The First Match (3)

"I've set it up this well, now handle it yourselves."

Spirit FC CEO Jang Hyun-sung was meeting with representatives from Hero Association. Recently, after expanding into China, Spirit FC had announced a merger with Hero Association, a small Chinese MMA organization, and this event was the first one held after the merger.

It was more accurate to say that Spirit FC had absorbed Hero Association, which had been struggling financially, rather than a true merger. One of the Chinese investors had demanded the absorption of Hero Association as a condition for investment. Because of that, Jang Hyun-sung was now creating matches for Hero Association that he didn't really want to. That match was the one between Liu Jinshi and Yu Jung-ak.

"This should be enough to keep us quiet."

"I've done as much as I can. With a referee from Hero Association, there shouldn't be any major issues."

The Hero Association representative left with a satisfied look. After he left, Jang Hyun-sung loosened his tie with an irritated expression.

"Are you concerned?" the secretary asked.

"It's frustrating that we have to put a kid making his debut in this kind of match, even if it's for investment. I feel bad for Senior Cho Yong-il too. You've made sure he won't get seriously injured, right? Even if the outcome is predetermined, he shouldn't get hurt. You understand?"

"The Hero Association referees are good at that. They'll probably stop the fight immediately even if there's just one slip down."

"Right. That's how it should be."

"And this."

Jang Hyun-sung took an envelope out of his pocket.

"What's this?"

"Go give this to that kid yourself. Tell him it's a bonus separate from the fight purse."

The envelope was thick.

"How much did you put in?"

"Ten million."

"You must be very concerned."

"How do you think Senior Yong-il feels? He helped me a lot when I was struggling. No, if that senior hadn't invested in MMA, he'd be doing much better than now. He's someone who could have lived comfortably for life without taking care of juniors. But he retired and worked his whole life saying he'd provide a way for juniors to make a living. Even though this is important business, it doesn't feel right. Give it to that kid since the senior would never accept it if I gave it to him."

"Yes. By the way, there's an interesting rumor."

"What rumor?"

"They say the fighter in this match is Cho Yong-il's nephew."

"Wasn't that just a rumor? Wasn't Cho's nephew in middle school? Wait... I remember hearing about one troublemaking nephew who did wrestling before."

"It's probably true."

"Is that why he's so concerned? But the senior wouldn't start a fight like this, he must have some confidence."

"What happens if Yu Jung-ak wins?"

"The contract is already done. I've given them everything they asked for, and if they can't handle it after all this, they're the fools."

"Wouldn't it be worth developing Yu Jung-ak after this? His visuals are quite good."

"Yeah, that kid is really good-looking. Not in an oily way either. He has a kind impression but with some wildness. But is there a chance he'll win? What do you think?"

"It's unlikely."

"Well, if he does win, we should properly support him. We owe him that much."

While the fighters were entering, the commentators were discussing at length.

[It takes great courage. An 18-year-old fighter facing Liu Jinshi in his MMA debut,] commentator Kang Du-hwan said.

[Experts are predicting a dominant win for Liu Jinshi. What do you think, Commentator Kang?]

[I agree with that prediction. Liu Jinshi is just too strong. There were even talks that he could receive offers from CFC. In fact, his record in stand-up fighting is even more impressive than in MMA. The hopeful aspect, if I had to mention one, is Yu Jung-ak's physical specs. It's rare to see a fighter with that height in lightweight.]

[His reach is quite long too, isn't it?]

[His physical condition is excellent. However, I heard he's been doing MMA for less than 3 months. Even if he did other sports before, MMA is different.]

[Since it's mixed martial arts, it would be hard to survive if you're lacking in any one area, wouldn't it?]

[That's exactly the point. Even fighters who have prepared for a very long time often fail to perform to their full ability in their debut fight. That's what concerns me. Anyway, our Korean fighter Yu Jung-ak has met too strong an opponent in his debut, but I hope he can finish the fight without injury. The hopeful aspect is that Team Silence's Coach Yoon Chang-seon is quite a veteran. He's a great coach who makes good strategies. Also, Olympic boxing double gold medalist Cho Yong-il has overseen Yu Jung-ak's striking. When legends like Cho Yong-il oversee training, it makes a difference.]

[How well he utilizes his physical abilities and how well he can use the striking he learned from Cho Yong-il will be key... Oh! As we're speaking, the fight has started!]

While they were talking, referee Wang Jinguo had the fighters touch gloves. The two fighters stepped back and the bell immediately rang.

Liu Jinshi came out with his arms extended in a touch gloves stance. Yu Jung-ak also reached out and lightly touched gloves.

As soon as the glove touch ended, Yu Jung-ak stepped back once and threw a low kick. Yu Jung-ak's reach was much longer.

Inside leg kick.

A kick thrown like a jab with the front foot, not with the weight on the back foot. It doesn't have much power, but it's enough to keep the opponent in check.

[Oh, Yu Jung-ak throws an inside leg kick first and circles to the side. But Liu Jinshi is a veteran. The explosive power he unleashes when he closes in - how Yu Jung-ak deals with that will be key.]

Whoosh!

Liu Jinshi ducked his head and threw an overhand hook. Yu Jung-ak stepped back and lightly avoided Liu Jinshi's hook.

[Liu Jinshi tried to land a strong hit. Yu Jung-ak avoids it with a light backstep. For his debut fight, he doesn't seem too nervous, does he?]

[No, his movement is not bad.]

[Isn't that kind of thing innate?]

[That's right. Oh! Liu Jinshi feints a low kick and immediately closes in. This is dangerous. He needs to avoid it!]

