Approaching the cage, my back begins to sweat. My heart pounding so hard it’s all I hear.
Nearing the octagon I’m stopped by the UFFL sanctioned cut man. He’s skinny, and bald. His black shirt sporting the UFFL logo, paired with black shorts. He grabs my shoulders positioning me where he wants me. Using his right hand he dabs at the black glove containing a glob of Vaseline between his thumb and index finger.
He smears the goo along my eyebrows and nose, sealing my pores to the point they can’t breathe. It reminds me of the time I tried to wear makeup.
He steps back, and another man that is much larger grabs my hands. He feels along my knuckles before turning them and inspecting my palms. He feels behind my ears and neck before giving a curt nod and turning away.
Debs breaks protocol, grabbing me by the arm. “Remember what Camden taught you, and don’t make me regret this!” She shoves me toward the octagon roughly. Full of aggression, I shove her back and the crowd erupts with excitement.
“Fuck you,” I slur around my mouth guard.
She steps forward her face pinched together in anger like she actually wants to hit me. I jut my chin, wanting her to do something and one of the bodyguards steps in between us, separating us.
I climb into the ring, and circle the cage, getting a feel for it. The floor is soft, cool beneath the pads of my feet despite the hot lights boring down on me.
The crowd boos more than cheers, and anxiety tries to poison my outlook.
“You got this,” I whisper to myself. This is it. If I screw this up, I’ll fall to the bottom and have to climb out harder than anyone else.
“Here she comes ladies and gentlemen. The one everyone has been waiting for, Kiki! Queen! Kong!!!” The speakers blare her name, and the crowd erupts into a wave of cheers. I step to my side of the ring, jumping on my feet to keep my muscles warm.
Keep your hands up. Jab her in the chin, and right hook her. I tell myself, trying to remember everything Camden told me about Kiki, her weaknesses. She can deliver a strong hit, but she can’t take them.
She climbs into the ring, her hair in cornrows. The referee steps forward, calling us to tap gloves.
Raising my glove Kiki punches it unnecessarily hard. My eyes widen, my jaw opening with the amount of disrespect she has displayed publicly.
“Lets get it on!” the referee declares.
Instantly Kiki circles me like a lion. Keeping light on my toes I start walking, trying to keep ahead of her. She strikes, and instinctively I duck, and jab her in the stomach.
She twists, and jumps to the side, my hit doing nothing as far as damage.
My head whips back, a blow to the side of head coming out of nowhere. My brow stings, and my heart pounds against my chest as pain begins to blossom across my face. She grabs ahold of me, and slams me against the cage. She kicks at my legs, trying to take me to the ground. I lock my knees, and try to stay on my feet as much as I can. Using one of her hands that is wrapped around me tightly, she jabs it into my ribs.
Fuck that hurts!
Closing my eyes I turn my head, trying to breathe through the pain. Slowly I open them, and see Camden gripping the cage so hard his knuckles are white. He looks like a madman, as if he’s about to climb in this cage and kill Kiki himself.
I can do this.
Sucking in a quick breath I shove Kiki off me with every muscle I have. She throws a left kick, and I jump sideways, her foot nearly colliding with my face.
Side stepping her kick, I grapple her to the floor. She fights for side control, but I don’t give up. I keep my legs closed together so she can’t get in between them, and I keep my head tucked next to her neck.
Ding ding ding.
The bell goes off, declaring round one over.
Getting off of Kiki, she shoves me hard. Biting my mouth guard I shove her back, and the crowd goes crazy at the hostility.
The referee ushers me to my corner where a stool and my team await.
I sit on the hard wooden stool, and Debs runs a rag over my face, Camden giving me water.
“You’re doing great. Just keep your hands up to block her blows. Watch for her to drop her hands, and when she does, knock her fucking lights out!”
The referee declares our time’s up, and Camden helps me up. The break not near long enough, my throat still dry I long for more water.
Centering the ring, Kiki looks refreshed and ready to pound me into the floor.
The bell rings, I inhale a long breath through my nose to prepare myself.
Kiki instantly starts circling me, and I follow. I jab at her, hitting her in the nose perfectly. Her brows furrow as her face grows two shades of purple.
Her legs whips out from under her, and kicks me in the side of the head. My ears ring, and my head throbs. I notice her hands are at her side, not blocking her face, pushing my discomfort aside, I go in. Getting up close her eyes widen as she realizes her mistake in not keeping her hands up. I lay a one two combo into her face, one punch after another. Her head whips back from the force, and she stumbles backwards.