87 The Eagles Have Never Been Spoken To? Breaking The Record Again

The atmosphere was electric, filled with anticipation and noise. As the commentary echoed around DC, he felt numb with excitement. Countless ADCC wrestling champions had been invited to the gym to prepare for the match, yet it was clear that no one could match Maha's skill in the same weight class.

He exclaimed, "Oh my God, finally someone can throw my little brother! This trip and fall is something he can truly be proud of. Ye Chen has certainly surprised us all."

Never in his wildest dreams did he think Ye Chen would possess such incredible wrestling prowess and show himself to be a formidable rookie. It became clear why Ye Chen had outright declined their AKA invitation.

Bisping, equally stunned, reflected on his years as a commentator, having witnessed countless Eagles games, yet he had never seen such grappling dexterity from anyone. "However, it won't be easy to keep Islam subdued on the mat," he warned. "His ability to rise and escape is unmatched."

Logan added, "Maha is very experienced. When he hit the ground, he semi-defended and closed off one of Ye Chen's legs. Now, let's see how Ye Chen manages to control him on the ground. If he can pass through the legs or even gain a dominant position, he could create significant challenges for Maha."

Meanwhile, at home, Ye Chen's family watched closely. The live broadcast displayed the moment Ye Chen was brought to his knees. Helplessness filled the air as people shook their heads.

The strength of the bearded man was overwhelming; Ye Chen appeared delicate, and despite his height, was pinned against the wall, unable to move.

Suddenly, Ye Chen tripped and fell, provoking shouts of astonishment from everyone present. "What a fall! Xiaochen seems to have some strength!"

"I missed how he fell—what did we just witness?"

"Hold him down, Xiaochen! Show him what you're made of!"

"Oh, is this a victory? Why can't he move, even though he's on top?"

The excitement in the room was palpable, seemingly more intense than even Ye Chen's parents could muster. Ye Jianguo watched intently, his expression restrained. When Ye Chen was first thrust into the cage, he had held tightly onto his teacup, gathered energy as if preparing for a fight. Seeing his son suddenly toss his opponent was a relief, but most in the room, unfamiliar with the fight rules, didn't grasp the full spectacle.

In the official live broadcast room, Commentator No. 1 enthusiastically observed, "What a beautiful trip and retreat! His timing was impeccable, just as Makhachev's knee came down."

Commentator No. 2 explained, "If you've seen Brother Chen's short video posted in China, you'll know he mentioned Makhachev's knack for deceiving opponents with knee strikes before going for the trip. He also stated he would use similar tactics, so that knee strike by Brother Chen was likely aimed at misdirecting Makhachev."

Commentator No. 3 noted, "I never predicted Ye Chen could best Makhachev. Many analyses suggest that without grappling against the Eagles, defeat was inevitable. Yet here we are—everyone underestimated Ye Chen."

The chatter in the live broadcast room swelled with excitement.

"Brother Chen is something else! I've believed in him for ages, but I never imagined he'd be this formidable!"

"At this level, even if he doesn't win the championship, he's impressive! I just hope those naysayers stop criticizing him if he loses!"

"He truly managed to take down Makhachev. I always thought he was the leading fighter in the UFC; no one at his level could take out Makhachev!"

"I'd love to see him play football too; just take down Maha! That little green chicken irritates me!"

"Seriously, who else can compete at this level? Lin Long made a contradictory statement before the fight."

"While his skills are commendable, they don't match Brother Chen's. I bet if Brother Chen has enough stamina, he could join their team effortlessly!"

"Forget the predictions—let's see them roll out!"

"Come on, brothers! Let's rally for Brother Chen! If he takes home the world championship, that'll be monumental!"

Meanwhile, Lin Long and his team were in disbelief. What just happened? When did Ye Chen become this strong? Wasn't he just a rookie sparring partner barely making ends meet?

The head coach muttered, "Damn, my blood pressure just spiked. We're turning down a goldmine here! Even if Ye Chen doesn't claim the championship, he's the top MMA fighter in Asia. His domestic following is stronger than that of many celebrities."

If he ever returns for endorsements or any other ventures, he wouldn't have to worry about financial stability again.

Lost in thought, the head coach wished he could rewind time and box against the Ye Chen who had once sought his recommendation as a substitute. He shook his head. "Did Ye Chen really let me win when we were sparring?"

