162 The Killer Move Is A Breath-Holding Critical Strike, And I Want To Send Ye Chen Away At The Beginning

"The entire audience and fans from all around the globe are on the edge of their seats, preparing for an electrifying five-round headline main event. This encounter has generated immense anticipation as it features two superstars—a contest rife with stakes and expectations. It marks a thrilling showdown between two champions riding impressive winning streaks. Tonight, they will face off at the Hanguo Shouer Arena in a bid to determine who deserves the title of the world's strongest fighter in the welterweight division. Special thanks to everyone supporting this epic contest. It's time!"

"First up is the fighter in the Blue Corner. He comes from a mixed martial arts background featuring free wrestling. With an MMA record boasting 13 victories and no losses, 12 of which were finished decisively, his impressive stats speak volumes. He stands at 188 centimeters tall, weighs in at 170 pounds, and boasts a wingspan of 190 centimeters. This fighter, ranked second in the world in his weight class, is touted as the superstar most likely to dethrone Ye Chen. Please welcome… Hamza Chimaev!"

Despite Chimaev's past controversies with the boy band leading to considerable disdain from some fans, a significant segment of the audience comprises dedicated fight enthusiasts. Consequently, while boos for Chimaev resonated loudly throughout the arena, cheers undoubtedly matched the noise level. There are plenty in attendance who genuinely believe he has a chance to best Ye Chen.

"Next, let's introduce the ferocious Hongjiao. This mixed martial arts competitor has an unblemished record of twelve wins with zero losses, finishing all his opponents and earning bonuses for each bout. He stands 186 centimeters tall, weighs 170 pounds, and possesses a remarkable wingspan of 192 centimeters. Hailing from Daxia, he is both the lightweight world champion and the defending welterweight world champion. This event marks his second defense for the welterweight title. Introducing... The Terminator, Ye Chen!"

Naturally, it's improbable for every individual in the audience to back Ye Chen, particularly considering his past victories over fighters from Han Guo. Furthermore, within Asian circles, there has traditionally been a tendency to draw comparisons between Daxia and Han Guo across various domains. Thus, while the cheers for Ye Chen might echo loudly, boos filled the gaps as many simply hoping for his defeat.

Following the introductions, the referee stepped in to explain the rules of engagement. During the customary fist bump, Ye Chen was taken aback when Chimaev initiated the gesture first. After that brief show of sportsmanship, the two fighters retreated to their respective corners in the cage. Chimaev's coaching team was still relaying instructions: to adhere to tactics, maintain composure, and avoid rushing into engagement prematurely. Chimaev had heard similar advice countless times leading up to this match.

In the commentary booth, DC exclaimed, "I can't wait to see how the talented Ye Chen responds to Chimaev's initial strike!" Logan added, "I'm curious to see if Chimaev can indeed take Ye Chen down." It wasn't just the commentators; spectators who had watched these two fighters previously were also buzzing with anticipation. They had formulated their theories regarding Chimaev's likely tactics, as his approach had become somewhat predictable in prior matches.

As the bout commenced, domestic commentators from Daxia turned their focus toward strategizing for Ye Chen. Some even offered hints, suggesting that he should emulate Burns and try to stay close to the cage from the outset, which could serve as an effective defense mechanism against potential takedowns, providing him with additional support behind him.

"Start!" The command rang out. Ye Chen examined Chimaev, noticing that the fighter had not charged in as aggressively as he typically did at the beginning of matches. In prior encounters, Chimaev tended to dominate the action, striving to establish favorable positioning right away. This scenario felt somewhat altered.

Although subtle and not overtly glaring, the change piqued Ye Chen's attention. Having meticulously analyzed Chimaev's past performances and simulated their matchups numerous times, he was keenly aware of even the slightest deviations. "Is he genuinely changing tactics? What could he be planning?" Ye Chen thought as he kicked up his caution, shifting to a reverse stance, leaning sideways while extending his front hand for reach.

