135 Provocation in the Arena: Exchanging International Gestures

Chimaev once again stunned the audience with his ferocious fighting style. At that moment, Hua Zi, who had been brutally subdued, sat up against the cage, his gaze vacant. Through the lens, his expression reflected profound loneliness. After months of intense preparation for this battle, having invested substantial resources, being reduced to surrender like this was a hard pill to swallow. This is the reality of being the loser in the ring.

Ye Chen felt a pang of empathy, despite never having tasted defeat himself. Yet, he was determined never to face that feeling, not even once. So, to avoid such a fate, he knew he had to double down on his efforts. "Come on, you lost," he said, calming himself, as he approached Catwoman and playfully flicked her on the forehead.

"DEOS..." Catwoman gasped softly, bracing herself to retaliate. Ye Chen smiled and reminded her, "We agreed to accept our losses."

"Hmph, I promised to take your advice but I didn't agree to be your target," she replied, yet her hand quickly retreated. Catwoman was straightforward, a woman of her word, unpretentious in her demeanor.

"You weren't paying attention to the odds, were you? Most people weren't optimistic about Lyon, but you still wanted to bet on me," Ye Chen observed, raising an eyebrow.

"Damn it, why didn't you tell me sooner? What are their odds?" Catwoman replied, her interest piqued.

"Chimaev is at -125, while Lyon has odds of +325."

"What about your fight with Covington?" She grabbed her phone to look it up. "Wow, those odds are incredible. You're at -300, and Covington is at +800."

"What's your take? Isn't that impressive?" Ye Chen felt a sense of satisfaction with the odds. It suggested that the betting agencies accurately assessed the situation. More importantly, Covington had never scored a KO victory and was not known for his ground submissions. It was likely to go to a decision.

However, Ye Chen was the champion; typically, in a close decision, judges leaned towards the titleholder. Thus, in championship fights, the challenger had to be demonstrably superior or secure a stoppage to be crowned the victor.

By now, Chimaev was on stage, engaged in an interview. DC said, "Kamza, you really fight like a beast. As soon as the match begins, you're grappling your opponents, bringing them to the ground and overwhelming them. After such a long layoff from competition, today's performance has surpassed everyone's expectations and astonished audiences worldwide. You seem more powerful than ever."

Chimaev seized the microphone and declared, "I told you I would crush everyone. If you don't believe it, look at what I did today in the ring. No one can stand against me in the welterweight division. I am the best in MMA. Einstein, Tyson, Ali... I'm here to obliterate my opponents and take home the prize money."

"Kill Aribadi, Woo…" His fervor echoed throughout the arena, as Chimaev exhibited his signature enthusiasm with his jumbled enunciation, seemingly shouting with infectious fervor. Whenever he took to the mic, the words "Kill Aribadi" rolled off his tongue. This passionate commentary earned him the nickname "Eri Bati" among many online fans.

As Chimaev finished, DC grinned and asked, "Soon, there will be another huge battle in this arena. Are you interested in fighting the winner of that match next?" The crowd erupted in cheers, eagerly anticipating the next grand clash.

Simultaneously, there was increasing anticipation for a showdown between the fearsome Wolf King and the undefeated Ye Chen. Spectators envisioned a monumental battle, a collision between two formidable undefeated warriors. Chimaev proclaimed, "Colby is a joke; he'll definitely be crushed by Ye Chen. If Ye Chen hesitates, I'll be the one to take Covington on next, and afterward, I'll face Ye Chen. I'm declaring it here: Ye Chen and I are the strongest athletes in the welterweight division. I will obliterate him for all of you. There can be only one king, and that's me—Kamza Chimaev."

"Covington, did you catch that? I can bring you down in the cage; get out of here!" His words dripped with disdain. "What merits does he have to challenge Ye Chen? Does he even have a significant recent win? Can he still compete at this level? I'm here crushing everyone."

Chimaev had initially been viewed as the top contender. However, Ye Chen's emergence had turned the hierarchy upside down. Coupled with Covington's provocations, Covington's chances for a title shot were all but erased. His insults towards Chimaev were particularly intolerable.

Meanwhile, backstage, Covington laughed, asserting, "What a shame, you're just a brainless mutt barking loudly. Watch me, I'm about to make 20 million…" Covington expressed his anticipation, clearly eager to step into the limelight.

His coach intervened, cautioning, "Colby, keep your mentality in check. Ye Chen isn't any lightweight; he's not like Wusman, who can stretch a fight without finishing it. Ye Chen has won eleven contests in a row, and every one ended decisively. Be careful, and don't give him any openings."

His coach's warning felt like a splash of cold water, cooling Covington's excitement. Yes, Ye Chen was no weak opponent; he was formidable. A loss not only meant financial devastation but also potential lifelong debt due to sponsorship. Out of the one million backing him, three hundred thousand had been borrowed. A defeat would be catastrophic for him.

In no time, Chimaev exited the stage. "Let's welcome Colby 'Chaos' Covington," the announcer proclaimed. The arena had been cleared and prepared for the next round, but as soon as Covington's name was mentioned, a chorus of boos erupted from the crowd.

When he made his entrance wearing his signature red hoodie, the jeers grew louder. Yet, Covington remained unfazed, flashing his trademark fake smile and waving at the crowd as he made his way to the cage surrounded by his team.

Soon he reached the octagon. Unlike many fighters who flaunt their skills and antics leading up to the battle, Covington was often calm, almost quiet, within the confines of the ring.

"Now, let us welcome the new generation of two-time champion, terminator, Yinxia Ye Chen." The electrifying atmosphere surged as the audience erupted into cheers.

The arena buzzed with excitement, a myriad of voices reverberating throughout. This was the kind of reception reserved for superstars.

The lights dimmed dramatically. As usual, Ye Chen and Catwoman were accompanied by staff, moving through a throng of fans eager to shake his hand or even offer a hug.

Eventually, Ye Chen stepped into the ring, maintaining an air of composure, facing the audience from all angles, simply raising his hand in acknowledgment. In stark contrast, Covington began engaging in his peculiar antics, darting around the cage.

Those familiar with his fighting style recognized that it strayed from his typical approach. When he reached Ye Chen's side, he cheekily flashed an international gesture while sticking out his tongue. This action drew renewed boos from the crowd.

Catwoman shouted through the cage's netting, "You better beat him down, that's just cruel!" Provoked by Covington's antics, Ye Chen suddenly twisted his hips and lifted his leg, catching Covington off guard. He instinctively covered his head, expecting a high kick. Instead, Ye Chen halted his leg mid-air, grinned at Covington, and returned the playful gesture.

In this fight, he had no intention of letting Covington exit the ring unscathed.