Even though Ava faced a setback at the very beginning, he remained remarkably confident. This confidence, however, was not tinged with arrogance; instead, it stemmed from his solid understanding of his defense and skills. He certainly didn't underestimate Ye Chen's abilities. Ava had always viewed this clash as a purely commercial bout, far removed from the realm of competitive sports. Even if Ye Chen triumphed in various aspects, Ava believed it wouldn't amount to much.
With both fighters measuring each other up, Ava seized the opportunity to deliver a sudden strike to Ye Chen's midsection with his lead hand. In an instant, he pivoted his torso, turning sideways to enhance his maneuver. At that exact moment, as Ye Chen attempted to counter with a punch aimed at Ava's abdomen, he found himself striking nothing but empty air. Ava's unorthodox sidestep caused Ye Chen's fist to whiff past him entirely.
Ava's twist wasn't in the conventional sense, dodging to the side of his striking arm. Instead, he inclined away from Ye Chen's potential offense, diverting toward his rear hand. This allowed his lead hand attack to carry minimal force, but it opened the door for a powerful backhand strike. Although Ye Chen's reflexes were quick, and he raised his shoulders in an attempt to defend, Ava's unusual punch still connected with devastating impact.
The force of the blow sent Ye Chen staggering back, painfully aware of the shockwaves echoing from the strike. Regaining composure, he instinctively bent his arms to guard against further assaults, all while retreating quickly. He lowered his center of gravity, as he sensed an imbalance that made him feel as if he were teetering on the brink of falling, even without additional pressure from Ava.
Ava, buoyed by his success in landing that punch, pressed forward with renewed zeal. He unleashed a furious combination of strikes: a straight punch, a flat hook, followed by a back swing, then a front hook… a relentless flurry of blows cascaded upon Ye Chen like an unending waterfall. The atmosphere crackled with excitement and anticipation, a testament to the spectacle unfolding in front of them. This was precisely the dynamic they had hoped to witness.
It wasn't merely about wanting to see Ye Chen subdued; many spectators had placed their bets on Ava, believing wholeheartedly in his impending glory. In an instant, Ye Chen found himself trapped in a barrage of punches that left him disoriented. The domestic commentators expressed their astonishment.
Commentator No. 1 exclaimed, "Wow! That punch was incredibly powerful! Ava is undeniably a star in the ring. His recent dodge was straight out of a textbook!"
Commentator No. 2 added, "Let's hope Brother Chen can weather this storm. He's likely reeling from that last hit. Right now, he's forced into a defensive position, just trying to absorb the blows."
Commentator No. 3 chimed in, "Ava's offensive strategy is highly adaptable. All of his attacks seem to target any moment Ye Chen shows vulnerability. If you look closely at the previous interplay, you'll see that Ava's lead hand punch was merely a feint. He cleverly misled Ye Chen to create an opening for that backhand strike. It's exhilarating to watch... I hope that Brother Chen can endure this onslaught."
Millions of viewers in the live broadcast room echoed the sentiment in a flurry of comments.
["Is this fighter really that powerful? That punch could easily knock someone out cold!"]
["No doubt about it, Brother Chen seemed dazed from that one hit; most people would be straight on their backs after that."]
["This is terrifying; Ava's combination punches are outrageously quick!"]
[Ava's abilities are incredible; this sequence of strikes is distinctly above what we typically see from MMA fighters."]
["I just hope Brother Chen holds on; it would be tragic for a fight months in the making to end this way."]
["Ava probably won't secure the win this time; even though Brother Chen is lowered and defensive, he truly seems to be stabilizing."]
["Take it easy—are you a boxing fan?"]
["Brother Chen is impressive, but Ava is operating on an entirely different level!"]
["It'd be interesting to see a mix of rounds—one boxing, one MMA. It feels unfair to have a pure boxing match in this context."]
The sentiment ran parallel for international audiences as well. They did not want to see Ye Chen fall victim to a KO in the initial round; that outcome felt too grim.
Amidst the tension, Dana and others were on the edge of their seats, grappling with palpable anxiety. They had anticipated Ye Chen facing difficulties, but the pressing issue was surviving three rounds. Otherwise, how would the revered No. 1 MMA fighter navigate his reputation moving forward? Critics would inevitably voice concerns: "Was he unable to last even one round?"
In a corner, Catwoman's father shouted anxiously, his emotions spilling over, though he hardly processed the words he was yelling. The sheer nervousness and apprehension had taken over.
Regaining a semblance of clarity, Ye Chen immediately shielded himself by raising his shoulders and pushed forward, launching a counterattack. His uppercut was both swift and sneaky. However, Ava, with his wealth of experience, expertly sidestepped the effort. Despite this, Ava's evasion inadvertently bought Ye Chen essential time for recovery.
Faced with no options, and fully aware of Ava's advanced skills, Ye Chen accepted that dodging left or right would likely lead him into trouble. Instead, he chose to protect his head while stepping closer, making up for the gap Ava's reach had created. At that moment, confusion swept through the crowd.
Live commentator No. 1 exclaimed, "What just happened? Did Ye Chen lose consciousness? What's going on?"
This sentiment resonated throughout the audience, mirrored in Ava's expression. Instinctively, his boxing intuition kicked in; with Ye Chen advancing, Ava reacted without hesitation, delivering a straight punch. Yet, just as Ava thrust his fist forward, Ye Chen adeptly shifted his head to the left, veering off the center line, simultaneously launching an overhand punch.
A mischievous smile crept onto Ava's lips, as he recognized Ye Chen's predictable response. It was a common reaction when faced with a straight punch; opponents often countered with an overhand swing, a staple of boxing combinations.
Yet, the ring is a place where common strategies do not guarantee success. In a split second, what seemed like a routine overhead swing morphed into a power-packed straight punch. The boxing style employed here differs from typical moves; a sudden switch can yield remarkable results, particularly when considering the expertise of seasoned fighters.
Initially, Ava positioned himself far enough to dodge Ye Chen's swing. However, the reach of a straight punch surpassed that of a swing punch. Although not as damaging, this thrust found its target—Ava's face. While the force may not have been overwhelming, Ye Chen considered it preferable to missing entirely. Even without full power, his punches carried lethal potential.