78 A Feint Dive, High Sweep, and a Headshot: Blood Flows in the Opening Scene

Hand wraps are crucial in the fight world. It's a technical job; if they're not done right, a boxer risks injury with every punch. After all, no matter how hard their fists, they can't compete with a skull. If not properly secured, the risk of breakage rises significantly.

This marked the eighth time Jackson had assisted him. He stepped back with satisfaction. "Finally done," he declared, quickly helping Ye Chen into his gloves. "Remember, it's all on you now. I borrowed a total of $100,000 for this fight."

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Seriously?"

"Just be careful. There's no guarantee in the arena," Jackson warned. Although Ye Chen had confidence in his abilities, he didn't support reckless gambling—especially not when it involved borrowing money.

Jackson, however, was an experienced gambler; one sentence from Ye Chen wouldn't change his mind. "I believe in you," he said, giving Ye Chen a reassuring push toward the exit.

As he stepped into the spotlight, Ye Chen basked in the admiration of the crowd. He was now a superstar in the fighting arena. Catwoman appeared again, helping him with his outfit as he prepared for the match. Yet, Ye Chen felt a little indifferent. Her unannounced entrances had become a pattern; each time, she seemed more intimate, even delivering a playful slap to his backside while taking his clothes.

As he entered the Octagon, Ye Chen felt an unusual calm settle in. Perhaps it was the result of seven consecutive victories. While warming up, he spotted Catwoman near the cage, her big eyes locked on him.

"You're silly," he called out. "You waste money on front-row tickets. You could come backstage with me."

Beaming with excitement, Catwoman's eyes narrowed. She'd recently signed a new contract with fewer restrictions.

"Am I not good for your box office?"

"By the way, do you remember what I said yesterday?" Ye Chen smiled. "Are you really hoping I win?"

"Of course not! I'm just wishing you get beaten. It's a shame your previous opponents were all weak. This one is different—very tough."

Ye Chen motioned her closer, leaning toward the cage. "Don't worry. We will win," he assured her.

Moments later, Oliveira entered the Octagon, sticking to his routine of bowing to all sides. This time, he introduced Ye Chen first, enthralling the crowd.

"The fighter in the red corner, the killer from Daxia, boasts a record of seven wins with no losses…" The announcer's voice rang out as he shifted toward Oliveira. "In the blue corner, we have the king of submissions, the former lightweight champion, with a remarkable record of thirty-three wins and losses. He is Oliveira, the God of Jiu-Jitsu!"

The referee stepped forward. "You two have experience. I don't need to say more. No dirty tricks. If I call stop, you must stop immediately. If you want to fist bump, do it now," he instructed. "Otherwise, return to your corners and prepare."

"Begin," he called.

Both fighters returned to their spaces, and the match commenced. The audience erupted into cheers. At the onset, Oliveira lunged toward the center of the cage and launched a sudden kick—seen as a standard move for fighters like him.

Ye Chen, however, was prepared. He recognized Oliveira's striking style, infused with elements of Muay Thai. Modern MMA fighters are now more comprehensive, blending multiple techniques. Oliveira was methodical; he had studied Makhachev's strategies closely.

As the fight began, Ye Chen mirrored Makhachev's move, dodging to the right. He knew that if he kept moving right, he could evade some of Oliveira's stronger punches targeting his backhand while avoiding the easier front-hand strikes.

In a contest of seasoned fighters, success hinges on detail.

"Huh?" Ye Chen thought, slightly taken aback. Instead of closing the distance, Oliveira took small, cautious steps forward.

He lifted his leg to test Ye Chen's defense. Ye Chen's instincts kicked in. He effortlessly deflected Oliveira's kick with his right arm. At the same moment, he launched a backhand straight—his reach at maximum extension. Oliveira's arms brushed past him as he moved out of range.

Surprisingly, Ye Chen noticed Oliveira swiftly stepping back, who threw a leg sweep—an exceptionally predictable move that Ye Chen blocked with his arms and sidestepped to the right.

To his astonishment, Oliveira had shown some evolution in his fighting style. Though he had previously relied heavily on backhand strikes, this approach was proving different.

Ye Chen pondered. "Seems a bit difficult to implement the same tactics that worked on Makhachev."

With this realization, he shifted gears. Instead of letting Oliveira control the distance, Ye Chen charged forward. Oliveira aimed to maintain distance, but Ye Chen skillfully extended his front arm, pushing Oliveira's leg aside.

In quick succession, he faked a dive, hugged, and then executed a high sweep. It wasn't calculated perfectly; he swept higher than intended, inadvertently landing a kick to Oliveira's head.

Years of hard work culminated in those fateful minutes within the Octagon. Every second counted, and adaptability, muscle memory, and real-time execution are critical in a match.

In one swift motion, Oliveira almost found himself struggling to keep balance against the cage as Ye Chen attacked with a flying knee strike. Oliveira reacted quickly, dodging to one side, escaping the cage's edge.

