Final Round

It was the first time in our lives we are inside the ring against each other instead of being in each other's corner. It was a fight both of us knew would eventually happen and it was for Nora. Usually one used to always give in for the other but this time neither of us are willing to give in. It was a battle for the love of a girl who seemed to like the both of us equally. Though Nora is not aware of the fight, it is mutually decided that the person who wins would go for the girl while the other would back off. The funny thing is that we geared up in the same room as both of us are roommates. After wishing the best for each other we head towards the studio which was rented by our friends and turned into a ring. Our friends knew it would be a spectacle to watch the fight. Not only this fight is for love, but this fight would also display the ancient art of Karate and the modern art of mixed martial arts under one ring. The fight was advertised heavily and we gave our friends good entertainment in the name of the fight. Alcohol, food and strippers filled the studio during the fight.  Both of us were celebrated champions in our own world. I was a two time MMA featherweight champion while Kevin is a multiple-time gold medal winner for Karate in both Kumite (sparring) and Kata (stance and form).

The first two rounds had nothing special in the fight other than I spectacularly wasting my stamina. Kevin also was on the defence and I believe he was saving his stamina for the last rounds. The third round began and a Choku-Zuki  (straight punch) came flying towards my face which I barely dodged. I responded with a combo of left hook, right jab, left uppercut and finished off with a jumping-spinning face kick which he dodged effortlessly. My stamina was extremely low at that point and I had no idea how much stamina Kevin had. I was expecting a final barrage of offensive attack from his side given he knew about my stamina issues but he was saving his stamina for some unknown reason. I planned to go for his leg to sweep off his balance before he switches to an offensive mode. I tried for an all-out offensive attack in the first two rounds but failed miserably due to his unparalleled reflexes. Not only did I lose stamina at the beginning of the fight, but I also could smell fear from my sweat. 

The fourth round began and Kevin successfully connected a Morote-Zuki (Double-U punch), series of Bung-Da (Back fist punch) before finishing off with a back to back Empi-Uchi (left and right elbow strikes) to my neck. I immediately got knocked down to the mat but got back up before the 10th count. I could not believe I was able to get up as I knew that was his finisher move. I knew right away that he was not using his full power. I was uncertain why he was not taking it seriously. Before the round ended I successfully grabbed his leg as he lost balance and fell. I started to work on the toe hold (leg lock) submission. His reflexes were much slower on the ground and I exploited his weakness. I threw a few jabs before I locked onto his leg for a toe hold. He tried to reverse it but Karate teaches only a little about submission and I have locked on an advanced level of submission in MMA which is difficult to reverse or get out of once it's locked. 

The bell saved him and it was the start of the fifth round. 

I tried to sweep his leg again but he went for an unexpected Kakato Otoshi Geri (axe kick) to the back of my head. I fell to the mat but immediately got up. I could no longer sense the environment. Kevin knew I was groggy and I anticipated him to go for an all-out barrage of attacks as I tightened my body and one after the other came a variety of punches, finger strikes, elbow strikes, and kicks each separated by one second. Though I felt like I had kissed an express train, my body took the combo hits like a champion. He closed the distance between us for his final attack and went for a Nukite (Spear hand strike) to the left side of the lower abdomen. My body turned 40 degrees to the left side and fell to the mat. Before I fell, I instinctively used the momentum and managed to connect a quick right hook to his lower jaw.  Both of us fell to the mat at the same time and our referee friend rang the bell after the 10th count. We were wasted on the mat. Kevin got knocked out from the right hook while I lied on the mat in agonising pain, unable to move while blood continued to spew from my mouth.

We returned to our room with 10 beer bottles and chips as we laughed about the fight. While treating each other's wound I asked about a thing I was curious about. 

"You did not give your 100% today did you?"

"I could ask the same thing about you Blake", replied Kevin.

"I too gave 100% my man. You were too quick to catch".

I have seen your fights Blake, cut the bullshit. Any MMA rookie fighter would know to reserve their stamina and you being a seasoned fighter suddenly chose to give away all of your stamina in the first round. Come on dude!"

I smiled at him showing all of my 30 ½ teeth.

"Now that the fight is a draw what do we do about Nora?", asked Kevin.

"On the count of three let the both of us say what we think about her and if we still want to pursue her. Ready? 1…2…3"

"Not worth it my man", I said.

"I don't want her dude", said Kevin. 

Both of us roared with laughter as we opened the bottles of beer. We held up our bottle high in the air while I made a toast.

"To a night which was memorable, fun, exciting and most important an eye-opener".