There might be something else on my agenda tonight," Ye Chen replied.
He wasn't eager for a night out. They belonged to different social spheres, and while exchanging pleasantries was perfectly fine, spending casual time together felt excessive. Moreover, who knows when they might meet again locked in the octagonal cage...
"I get it."
Heilong's expression was understanding. "Annie is a stunner, but I wouldn't be the type to go out just for kicks."
It was clear he was hinting at something more than simple entertainment. Ye Chen chuckled in silent agreement but stood firm in his decision to skip the outing.
The Black Dragon had expressly invited Ye Chen to witness his preparation for battle—not to draft him into war preparations or solicit advice. The Black Dragon was smart. It takes an extraordinary level of skill to rack up twelve consecutive victories, an astounding achievement indeed.
In his mind, Ye Chen is like a tactician, possessing remarkable insight to decipher the intricacies of combat. Having someone like him by his side during training could undoubtedly elevate Heilong's chances. Still, directly seeking out assistance or advice would be seen as both presumptuous and inappropriate.
Moreover, Ye Chen wasn't the sort of individual who could be easily swayed by material gain. This mindset likely fueled Black Dragon's enthusiasm for forging a friendship with Ye Chen, making future conversations and exchanges much more natural. Ye Chen clearly wasn't about to let this opportunity slip away, readily agreeing to join in.
Initially, it was all about warming up, followed by exercises focused on reflexes and core balance... These were all staple routines that Ye Chen could manage as well. Afterward, they progressed to practicing wrestling moves with a specialized wrestling coach, honing their ground control techniques.
During this phase, the coaching staff raised various inquiries, intentionally including Ye Chen to foster a sense of camaraderie. After an intense session, the Black Dragon grabbed a water bottle, downing a few gulps before moving closer to the cage, giving its net a light pat.
"Ye Chen, why don't you step up and give it a shot? Only if you've got the time, of course."