The rest of the team exchanged glances with Lin Long, acknowledging the skill displayed by Ye Chen in the ring. Even the performance of Li Zhengyong in the earlier match was not something Ji Zhengyong could potentially rival.

Ultimately, although Ye Chen had let Lin Long win those sparring matches, it was a testament to his now-enhanced abilities cultivated from rigorous training day and night in simulated spaces.

In the arena, Ye Chen felt the ground beneath him. He wanted to ride the advantage, but soon realized one leg was stuck in Maha's grasp. Despite applying pressure on Maha, he recognized that his opponent's escape skills rivaled those of Oliveira and felt the terrifying aura emanating from this seasoned wrestler.

But Ye Chen refused to give in. If he couldn't pass the half-defense, he would rely on brute force. He slowly stood, dropping his knee onto Maha's abdomen while using his weight to control the position. His aim was to confine his opponent against the corner of the octagon, restricting his movement.

However, as soon as he knelt, Maha pushed him away with strength, forcing him back. But Ye Chen remained undeterred; ground control is about persistence. If he couldn't succeed on the first try, he would keep up the pressure.

As they struggled on the ground, both fighters remained active, striving to grasp the other's limbs. Makhachev was not about to sit idle; he looking for a counterattack, drawing on his immense experience.

Every time Maha attempted to seize Ye Chen's hand, Ye Chen countered swiftly. In no time, he delivered over a dozen quick punches, impacting Makhachev's defenses which prompted anxious shouts from Xiaoying and Mendes.

"Islam! Try to escape to the turtle position and find a way out!" Xiaoying yelled as they approached the end of the round.

Ye Chen, momentarily confused, glanced up; there was no time to waste. Pushing his elbow upward, he landed a forceful strike to Maha's face, causing him to grimace in pain.

With the pressure causing Maha to let go of Ye Chen, the seasoned fighter quickly escaped and attempted to rise and flip the script.

Ye Chen had committed to taking control. He buckled Maha's waist while keeping his weight down to diminish any chance of escape. Both struggled intensely, exchanged strikes, and executed movements that illustrated just how evenly matched they were.

Suddenly, with a last-ditch effort, Maha rolled, leveraging himself against the cage. Just as he kicked off powerfully to regain his footing, Ye Chen twisted sharply, trying to maintain his grip.

The sounds of the bell echoed through the arena as the first round concluded. Ye Chen retreated to his corner, the audience erupting into cheers as a close-up revealed blood near Makhachev's eye.

"How can this be?" gasped one spectator, astonished. "Is this fighter from Daxia that powerful?"

"This is the first time I've seen Makhachev truly challenged during a match!"

The commentators joined in the astonishment. Bisping laughed, recalling the prevailing narratives surrounding Makhachev's reputation. "I'd heard many fans claim that Kitty Hawk has never been challenged, considered a handsome fighter in the Octagon. I honestly thought Makhachev had an untouchable record. Yet, he's not just been challenged; he's been downed by Ye Chen in the first round!"

Rogan noted, "This fight is spectacular. In just one round, Ye Chen has shattered what was considered an unbreakable record set by Khabib's camp. What might this mean for the future?"

DC, however, looked bewildered. While he respected Ye Chen, he had spent countless hours with Makhachev and Khabib, their connections undeniably deep. But there was a line between friendship and professional assessment. From an expert's perspective, the opening round was pulse-pounding, though some distinguish folks might find it slow-paced due to its methodical grappling nature.

As Ye Chen neared his corner, he appreciated Catwoman, who rushed over with an open bottle of water. "How are you holding up? Feeling tired?" she asked, her eyes filled with concern.

Ye Chen nodded, acknowledging the fatigue that had set in. Maha was powerful, and though he had maintained control, he had expended significant energy, realizing the match was a true test of their skills.

"I don't see this first round as dull, not with both fighters at our skill level. If I can just avoid allowing him to recover," he contemplated, knowing two fighters of equal prowess often faced each other either in a thrilling spectacle or a tough contest.

With Catwoman providing encouragement, she massaged him, helping him recover. "You did an amazing job today. I believe you've got what it takes to reclaim that championship title."

Since arriving at Abe Zabi, she had immersed herself in analyses surrounding this match, fully aware of the challenges Makhachev posed.