The final round began with both fighters stepping forward, no hesitation.
This was it.
Everything came down to these last five minutes. Demaien knew it. Niklas knew it.
Neither of them wanted to leave it to the judges.
Niklas circled first, his footwork still light, but there was a difference now, there was no more arrogance, no more comfort.
The last round had humbled him. He had felt the danger when Demaien had nearly ended it.
But at the same time, he was still in this.
He flicked a jab, testing the range. Demaien didn't bite.
Demaien had his own fire now. The hesitation from earlier was gone. He stood taller, his guard sharper, his focus dialed in. He wasn't waiting anymore.
Niklas shot forward, throwing a crisp one-two. Demaien parried the first and slipped the second, but Niklas didn't stop, he mixed in a low kick, landing solid on Demaien's thigh.