Second Fight

[Yuito's POV]

My next match came sooner than expected.

Only after 2 hours of rest, I was going to have another match. Not that I have a problem since my last match literally lasted for a minute and because my cardio and endurance were the best in the world.

Probably.

I can't see anyone surpassing 35 stat points when 20 and above is already superhuman. My endurance is so high mostly because of my sun breathing.

Another thing worth mentioning was that Munseoung already had his second fight and won by KO again. That means he was already one of the finalists who was going to fight tomorrow.

And if I win my second match - which I most definitely will - I will be fighting Munseoung tomorrow in the final.

I couldn't have asked for a more perfect arrangement. It almost felt like I was the main character and it was my fate to fight Munseoung in the climax of the competition.

{....}

I walked through the hallway and there was a cameraman in front of me. I walked loosely while stretching my neck and getting myself ready for the fight.

The crowd was more enthusiastic than before and I could already hear them from the hallway. This time I did not even have to wait and directly entered the arena.

The stadium was dark and the moment I walked out, the light focused on me and the crowd erupted. The very foundation of the stadium shook because of their cheering.

What greeted me was a sea of people that filled every seat in the stadium. I was surprised by how much the amount of audience increased.

'What happened?' I thought to myself while walking towards the octagon.

I did not want to sound like a narcissist and this is not my usual joke but I genuinely think the crowd was here just for me.

It was like they came here just for me and their cheer was also just for me.

I waved at the audience and I also saw that every big screen was showing my image. This time, I was not the first one to go out so my opponent was already waiting for me at the octagon.

I reached the octagon and the doctors checked me again and luckily this time, nothing weird happened and I was allowed to enter the octagon soon.

"NOW!! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the fight you have been waiting for!! I present to you, the fan's favorite!! Prince Charming!! Yuito Fujita!!!!" The crowd screamed as my name was announced and I felt goosebumps when I heard their loud response.

'Fan's favourite.' I thought to myself while I entered the octagon.

Maybe the feeling I had while walking here was not just a feeling. Maybe the people here really cheered for me.

I looked at my image on the big screen and did a kissing wave and the crowd of people reacted again. I said the crowd of people but the cheer sounded heavily dominated by feminine.

{Huh, look at that. You attract hoes. It might be the incubus blood.}

I stopped paying attention to the crowd and focused on my opponent instead. He was jumping up and down while staring at me like a predator would a child.

Literally.

He was Victor Pertirno, a Brazilian fighter who specialized in striking. He was an uprising star as well in Brazil with his age only being 19 years old.

He seemed quite excited to fight me from the way he was looking at me. If I had to guess, he was someone who genuinely liked fighting.

My eyes scanned his muscles, his stance, and the way he always stayed on the tip of his feet to stay nimble. I could already feel that he was leagues above my previous opponent.

My fighter instincts warned me of another fighter.

I smiled at him, mirroring his predatory smile but even wider.

The referee called us to the center and like before, he told us the rules while both of us engaged in a staredown, and unlike my opponent before, he did not back down.

When we were face to face, our difference in size came to my notice again but it was not as bad as before. Standing at 6'2 feet, his body frame was filled with a healthy amount of fat and muscle.

You could tell from his build that he was built for striking. The right amount of muscle at the right places and enough fat and body weight to deliver a powerful punch.

His huge shoulder and calf spoke of a boxer rather than a kicker. He had explosive calf for quick movements and to leap forward while punching.

He had srong shoulders to move his whole arm around be it a hook, uppercut or straight. He will be able to puch with power.

He was not too big, and definitely not a weight bully like my opponent before but the fact that I was not supposed to be in the light heavyweight division became apparent again.

Then the referee was done and he sent both of us back to our corner. The camera crew and announcer left the octagon after which the bell rang.

*Ting!*

The fight started

We both walked forward in a boxing stance. I used the standard stance with my power shot - my right hand - under my chin, and my left a little bit forward, my jabbing hand.

I was in an orthodox stance.

My opponent had a different stance. His power shot - his left hand - was on his stomach with his right hand in a normal position. I suspected that his stance had evolved form a normal boxing stance to one that still held the essence of boxing but was also ready to block a kick. MMA was not only punching after all so fighters have to adapt.

And he was in a southpaw stance.

We met at the center of the octagon and when we reached each other, my opponent put out his hand in an attempt to have a fist bump.

Not minding the show of sportsmanship, I reached out to touch the glove.

That was a mistake. I forgot the first rule of fighting; the match starts after the bell.

He slapped down my hand and he immediately exploded towards me and filled the opening of my guard with a powerful jab.

I was shocked but I was fast enough to put my other hand on my face and it blocked the jab. But the force was enough to still shake my head.

A jab had no right to be that powerful.

My hand which was slapped away came back fast and I threw a jab while stepping back. He slipped my jab while stepping forward.

Or at least I thought he was. But to my confusion, he was suddenly at my right side when he was supposed to be on my left.

My instincts flared up and with my superior speed, I was able to react. We exchanged a burst of explosive boxing combinations and only with my sheer speed was I able to keep up with him.

In the end, we both backed away immediately. I threw 6 punches at him and 4 landed while he threw 4 punches and only one landed.

But the damage might as well be the same because his punch was stronger while I only put speed behind my punches.

We backed away, learning something from each other. I learned of his power and he learned of my speed.

Both wary and wiser now, we approached each other again, coming up with how to deal with each other's speed and strength respectively in that split second.

It was then that I noticed that he had changed his stance. From a southpaw to an orthodox.

So that was why his jab felt so powerful, it was actually a power punch. And it was also why he suddenly appeared to my right while stepping forward.

He was not only stepping in but changing his stance as well.

I finally realized his plan. First, he would use the tapping glove trick to surprise me and remove my guard. Then he would engage immediately, with a power shot disguised as a jab.

If I did not fall after that, he would step in while simultaneously changing his stance and he would throw a powerful combination before I adjusted to his sudden change from southpaw to orthodox.

"It didn't work out as you thought huh?" I taunt him in English and from his annoyed glare, he understood me

Now that his fight plan was out and he was unable to knock me out even with the element of surprise, it was my turn.

"My turn." I told him.

But unlike him, I did not need the element of surprise.

He had both of his hands near his face to guard it. It seemed his plan to counter my speed was to prioritize his guard.

Hahahaha, how laughable.

I was also a boxer who trained in the discipline for both of my lives. So I knew exactly what Boxing was weak against

I changed my stance completely. I brought both of my hands up and my front foot was standing at the tip of my toes while most of my weight rested on my back foot.

It was a Muay Thai stance.

My opponent came at me while ducking side to side and I simply smiled and swung my leg like a whip and hit him right in his leg.

A leg kick was the greatest weakness of a boxer.

My hardened and conditioned shin met the side of his leg and he tumbled backward while groaning in pain.

His eyes were wide as he decided to slowly move backward.

I smiled at him and my eyes glowed in anticipation. I moved closer to him while aiming for a leg kick again.

My legs brushed pass his leg and beads of sweat started appearing on his face.

He looked at me, and I knew he felt the stinging sensation on his leg.

Our eyes met and we both knew, he was in trouble.

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