Gasps swept through the crowd. A cut marked the left side of Oliveira's scalp, turning once-white hair crimson—a clear indicator of the match's intensity, just a mere twenty seconds in.

The audience erupted into cheers, while commentators and professional fighters alike couldn't help but applaud. In just twenty seconds, the two had exchanged blows. Oliveira adhered to his approach, maneuvering to control distance, but Ye Chen innovated—meeting Oliveira with counterattacks.

DC, Rogan, and Bisping leaned back in awe, momentarily forgetting to commentate. Bisping was the first to regain his composure. "Ye Chen's adaptability is astonishing. He transitioned tactics seamlessly after Oliveira countered his moves. If only that last kick had been lower, we might be witnessing a KO in under twenty seconds."

DC agreed, "His ability to read the situation is exceptional. There aren't many fighters in this league like him."

Meanwhile, Oliveira's coaching team looked visibly alarmed. Their carefully planned strategy had unraveled in a matter of seconds?

"OV, be cautious with his kicks. Maintain distance or engage him up close. Do not remain at fighting distance," the head coach yelled, concern etched on his face.

Faced with an alert Ye Chen pressing toward him, Oliveira's demeanor shifted dramatically—no longer jovial, but serious.

"Find a way to fight in close." As this thought resonated within him, he involuntarily retreated before he could guard himself against Ye Chen's explosive style.

Not out of fear, but of respect for Ye Chen's unmatched speed and strategy. Oliveira took a deep breath and prepared to dive in, remembering his training.

On the sidelines, Spider maintained his focus; he knew Oliveira needed to transition strategy. "OV, abandon your attempts to prevent his dives and let him fall instead," he advised, aware of the peril Ye Chen posed.

The dynamics of the fight shifted. Oliveira hesitated but finally resolved to heed Spider's advice. In the heat of battle, Ye Chen advanced, his next kick aimed at tightening the spatial gap.

Oliveira dodged, countering with a powerful backhand punch.

In an instant, Ye Chen detected the impending strike and raised his arms defensively. The impact rattled through him but didn't break his posture.

Yet, it disoriented him, causing him to momentarily lose balance.

Oliveira pounced at the vulnerable Ye Chen, eager to capitalize. "Press him down, go!" his coaches cheered urgently, heightening the dramatic tension from the audience.

Ye Chen, reacting swiftly, kicked off the mat, ensuring he wouldn't be pinned by the submission expert. As he swiftly regained his footing, Oliveira struck again, knee first. This follow-up caught many off guard.

Through instinct and practice, Ye Chen turned and narrowly avoided the onslaught, regaining composure. Oliveira remained relentless, diving forward, aiming to grasp Ye Chen's waist.

However, Ye Chen sensed the move, his reflexes on high alert. He easily sidestepped, breaking free of Oliveira's hold as pressure mounted.

"Snap!" The collective gasp rippled through the spectators as Ye Chen's weight crashed onto Oliveira, pinning him to the ground momentarily.

"Ye Chen, Ye Chen, Ye Chen!" the crowd chanted. In mere seconds, the sequence unfolded—Ye Chen's dexterity and quick decision-making bewildering even the most experienced fans.

Commentator Rogan noted, "Incredible! Both are combat masters. Except for Salugian, Ye Chen has yet to face such peril."

"His anti-fall technique is stellar. Few have handled him as easily as he's handling Oliveira now," DC added.

Despite the struggle, Oliveira's face contorted with impatience; he needed to deliver more punches while Ye Chen found his footing.

What they failed to grasp was just how underestimated Ye Chen's skills truly were. After toppling Salugian, no one had truly challenged him—except for one who caught him off guard.

As the tension mounted between them, Ye Chen sought leverage but found Oliveira preventing any advance with his skilled ground defense.

The match remained in delicate balance, both fighters momentarily locked in an exhausting stalemate.

In the stands, millions were transfixed. The stakes felt as monumental as any championship bout.

"Ye Chen must hold this position. Oliveira's ground game is dangerous; he cannot afford to slip," one commentator urged.

"Yes, it's better for him to stay upright. Ye Chen appears eager to secure a swift victory," another chimed in.

Silence enveloped the Octagon as tensions rose. Suddenly, Oliveira's knee gave way.

Ye Chen seized the opportunity, aiming to capitalize on Oliveira's momentary vulnerability.

With one arm held tightly, Oliveira attempted to execute a cross or a triangle clutch. In a rapid reaction, Ye Chen's instincts kicked in, countering with precision.

His right hand pressed firmly under Oliveira's arm as an anchor, maintaining control.

If Oliveira rolled, he could create opportunities for submission, perhaps even a triangle choke. Yet, by preventing that roll, Ye Chen firmly guarded against looming threats.

Both fighters remained locked, but Ye Chen sensed the fatigue weighing on Oliveira. Now, they were in a war of attrition. The grueling back-and-forth of MMA left both warriors grappling not just with each other but also against the relentless clock of physical exertion.