236 No Rush At All, Just Punch First And Then Talk

If Pereira encounters the black dragon, the outcome is uncertain. Everyone knows that the two men's ground skills are equally matched, making it difficult to predict a winner. However, when comparing Pereira's wrestling, control, and submission skills to top fighters like Ye Chen, the difference is astonishing.

It's not just the three judges who recognize this; nearly everyone agrees that if the fight goes to the ground, it could be the end for Pereira. People struggle to imagine how he could win in that situation.

"Ye Chen! Ye Chen! Ye Chen..." The crowd erupted as Ye Chen lifted Pereira. The chants continued for a long time. While some spectators wanted Ye Chen to lose, just as many were eager to see Pereira suffer defeat. This sentiment stems from the understanding that Pereira struggles on the ground, yet he has never lost in the UFC and has twice defeated the reigning middleweight BOSS, Black Dragon.

Online, many praise Pereira, claiming he stands at the pinnacle of the sport, out of reach for ordinary opponents. There are even claims that when Pereira crouches and hooks his left hand, he can deliver a standing knockout with just one strike. In short, Pereira seems almost invincible.

This perception also exists in Daxia. Some assert he could easily overpower both light and heavy champions, even drawing comparisons with heavyweight Gane. This mentality is somewhat blindsided; most viewers simply equate who wins with who the strongest fighter is. There's a popular theory known as "stacking boxes." Black Dragon dominates the middleweight class, and since Pereira defeated him, it's believed that Pereira must be invincible in that weight category. While this theory is not entirely inaccurate, it's certainly extreme.

Take Ye Chen, for example. He believes it would be easier to fight Pereira than to battle the slippery Black Dragon. In today's fighting world, being truly invincible is practically impossible.

"Bang." The two fighters clashed in the ring. Pereira fell to the ground sideways but quickly rolled over to lay flat, too cautious to stand up. Against Black Dragon, he might have been able to kneel and push back up, but Ye Chen's submission skills surpass those of a mere brown-belt Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. To face Ye Chen on the ground is essentially a death sentence.

Ye Chen, meanwhile, was not idle. He intended to control Pereira on his side and look for an opportunity to secure a back take. However, Pereira's strength was formidable, and he managed to roll over and lie flat. In response, Ye Chen stepped out with one leg, hooking Pereira's left leg, effectively entering his half-guard as soon as they hit the ground.

As soon as he turned around, Pereira attempted to fully defend, but found his left leg trapped. In despair, he placed his head against Ye Chen's waist and clung tightly to minimize his movement. Yet, with Ye Chen's ground skills, passing half-guard was almost a foregone conclusion—leading to either punishing ground strikes or a swift surrender.

With momentary control, Ye Chen lay atop Pereira and landed punches directly to his chin. Although they weren't full-force, every strike was effective given Pereira's current vulnerable state.

"Get out quickly; don't let him pass your legs or push you away!" Team Pereira shouted as Xia Xing stood up, pushing his shoulders in an effort to prevent anyone from lying down. Their strategy was meticulous, clearly demonstrating their expertise in Jiu-Jitsu and fighting.

Ye Chen was endeavoring to press his entire body up, aiming to place his head on Pereira's chin to strengthen his control and limit Pereira's ability to maneuver. Most critically, his head was positioned dangerously close to Pereira's chest, an area prone to being struck by his elbows.

Ignoring Ye Chen's punches, Pereira tried to push him back with his long arms, attempting to regain control. Xia Xing also fought to regain his footing. Caught in the action, Ye Chen didn't understand the directions from Pereira's team, but he instinctively locked Pereira's left leg with both of his, preventing him from pushing Ye Chen away or escaping.

He delivered two more solid punches to Pereira's chin. Though Pereira tried diligently to tilt his head away, his middleline was left unprotected, allowing Ye Chen to connect every jab. The cumulative effect of the strikes began to wear on Pereira; he felt a slight dizziness creeping in.

Ye Chen remained composed, continuing his assault. If his opponent prioritized protecting his head, Ye Chen would exploit that by pressing forward; if not, he intended to keep hammering away until a TKO was achieved. With the match still fresh and his energy high, he knew he could outlast Pereira, despite any strength Pereira may possess.

"Bang! Bang!" Ye Chen connected yet again. Pereira struggled to shove Ye Chen away, resorting to turning his head to avoid a second hit. But Ye Chen had other plans; he altered his approach with an overhead punch aimed directly at Pereira's face.

The impact was considerable—many opponents would crumble under such a hit. Pereira found himself unable to track Ye Chen's fist from his position, relying solely on instinct to evade. Nevertheless, Ye Chen struck his face once more, and as he caught Pereira's attention with his right fist, Ye Chen's left hand swiftly pushed away Pereira's right hand that was clutching his left shoulder...