Knuckle Up

Amateur Elite fight

“How are you feeling?” Coach Mason asked—expressing care when he saw the guarded look in my eyes as I sat on the bench staring at the wall and trying to get my thoughts in line.

“I can hear them talking about me,” The hosts had nothing positive to say about me as they were doubting if I will last 5 minutes. “Athena is a joke to them because she doesn’t know the real thrill of cage fighting,”

I looked at coach Mason. I was still focused and calm as I should be before a fight. “It’s funny how a few guys with a microphone knows so much about a person and their fighting tactics,” I sarcastically remarked.

“It’s all for the show,” He assured me as if I didn’t know.

“I know but so are we as fighters,” I replied and got to my feet. “We are a show. An entertainment. We are athletes placed to compete against each other to make a point of who is the best,”

“I don’t have to guess to say that you hate every form of judgement,” Coach Mason noted.

I pulled up my shoulders. “Why does it matter how I feel? I know I’ve got what it takes to last three, fifteen minutes with another fighter even though they are pros. I’ve gone through the same hard-core training as them, why I am singled out then? Because I fought in the underground? Shouldn’t I be feared for what I’ve survived in the traps of hell?” I’ve survived death. Psychopaths. Sadists. Tough opponents who were taller and much stronger than me. I survived the battlefield where there are no rules.

“If you are looking for them to lift you high and praise your name then you are in the wrong place, Sabrina,” Coach Mason pointed out.

I smiled. “I am not here for them or my father or my legacy,” I am here for me and to see what true fighting elements I possessed—if I was good enough to reach for the top.

“Why are you letting them get to you then?” Coach Mason questioned.

“I am not. I am sharing with you what I’ve overheard them say about me and I find it amusing that two people who have no background in fighting can judge a person who comes from a legacy,”

I never said that I wasn’t a legacy. I’ve made peace with who I am but I didn’t need the world to define me on the bases of who my father was. I want to forge my own path and make my own legacy.

Coach Mason couldn’t find words as he stared at me, completely stunned.

“Athena, you are up,” A voice called out and I looked at coach Mason.

“Are you ready for combat because I am? I don’t care with how many bruises I leave here tonight or if I lose. I want to be able to say that I tried my best and I will keep on trying until I get it right. Are you with me, coach?”

Coach Mason nodded his head. “I have been on your side ever since you were a kid, Sabrina,”

“Good. Now let’s go kick ass and make a little bit of chaos,”

I stepped out of the room with coach Mason following me and catching up to walk beside me as we entered the chaotic arena. It wasn’t as big as a UFC fight and there weren’t a lot of spectators but they were enough to express their opinions of not wanting me here. Their dislikes didn’t do anything as I was used to crowds booing. It’s always fun to prove them wrong at the end of a fight or when I get to knock out their champion.

I turned to coach Mason to get my tooth guard after the referee made sure I had nothing illegal on me before letting me enter the cage. Their fighter was already in the cage keeping her muscles warm as she was waiting for me to enter.

“You’ve got this,” Coach Mason assured me.

“Let’s find out, shall we?” I remarked and turned around to enter the cage.

“Remember to knuckle up and kick ass, Sabrina,” I heard coach Mason encourage, saying the words he always does before a fight.

My opponent, Michelle Rice came at me when she tip-toed around the cage to warm up her muscles. Our eyes met and I didn’t flinch at her intimidating tactic instead it looks like she got a fright when I just stared at her with an unwavering gaze.

Michelle Rice was known as one of Oregon’s top female fighters and she’s done quite a job to keep up the good title. She’s tough and her opponents barely make it out of the cage in one piece.

Michelle and myself got called to the centre of the cage where we met for a moment to acknowledge the rules and have our fists meet in agreement. “I want a clean fight,” I agreed to the referee’s orders and moved back to get ready for when he calls the fight.

The cage was slowly shrinking in on me as the seconds were ticking by. “Fight!” The referee called and moved out of our way.

