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Taking my seat next to Beck, I can't help but e of their seats, legs slightly spread, elbows resting on knees Hands clasped tightly and intense focus on the TV screen We're all nervous as hell right noondering if VanZant will go through with his co the fight right noith probably the sa this moment, the type of addictive personality that enjoys the euphoria of the ga win

"What round do you think he'll go down in?" I murmur to no one in particular

"He'll take it all the way," Dennis says "To preserve his credibility for future fights I' late in the last round"

I'd learned tonight that there are five rounds, five hts that went the distance, both fighters were huffing and puffing hard near the end

"Makes sense," Beck says as the announcer introduces the fighters to the crowd and theon TV It doesn't appear there's a favorite, the crowd equally cheering for both men when announced

A fewfor the ref to go over the rules, and then the bell rings for round one to start

My heart is practically inand pawing the air with hands protected with fingerless gloves Testing each other out, I learned Waiting to see ould make the first move

I vaguely hear the announcers on TV discussing VanZant: "He's been criticized a bit about being a counterfighter, so I think we'll see hi"

Mariotato throw a cross VanZant's hands coher to protect his face, only to take a sharp kick to his ribs It doesn't seeh, because VanZant ht to Mariota, who now goes on the defensive byhis head with his hands

"See, that's exactly what I expected," one of the announcers says "VanZant wants to put Mariota on the defensive right away Let hi to counter his moves"

VanZant backs his opponent right up to the chain-link fence and continues to throw jabs, crosses, and hooks, these punches I learned quickly enough with Dennis' explanations during the first fights My heart now feels like it's going to explode out ofshit out of the other man

"He's not going to take the fall," I whisper fearfully

Beck reaches over, grabs lued onto the TV

I see our plan going down the drain and JT beco two million dollars richer, and I'm stunned that just in aderailed

With a es to push VanZant back a few feet He's been cut over his left eyebrow and blood pours freely down his face Both men take a short breather, circle each other, and then in a move so fast I'm not even sure I really understand what happens Mariota spins 360 degrees, leaps into the air, and launches a kick to the side of VanZant's head

Almost as if in slow motion, I see his head snap to the side and his eyes roll backward before his legs buckle and give way to gravity

"Oh, look at that tornado kick Mariota just landed," the announcer screa crowd "And VanZant is down"

As I've cohts, just because your opponent goes down doesn't ht is over Mariota leaps onto VanZant's prone body, straddles his waist, and starts raining down blows to his head But al Mariota by the waist and pulling hin that the ref just declared a knockout

"It is all over for VanZant," the other announcer says with unfettered awe in his voice "Just unbelievable What has been billed as a o all five rounds has been settled in just thirty-seven seconds with a crushing kick by Mariota to VanZant's head I don't think anyone predicted this would happen"

My head turns slowly toward Beck He turns to htly open in astonishment

"Did that just fucking happen?" he mutters

"Jesus Christ," Dennis says in disbelief

"I don't think that was a dive," I say,back to the TV as I watch a doctor enter the ring and attend VanZant, who seems to be conscious but co hisvictory at the crowd "I think Mariota caught hiuard"

"Doesn't matter if it was a dive or not," Beck says "I'll pay him the money"