At that moment, Chimaev erupted forward with impressive speed, delivering a rapid one-two punch combo. Ye Chen instinctively slapped Chimaev's lead hand to deflect it and quickly retreated, exercising greater caution than his usual approach. Under normal circumstances, he might have chosen to engage actively rather than retreating.

A wave of surprise washed over him as he realized that Chimaev had engaged in an unexpected maneuver. After he deflected the lead hand, he saw Chimaev dip low, appearing to dive toward him—a feint designed to set Ye Chen up for a takedown. Ye Chen wasn't truly considering just how he would handle Chimaev's opening strike, but he certainly recognized the threat.

Despite Chimaev's renowned prowess in Jiu-Jitsu, no competitor ever desires to be taken down; it meant transitioning to a vulnerable position when engaging in a sport that naturally favors striking first. To find oneself in a compromised position could severely limit tactical options. Burns, the Jiu-Jitsu world champion, had fallen prey to a brutal elbow strike from above by Chimaev, and Ye Chen was resolved not to suffer a similar fate.

In the simulation training space, he had practiced countering Chimaev's takedown attempts with his knee countless times, yet the results had been disheartening. More often than not, he had been knocked down far too easily, finding success only a fraction of the time. The outcome hinged dangerously on whether or not the knee strike landed cleanly; if it missed, he risked losing his balance and getting easily thrown.

Chimaev's approach was lightning-quick and low to the ground. Attempting a knee strike had become a risky endeavor; even a successful hit would be deemed illegal if the strike was deemed excessive. Thus, the odds were heavily stacked against him. Noticing Chimaev capitalizing on the diving attempt, Ye Chen heightened his vigilance, deftly sliding backward while executing a motion to break free from any hold to thwart a fall.

Just as he adjusted, Chimaev displayed a surprising variation in his offensive strategy. He momentarily halted the dive, twisting his shoulders, and unleashed a backhand overhead punch. In that instant, Ye Chen found himself paralyzed, his mind racing yet blank—a discord of instincts swirling within him as his senses heightened in response to the imminent impact.

Realizing that in that brief moment, typical defenses would be futile, he instinctively tilted his head back to evade the strike as it whizzed by him. The air became charged with tension as Chimaev's punch swooshed just past Ye Chen's face, merely an afterimage left in its wake.

"Bang!" The reverberation from the missed strike echoed through the arena. Chimaev had trained for this moment, having prepared that punch as his potential killer move—leaving everything he had in that singular moment of the fight.

Incredibly, that powerful punch failed to land on Ye Chen as planned, causing Chimaev to unceremoniously collapse from the force, nearly losing his balance when his fist hit the ground. The sheer power behind it had the potential to send Ye Chen into another dimension had it made contact—one considered more detrimental than any knockdown could ever imply.

However, while Ye Chen remained momentarily stunned by the display of force, he quickly recognized an opportunity. Seizing the moment, he charged forward and landed a decisive kick, aimed directly at Chimaev's shoulder, narrowly missing a clean shot to the head—an opportunity squandered, yet a move made nonetheless.

Chimaev, surprisingly agile, sprung back to his feet, instinctively creating distance to recalibrate and analyze the situation following the near blunder with his opening maneuver. The crowd erupted, creating a palpable atmosphere of excitement—the initial moments were explosive, and spectators teetered on the edge of their seats in thrilling anticipation.

DC exclaimed exuberantly, "Walterfak, how did he escape that?!" Logan, flabbergasted, responded, "Oh, this whole exchange was a carefully concocted strategy set in motion by Chimaev's team to take down Ye Chen. That punch had lethal force behind it; Chimaev was angling for an immediate knockout!" Despite the shock feeding the excitement of the viewers, Bisping found solace in the fact that Ye Chen had not been defeated in this manner. He, too, was not a particular supporter of Ye Chen but simply wanted to witness a more intense contest unfold, unperturbed by the prospect of the fierce fighter meeting an abrupt end from a heavy blow.