Michelle advanced faster on me than I expected, her fist colliding with my jaw. The motion knocked me back and before I could recover—she kept coming at me. I brought up my gloved hands to cover my face and braced for impact.

I dodged her attacks but she still got through to me and knocked me down. She straddled my body with hers and showered me with jabs.

I clenched my jaw when I realized I was losing and had to do something to get back into the game. I inhaled a sharp breath and used my abdominal strength to throw her off of me. I got to my feet instantly and rolled my shoulders. Cleaned my hand and brought my hands back up but this time I was ready for her.

It was time for me to get my head back into the game even though I lost in the beginning—I was taking it back.

I haven’t brawled with a female opponent in a few months as it has only been males. In the underground, there were no gender-based fights. You fought whoever challenged you even though it was a person three times more your weight.

I stepped aside when she lurched at me and brought my knee. I knocked her in the torso with my knee and used my elbow to pound her to the floor. Michelle was fast to steady herself but she wasn’t ready for the punch I threw at her nose.

Her body hit the cage wall and I used the momentum to throw a cross jab to her face. She brought up her hands to protect herself from my punches but it wasn’t enough to defend herself from me.

I threw a jab to her torso getting her to hurl over from pain and then used the opening to strike her in the face again. I felt the crunch of her nose breaking against my knuckles and I almost smirked when she fell over. Her body hit the mat pretty hard and I had no need to move in on her to win the fight as I already did when she was unconscious.

I took a step aside when the referee pushed me away from Michelle’s senseless body. Everyone waited patiently for the outcome of the fight you can hear a pin drop but the ruling was already made as the referee stood back up and lifted my hand in the air—declaring me the winner.

I met coach Mason’s proud gaze that was surrounded by not-so-thrilled gazes. Today’s fight didn’t mean anything as it was only a friendly match to promote EFC—I was still delighted. I got out of the cage with the crowd expressing their displeasure vividly and met coach Mason who came over to hug me. “Ignore these bad losers,” He muttered into my ear.

“Don’t worry I am,” I stepped away from the unhappy crowd and headed to the locker room where the coach left me for a few minutes to take a shower. I got dressed and headed out thinking the coach would be back but to my surprise it was Jared.

It was nice to see him wearing casual clothing instead of black suit pants, a button-up shirt and a tie. Don't get me wrong, I find him extremely attractive but I like to see him without his business signature.

“Congratulations on your win,” He held a hot drink out to me. A chai latte. I wasn't surprised to see him as I kind of expected him to figure out where the EFC fight will be held. He has too many connections for me to hide away from him since it was an MMA fight. He is an agent and has forged his connections over the years.

“Thank you,” I accepted his kind offer. “I just don’t think it’s going nowhere seemingly that they aren’t really fond of me,”

“You have already made up your mind,” Jared noted. “Haven’t you learned anything over these last five years? It’s not about being the favourite. It’s about turning the tables and becoming the best by progressing.” Jared explained.

“The people in charge also care about luring spectators to the sports and having someone they dislike will make them lose income,” I also reminded him.

Jared smiled at me. “Sometimes I forget you have been on my side for a long time and know a lot about MMA,”

“The stuff I know comes from the days of watching my father fight and listening to his agents discussing his fights,” I shared with him.

“You didn’t share this with me during your interview,” Jared noted and I was a bit stunned that he still remembers my interview.

“That’s because I wanted to get the job on my own and not because of who my father is,” I clarified which he should get by now.

“I did employee you because of your knowledge and I would have done the same if I knew who your father is,” He assured me.

“Good, now with that out of the way,” I picked up my bag. “I want to get home. Maybe get me something to eat and go to bed,” My body was going to be tired and sore tomorrow. Eat and sleep will do me some good.

“Can I give you a ride?” He offered. “I will only drop you off and go home,” Jared promised.

I have coach Mason to take me home so I didn’t know why I accepted Jared’s kind offer.

“Fine, can we maybe stop for a burger?” I was dying for a good spicy and flamed grilled chicken burger. I haven’t had a decent meal in a few days and I am allowed to have at least one cheat meal before I have to return back to practice.