Liu Jinshi feinted a leg kick and swung a hook while closing the distance with Yu Jung-ak. Liu Jinshi's aim was to push Yu Jung-ak against the octagon fence.

Liu Jinshi threw consecutive left jabs and right hooks at the cornered Yu Jung-ak. However, Yu Jung-ak narrowly avoided Liu Jinshi's attacks by sidestepping.

[Good judgment. There's no need to exchange strikes with Liu Jinshi... Oh! As I'm saying this, he goes for a surprise takedown. He's got the grip. Good, Yu Jung-ak!]

Yu Jung-ak pretended to sidestep but immediately went for a takedown.

A surprise takedown catching the opponent off guard!

In that moment, as the direction changed, Liu Jinshi ended up trapped against the octagon. This was the difference between an octagon and a ring. If you use your footwork well, you can push your opponent against the fence at any time. There are many more angles than in a square ring.

Liu Jinshi was flustered by Yu Jung-ak's lightning-fast takedown.

[He's lifting him right up! Oh! The fence! Liu Jinshi grabbed the fence! That's a foul. He should get a warning.]

Just as Yu Jung-ak wrapped up both of Liu Jinshi's legs for the takedown, Liu Jinshi grabbed the fence. Liu Jinshi, who had been momentarily lifted into the air, regained his posture. The referee pretended not to see, and Liu Jinshi quickly let go of the fence.

This was a foul that often occurred even in the professional world. A situation where an immediate point deduction wouldn't be strange. However, referee Wang Jinguo let it continue.

Clear favoritism towards the home country fighter.

Yu Jung-ak was still holding the grip with his knee on the ground. But then Liu Jinshi's knee kick came flying.

Liu Jinshi's knee kick grazed Yu Jung-ak's eyebrow. It wasn't a clean hit, but it was clearly a foul.

Yu Jung-ak momentarily lost his grip. As Liu Jinshi tried to pounce on top of Yu Jung-ak, Yu Jung-ak escaped with a roll.

[Oh! That's a foul. What is the referee doing? He should deduct a point. It's a clear knee kick from a 4-point position.]

[More than that, it looks like Yu Jung-ak's eyebrow has been cut.]

Elbows and knee kicks were attacks that often caused cuts. Especially with elbows, there was a saying that even a slight graze could cause a cut.

Blood kept flowing from Yu Jung-ak's eyebrow. The referee temporarily stopped the fight and called in the doctor.

[It doesn't seem to be torn too badly. It looks like the fight will continue.]

[Yes. If it ends like this, it would be a disqualification loss for Liu Jinshi. There was a clear foul with the knee kick, which led to the cut.]

Meanwhile, Yu Jung-ak was listening to Yoon Chang-seon below the octagon.

"Jung-ak! Breathe, breathe!"

"I'm still okay."

Yu Jung-ak calmly looked down and said he was fine. Usually in such situations, fighters tend to use up a lot of energy, but Yu Jung-ak was calmly conserving his energy. Yu Jung-ak was thinking of this situation as wrestling.

Wrestling with a few more rules.

He had competed in countless wrestling matches since he was young. Yu Jung-ak still remembered what he had learned then.

If you get excited, you lose. If you get excited, you use up much more energy than in practice. You can win more easily if you always stay calm.

So Yu Jung-ak breathed calmly even though he had suffered a foul.

"You're doing well. Keep it up! Look for a chance to go for a takedown!"

The doctor temporarily stopped the bleeding and the fight resumed. Yu Jung-ak tried to touch gloves, but Liu Jinshi didn't reciprocate.

Yu Jung-ak didn't pay much attention to it. If anything, Liu Jinshi should have been apologizing to Yu Jung-ak, but he was the one getting irritated.

This was because he thought the fight wouldn't go easily. But Liu Jinshi wasn't worried.

That was because he knew the referee would fully support him.

Yu Jung-ak threw another inside leg kick.

That's when Liu Jinshi saw an opening and rushed at Yu Jung-ak. Yu Jung-ak swayed his upper body to avoid Liu Jinshi's attack. Then he stepped back.

A jab while sidestepping.

It was thrown lightly, but surprisingly, it hit Liu Jinshi.

[Oh, good jab from Yu Jung-ak. Liu Jinshi seems a bit flustered.]

[Even if it's a jab, it can be impactful as a counter. And that strike landed right on the nose. When you're in a fight and a punch lands accurately on your nose, even slightly, your breath stops for a moment. That's probably why he's flustered. Ah, now Liu Jinshi is starting to sway his upper body. He's going to get serious now.]

There was a reason Yu Jung-ak was able to hit Liu Jinshi just now. Through training with Cho Yong-il, Yu Jung-ak had practiced turning his evasive ability into an offensive one. That training was now shining in this fight.

Liu Jinshi mixed in leg kicks as he cornered Yu Jung-ak. Yu Jung-ak maintained distance while defending against the leg kicks.

Then came Liu Jinshi's surprise rear leg middle kick.

However, as if he had been waiting for it, Yu Jung-ak caught the kick and then extended his front leg to sweep Liu Jinshi's standing leg.

With one leg caught and his standing leg attacked, Liu Jinshi had no choice but to fall to the ground.

Yu Jung-ak's takedown flowed as naturally as water!

[Oh! Yu Jung-ak successfully gets the takedown after catching the kick.]

The commentators were excited.

And then came Yu Jung-ak's big ground and pound!

As if taking revenge for the dirty foul, the ground and pound was landing on Liu Jinshi's face.

Thud! Thud!