156 Dimensionality Reduction Strike, "In Seconds" Black Dragon

Indeed, it's a busy schedule. Ye Chen frequently travels back and forth between the elite training center and various practice venues. He often engages in discussions and training sessions with other professional players, finding it nearly unavoidable to collaborate. After all, he cannot remain cloistered indefinitely. Competing against talented individuals allows him to absorb diverse techniques and perspectives. Moreover, since that pivotal battle, he has successfully simulated the fighting styles of several opponents, including the formidable former Iron Blood. If he could manage to simulate Black Dragon's skills, it would be invaluable for him now and significantly beneficial for his future weight training.

To be candid, Ye Chen had been eagerly anticipating Black Dragon's proposal. When it finally came, he felt a surge of excitement. However, he maintained an outwardly calm demeanor and hesitated momentarily before replying, "Okay, I don't have anything pressing right now anyway." He quickly warmed up and began to don his protective gear.

"Brother, let's focus on wrestling today. That's my training plan," Heilong stated. Ye Chen's hand, which was poised to put on his gear, froze momentarily as he thought to himself, "What a clever maneuver." Clearly, Black Dragon was not merely looking to "play around," as he previously implied; he had begun to see Ye Chen as a potential rival.

It's well-known that Ye Chen possesses a remarkable ability to read the game, and Black Dragon is no exception. His acute awareness of gameplay allows him to excel as well. However, there's a significant difference between observing someone's technique from the sidelines and going toe-to-toe in practice. Watching a match allows for the analysis of an opponent's tactics and their technical fallacies, but combat reveals the true strength behind the strikes and the mindset of the competitor.

Before Ye Chen arrived, Black Dragon had prided himself on ranking among the top five in the league in terms of game-read ability. Now, he found himself questioning whether he might still hold that rank, considering how he believes Ye Chen may have secured a place in the top three. As a predominantly stand-up fighter, if Ye Chen had read his strategies early on, he could potentially capitalize on it when standing. This awareness prompted Black Dragon to focus solely on wrestling in their session.

Ye Chen's wrestling skills are renowned, enabling him to stand his ground against heavyweights like Maha, Wusman, and Covington without breaking a sweat. Such wrestling prowess far exceeds that of Black Dragon. Therefore, limiting their practice to wrestling seemed like a strategic choice to enhance his own skills. Yet, unbeknownst to Black Dragon, Ye Chen also possessed a simulation space of his own.

How naïve, to assume that Ye Chen wouldn't also have access to such a resource! With a smile, Ye Chen replied, "Sure." There's nothing amiss about Black Dragon's approach; in his shoes, Ye Chen would likely hesitate to train actively with potential future competitors without utilizing his simulation space.

The coaching team surrounding Black Dragon was taken aback with delight. Ye Chen's approachable demeanor indicated that they had a genuine chance to bring him into their fold. If Black Dragon could have a high-level athlete like Ye Chen aiding him in his preparation for the impending match, their odds against Pereira would surely rise significantly.

Before long, Ye Chen stepped into the cage, and the two began their warm-up routines before diving into wrestling practice. While the mat may seem soft, the intensity of the wrestling can be unexpectedly taxing. A proper warm-up is essential to avoid injury during their rigorous activities.

As they engaged in some preliminary wrestling moves, the intensity gradually increased, transitioning from light exchanges to more serious grappling. It was a tactical test as they probed each other's strengths and made strategic adjustments. The wrestling felt like an actual match; hands in front clapping together, mimicking playful actions while secretly seeking to secure a hold on each other's arms. Gaining the upper position in this exchange proved crucial for securing a win.

Naturally, Ye Chen wasn't going all out; it would be unwise to do so early in their training. With his skill level, he could easily dominate. Suddenly, Black Dragon lunged forward, aiming to wrap his legs around Ye Chen. However, Ye Chen's reflexes were sharp and decisive. It wasn't simply rapid reaction time; Black Dragon's wrestling technique also revealed several tell-tale signs that made his intentions crystal clear.

Ye Chen shifted his body weight back, expertly grabbing Black Dragon's outer arm with his right hand while leveraging his hips to maintain control. With his other hand, he instinctively secured a grip around Black Dragon's neck. "Adesanya, watch out for the guillotine!" came a shout from the ground coach.

Black Dragon responded quickly, utilizing one hand to pull Ye Chen's arm away from his neck while the other pressing against Ye Chen's thigh, keenly aware of the threat of being guillotined. Acting swiftly, he stood firmly, determined to break free from Ye Chen's grasp.

Ye Chen couldn't help but feel slightly surprised. While Black Dragon may not be the slimmest competitor, he nonetheless exhibited a surprising amount of strength. With daily fluctuations over 200 pounds, and as Black Dragon prepared for his match, his weight hovered around 200 pounds or even below. This meant they were on equal ground in terms of weight class. Feeling the power of Black Dragon as he sought to escape, Ye Chen adeptly placed his weight onto the Black Dragon, pushing him closer to the cage edge.

In a position where Black Dragon was clearly at a disadvantage, the limitations of his wrestling prowess became apparent as Ye Chen continued to push him back against the cage. "He's really strong," Black Dragon's wrestling coach observed. "His skills are exceptional in the league; it's making me eager to train with him."

One could question how, with all Black Dragon's resources, he managed to find such a mediocre coach to prepare him for one of the most critical fights of his career. The coach had once claimed the silver medal in men's freestyle wrestling at the 2008 Summer Olympics, evident from the Olympic-themed short-sleeved shirt he wore.

At that moment, the head coach of Black Dragon was visibly sweating. Ye Chen had expressed intentions to move into the middleweight class. The pressing question lingered: Should he truly step up his game and focus solely on wrestling, who would be able to contend with Black Dragon or Pereira?

"Stay alert! Lower your center of gravity. Don't engage him in this position," the wrestling coach cautioned. Just as he warned, Ye Chen made a sudden and decisive move. Seizing the moment, he tightened his grip suddenly, preparing to execute his unique maneuver.

In an explosive action, he fell backward while simultaneously using his feet to propel Black Dragon, launching him off the mat. The Black Dragon instinctively landed on the cushioned surface. However, he quickly attempted to break free from Ye Chen's grasp, trusting in his jiu-jitsu and wrestling training to help him stand. The noise from his coaches echoed throughout the gym, urging him to rise and escape from Ye Chen's hold.

Black Dragon, unfortunately, was struggling; his ground game lagged significantly behind Ye Chen's capabilities. The instant Ye Chen overcame him, he loosened his grip and rolled. He had an ideal chance to stand up, yet Black Dragon hesitated, missing the opening. Instead, Ye Chen swiftly transitioned into a submission position.

Although this was merely practice, Ye Chen had chosen to restrain his strength to about half of his full capacity. Nevertheless, this training match underscored an undeniable truth: a skilled wrestler with control can effectively diminish the advantages presented by stand-up fighters.