At this moment, Ye Chen's versatility was on full display, highlighting the contrast between his style and that of a grappler like Chimaev, who primarily relies on wrestling and ground control. Whenever Ye Chen senses that he's not in immediate danger, his instinct is to go on the offensive, pushing against his opponent. Yet, Chimaev quickly seized the advantageous position, continuously grappling for control. As soon as he found his footing, the Wolf King's priority was to sneak his free arm under Ye Chen's armpit, laying the groundwork for a subsequent leverage move that could lead to a throw. However, he didn't have enough time to effectively secure that position. Instead, he was met with a heavy and solid blow.
"OH!" Logan exclaimed, his astonishment evident as though he had been struck directly. He remarked, "The attacks from these two fighters are downright lethal. It's clear they both perceive the other as a significant threat, and they're putting everything they have into each strike with the intent of finishing the fight." DC chimed in, adding, "Chimaev has to remember that even if he finds himself on the mat, his output of effective strikes still surpasses Ye Chen's. This is the first opponent he's faced who actually poses a challenge without being easily taken down." Prior to this moment, there had been extensive discussions about Chimaev's approach to an opponent who couldn't easily be brought down. Now, Ye Chen seemed to be that very opponent.
Though the commentary was straightforward, many spectators in the audience struggled to grasp what was happening, as the movements unfolded too swiftly for clear observation. Most viewers only caught a glimpse of Ye Chen's elbow strike before Chimaev wrapped his arms around him. Chimaev's head jerked violently, and his legs went weak, leading to a startling moment. For those inexperienced in actual combat, the impact of powerful blows on each fighter's performance can be hard to assess. Even though the exchange looked heavy, we all know that Chimaev is a resilient competitor. Leading up to this fight with Burns, he had sustained only a few significant hits throughout his career. Despite being effectively struck over a hundred times in his previous battle with Burns, Chimaev didn't falter.
As Ye Chen capitalized on Chimaev's moment of confusion and aimed to land a second hit, Chimaev instinctively leaned into the blow, delivering two quick punches to Ye Chen's head with short, quick jabs. Ye Chen countered immediately with a knee strike. "Farke!" Chimaev's shout echoed in the arena, filled with frustration.
In the competitive world of fighting, most combatants prefer silence during their matches. The reasons range from not being familiar with their opponent to the necessity of focus required in such intense battles. Additionally, speaking consumes energy, and fighters generally prefer to conserve their strength, opting instead to let their fists communicate. However, some fighters thrive on verbal exchanges, purposely using chatter to unbalance their opponents. Mid-fight, any distraction could lead to a critical blow landing as attention shifts. Consequently, Ye Chen typically maintains his focus without engaging in verbal warfare with his rivals. He chose to ignore Chimaev's remarks. Yet, it was clear Chimaev's outburst stemmed from frustration about the knee strike, not a tactic to elicit a reaction.
As Chimaev fired back, choosing a short punch aimed at Ye Chen's midsection, Ye Chen responded once more with another knee strike. Interestingly, his intention was not to inflict injury but rather to bait Chimaev into retaliating. It was unfortunate that Chimaev was not easily lured into that trap. Grappling like this is no walk in the park; we must acknowledge that they had been engaged in this physical contest for quite some time. Following Ye Chen's knee strike, he planned to utilize his arms to push away from their grappling position. Ye Chen didn't want to engage in a stand-up battle under these conditions; if he couldn't bring Chimaev down, he preferred to stand on higher ground instead.
However, Chimaev had other plans and was intent on maintaining control where he felt strongest, aiming for a significant advantage even as his knee approached the ground. Just as Ye Chen was maneuvering, Chimaev executed a tripping technique, commonly termed as a "big yi," while simultaneously using his body weight to keep Ye Chen from falling. At that moment, Ye Chen felt as though he was launching into the air.
