Thread: Love TKO

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Civic Center of Greater Miami Florida, boomed a loud voice across the arena. It is time for your main event, a Light Heavyweight showdown between two rising stars of the World Fighting Alliance. The big prize? A contract to fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championships. Let's bring out our fighters! The crowd erupted in applause. In the red corner, weighing two hundred and fifteen pounds, he stands five feet, eight inches tall. He is a Freestyle fighter who calls New Orleans, Louisiana his home. Put your hands together for Matt Granger! The audience cheered him on as he made his way to the cage. Granger was clearly enjoying the attention, and showboated quite a bit before settling into his corner. When the crowd had settled down, the announcer raised the microphone to his lips once more. It is time to introduce his opponent. In the blue corner, weighing one hundred and twenty pounds, he stands at an even six feet. He is a Kickboxer and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist who hails from our own Miami, Florida. Give a warm welcome to the hometown hero, Jacob Young! Jacob took his cue and began bouncing on the balls of his feet as the gate rose. He then began to walk casually down the lane toward the cage. The young and handsome fighter with soft brown hair and bright blue eyes touched the hands of many who reached out to touch him. He flexed his muscular arms and tightened his well-defined six-pack as his own form of showboating. When he stepped into the cage, however, he was all business. This was the fight that could make or break his career, and he had to be prepared for whatever Granger had to throw at him. The two had squared off in WFA fights before, and both had one victory over the other. Tonight was the night to break the tie once and for all, and prove to the other who the better mixed martial artist was. When both fighters were in the cage, the referee called them to the center. All right, gentlemen. This is a fight for a UFC contract, so I want you to do your best. This will be a clean and fair fight. Touch gloves to make it official. Jake glared at Granger, but extended his fist to touch gloves. I hope you enjoy watching me on TV, Jake, Granger said with a cocky smile, Because I'll think about you...not at all. He then bumped his fist and went to his corner. Jake ignored the posturing and slipped his black mouth-guard in, a look that matched his trunks. As he tightened up his black MMA gloves with the blue band that read WFA, his senses went on overdrive. Not only was he going to fight tonight, but he was going to win. He turned, and entered a boxer's stance just as the announcer told them to begin. Granger was in his Muay Thai stance, and moved toward him. Jake threw a few probing punches that were easily deflected, but once he was in range, he tagged him with a mid-level kick to the ribs. Granger threw a head kick at him that was ducked under, though Jake had to jump back to avoid a follow-up middle kick with his other leg. His opponent was playing for keeps tonight, so Jake would have to step up his game a little. He dodged another kick aimed at his body, then moved in and connected with a few punches to the face. A knee to his solar plexus convinced him to back off, but Granger had been damaged more than him in the assault. Seeing that his legs weren't doing him much good, Granger began throwing several punches. He had decent punching power, but since he usually relied on his legs, his blows were slow and easy to telegraph. On a particularly bad punch, Jake swatted it aside and countered with an uppercut that he was sure rattled his opponent's jaw. However, he seemed to not mind taking the blow, as he smiled and grabbed him around the waist, trying to force a double-leg takedown. Jake pivoted his body and pushed Granger into the cage. Once there, he grabbed onto his head for leverage and began kneeing him as hard as he could. Granger let go after a few knees, but a left elbow to the jaw left his head spinning. Jake pivoted around a second time and caught his opponent on the other side of his jaw with a spinning roundhouse kick. Granger's mouth-guard flew across the cage, and the fighter himself crashed to the ground. When the announcer declared his assured victory, Jake approached the referee, who raised his hand in victory and congratulated him. So, when do I meet with the UFC officials? Come back to the Civic Center tomorrow afternoon and take a limo to the business. Jake thanked him and went to change into his street clothes in the locker room. After grabbing his gym bag, he left out of a service exit. He did not have a car, but his house was not far from either his gym or the Civic Center where he had thus far had all of his fights. As he was passing by an alleyway, he saw a man in a funky get-up shouting angrily at a young woman. When he struck her, Jake felt angry. He began to approach the scene, being cautious, but not willing to turn a blind eye to such abuse on a woman.