134 The Former Champion Was Strangled in One Round: A Violent Wolf

Hua Zi struggled to rise, but each attempt was met with the harsh reality of fists raining down upon him. In that brief moment when he rolled onto his side, the opening was just what Chimaev needed. It was evident that Hua Zi had to make a move quickly; if he didn't, turning over would allow him to escape the vise-like grip that Chimaev had established with his right hand. Should the fight shift to a frontal defense, Hua Zi had a good chance to finesse his legs free.

Seizing the opportunity, Chimaev loosened the hold on Hua Zi's legs and executed a flawless leg-crossing maneuver in an instant. At that moment, Hua Zi was still in the process of transitioning and not completely on the ground. Once Chimaev secured the leg-crossing, he released Hua Zi's right hand and began to unleash a barrage of punches with both his hands and elbows. The ferocity of the assault left Hua Zi disoriented and struggling to respond.

"Protect your head! Protect your head!" his coaching staff shouted anxiously from the sidelines.

Chimaev's ground-and-pound strategy was notorious for its brutality, and he had an affinity for finishing fights within the first round. The visual spectacle of an early knockout was something he aimed for with relentless energy. He didn't concern himself with conserving his power; each strike was delivered with the intention of overwhelming his opponent—regardless of whether every punch landed cleanly.

It became clear that Hua Zi would find it incredibly tough to sustain the onslaught that most fighters simply couldn't withstand during these early moments in the ring. In the preparation room, Ye Chen shook his head. "I fear we might not see the end of the first round."

"Is that even possible?" Catwoman replied, astonished.

Ye Chen had observed Hua Zi's efforts to bridge up and displace Chimaev. He had managed to do so the first time; however, during the subsequent attempt, Chimaev instinctively positioned one of his legs underneath Hua Zi, re-establishing control. Before anyone could fully comprehend the transition, Chimaev compressed himself onto Hua Zi as he fell, expertly pinning Hua Zi's head with a firm grip and rendering him momentarily helpless. Using one of his hands to cover Hua Zi's mouth and nose effectively cut off his oxygen supply, draining his strength little by little.

Simultaneously, Chimaev gingerly maneuvered Hua Zi's body away from the safety of the cage wall, inching him gradually, almost methodically, further into the center of the ring. "He's trying to prevent him from using the cage to get back up," Ye Chen observed, noting Chimaev's strategic brilliance as he executed the maneuver. "By covering Hua Zi's mouth and nose, he distracts him and keeps him disoriented. If he had attempted to shift positions before properly securing him, Huazi might have managed to wriggle free."

Coach Hua Zi had caught onto Chimaev's strategy and called out, "Leon, he wants to keep your body away from the cage! Get up quickly…"

But Hua Zi's repeated struggles proved fruitless. Chimaev clung to him like a shadow, and whether it was a lift or a shove, Hua Zi found himself pinned down, unable to escape. Soon enough, the plans devised by the coaching staff to shift positions turned into mere hopes of survival.

As the fight continued, with Hua Zi facing the cage and unable to utilize the shrimping technique to his advantage, his options dwindled. The absence of anything to leverage for support made it nearly impossible for him to evade Chimaev's dominance. Catwoman couldn't contain her astonishment. "It's so detailed. You can really see the skill gap between amateur fighters and professionals."

"Combat is precisely like playing a strategic game; each move can dictate the outcome. When amateurs face professionals in this arena, the difference can often be settled in mere seconds."

In the stands, Chimaev had already launched a relentless stream of punches—seventy or eighty strikes, with numerous connecting to Hua Zi's vulnerable figure. Hua Zi desperately used one hand to guard his face while trying to push Chimaev's leg away, aiming for any chance to lift himself off the ground again. The moment was critical since one wrong move could prove disastrous.

However, as Chimaev kept up the pressure, it soon became apparent that a turning point was near. With deft timing, Chimaev's fists narrowly missed being tossed aside while he steadied himself just in time. This brief moment of balance brought a fleeting opportunity for Hua Zi, who exploited the chance to shift his weight and drive his knees into Chimaev's abdomen.

The power housed within his legs proved significant. With renewed determination, he forced Chimaev back, attempting once more to evade the precarious grip that was slowly enveloping him. In an instinctual, habitual reaction, Hua Zi spun to regain his footing and escape. However, he faced a formidable opponent. Chimaev swiftly countered, snatching one of Hua Zi's legs back and forcing him down once again.

At this juncture, Hua Zi was on the verge of being pinned, wrestling against the almost insurmountable control Chimaev exerted. Through sheer luck, it seemed Hua Zi could only retreat into a defensive posture, tucking his chin down and guarding his head with his hands, hoping to weather the storm of blows. Yet, the reality of the situation was dire, as any lapse in vigilance could lead to a choke or worse.

The coaching team watched in despair, both helpless and speechless, voicing their desperation silently as they recognized the dire trajectory of the fight. Being placed in such a position felt nothing short of a death sentence, especially considering the round wasn't even close to concluding, with a little over a minute and forty seconds left.

Chimaev, like a predator in the wild, moved with relentless precision. He began to throw punches without any restraint, forcing Hua Zi to find ways to survive rather than escape. "How can he possibly get out of this?" Catwoman queried, laced with concern.

"No good options here," Ye Chen remarked gravely. "If I were in his shoes, I'd be counting the seconds until the round ended. Prepare for our turn shortly."

Catwoman's worry shifted, "Is Chimaev that dominant? Does this mean he can overcome Wusman as well?"

Ye Chen chuckled softly, "Not exactly. Different fighters have different strengths and weaknesses. Chimaev might be able to topple Hua Zi in a round, but I assure you, he won't have the same success against Wusman over five. Just because Chimaev has this victory doesn't mean his technique supersedes Wusman's own defensive prowess."

"If someone like Burns were in there instead of Hua Zi, they'd have a better shot at reversing positions despite the chaos," he continued. "But Hua Zi's fighting style shows a dangerous tendency to collapse in situations where he should be fighting back."

As the action progressed, Hua Zi endeavored to reduce the potential for punishment. Instinctively, he placed his elbows firmly on the ground, trying to shield his head with his arms and torso. However, each effort was met with Chimaev's relentless strikes, and as Hua Zi attempted to rise, Chimaev's powerful legs swiftly drove him back down, compelling him into submission.

In a matter of moments, Chimaev unleashed a flurry of additional punches, and Hua Zi's energy waned further as the onslaught continued without a break. By now, he recognized that any attempts to rise again would likely lead to more pain. He shifted tactics and instead sought to grip Chimaev's arms, curbing the constant bombardment with his hands, hoping for time to run out.

Just as he mustered the will to grasp Chimaev's wrist, Chimaev's other arm slipped under Hua Zi's neck. In the blink of an eye, he locked in the naked choke, transitioning effortlessly from mount to submission. Hua Zi lay defenseless, trapped beneath Chimaev's weight, his hands useless against Chimaev's powerful grip.

Time seemed to freeze. Chimaev swiftly rolled over, and with his legs firmly anchored against Hua Zi's body, he secured the choke tighter with each passing second. The crowd erupted as the realization of defeat dawned on Hua Zi, who saw no way to escape.

With a triumphant roar, Chimaev leapt to his feet and raced to the cage, basking in the cheers of a crowd stunned by the suddenness of the victory. The former champion had been subdued in just one round, leaving the audience in shock and anticipation of what might await Chimaev when he finally faces Ye Chen, who had previously triumphed over Wusman.

As discussions swirled about the implications of Chimaev's domination, questions loomed large: How would Ye Chen respond to such an aggressive force? Would this herald a new chapter in their rivalry?