"Bang!" The sound of Ye Chen hitting the floor resonated loudly through the venue, causing an audible gasp from the audience. In that instant, Ye Chen felt as if his internal organs had shifted violently from the impact. Yet, there was no room for self-pity; the Wolf King was still intent on his offensive, aiming to ride on top of him and take control. This was a face-off between elite wrestlers, and one small miscalculation could lead to merciless defeat.
Ye Chen might not be infallible, even after his relentless dedication to studying his opponents and refining his craft. He has achieved his current level of skill not just through physical training but by rewatching fights and analyzing his adversaries to minimize errors. But, after all, he is human, and mistakes are part of the game, especially in a high-stakes, intense sport like this.
Ye Chen quickly sprang back to his feet, expertly holding down the leg that Chimaev had just maneuvered over. With determination, he worked to hook Chimaev's leg with his own, applying a half-defense to mitigate the risk of being struck by a dominant position. At that crucial moment, Chimaev pressed his weight down onto one of Ye Chen's arms. Recognizing that his initial strategy had failed, Chimaev attempted to flatten Ye Chen, looking to escape with his leg free.
Yet, when Chimaev leaned into the push, Ye Chen seized the opportunity, wrapping his free arm around Chimaev's leg that he had restrained just moments before. This defensive move provided Ye Chen with leverage to prevent being flattened. "Bang!" Another swift punch struck Ye Chen in the head. Instinctively, he ducked underneath Chimaev, preparing for another assault. Chimaev was poised to throw more punches, but he found himself in a compromised position—stepping on Ye Chen's arm and grappling closely, which limited his ability to strike effectively. Consequently, he was forced to relieve some weight and maneuver his leg away from Ye Chen's arm.
Yet, in that critical moment, Chimaev made a slight miscalculation. As he tried to shift his weight off Ye Chen, he still didn't fully control Ye Chen's body. Had it been Ye Chen in that position, he would have firmly secured Chimaev's shoulder to restrict his movements before extracting his own leg. Instead, Ye Chen capitalized on the small lapse. When Chimaev's grip loosened, Ye Chen swiftly slid underneath Chimaev's left armpit, locking in a powerful hold. With determination, he used his other arm to shove against Chimaev's shoulder while simultaneously shifting his body to hook one of Chimaev's legs, effectively stalling his efforts to press down further.
Once Ye Chen freed himself from Chimaev's weight, he released the grip beneath Chimaev's armpit and pushed him away. This positional shift allowed him to escape from below Chimaev, who had not been idle in his fight to disengage and get back on his feet. "Hamza, watch your legs!" cried out the coaching staff in a mix of urgency and caution. But in the blink of an eye, Ye Chen was prepared for Chimaev's anticipated movement. With explosive energy, he powered his legs, rolling his body to twist Chimaev off balance as he had just regained his footing.
The strength requirement was paramount; Ye Chen never released Chimaev's leg. His dynamic motion caused excruciating pain to Chimaev as they grappled. As the saying goes, an arm cannot twist a thigh; naturally, Chimaev could not overcome Ye Chen's strength with mere leg leverage, prompting him to instinctively follow the direction of Ye Chen's twisting. Suddenly, Chimaev found himself kneeling on the ground, his hands bracing against the canvas.
In that rapidly shifting contest, Ye Chen seized the opportunity, promptly standing up while maintaining control over Chimaev's leg. One leg extended to provide support while his other leg remained tightly hooked around Chimaev's leg. With both arms diving into Chimaev's armpits, Ye Chen's objective now was clear: to establish dominance in control. If he played his cards right, simply anchoring one leg would not suffice, as Chimaev could easily reverse positions.
With determination, Ye Chen applied pressure with his arms, clasping his hands around the back of Chimaev's head, trying to force Chimaev down, seeking to eliminate any remaining support he had. The tenacity inherent to both fighters was palpable, though Chimaev strained against the brutal pressure, fighting the instinct to rise and regain his footing.