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Ava nodded, looking past Ruben at Nash. She too was getting instructions, but she was also staring straight past her trainer and directly at Ava. The same cold expression had never wavered from her face.
“We love you, kid.” Ruben said, giving her a gentle tap on the jaw.
Chris gave her a mini fist bump, and in a blink, only she remained with Nash and the referee.
“The bell sounds and the war is on—OH HOLY HELL! Nash just bolted from her corner and slammed Beckinsale against the Cage!”
“No one saw that coming! Especially not Beckinsale.”
“Both fighters are upright, against the Cage... struggling for the advantage... Nash made the offensive manoeuvre but Beckinsale, very smart to hold her arms pinned like that. Nash can’t get a shot off, except—NO! Nash fires with knees to her ribs! Beckinsale STILL holds on! Keeping Nash’s arms pinned!”
“Incredible...”
“Nash backs up and drives her shoulder into Beckinsale’s stomach, LIFTING Beckinsale and SLAMS her back into the steel!”
“That hurt her. Beckinsale’s grip is broken!”
“Nash NOW unleashing fury! Right after right, aimed at Beckinsale’s temple! She pinged Beckinsale hard! Her hands are up but Beckinsale is in trouble here, she can’t get out!”
“Nash is pummelling her, but she’s only hitting forearms at the moment. Painful but it won’t win her the match.”
“Look at Nash! She unleashes a flurry of thunderous body shots at Beckinsale! This is months of being labelled a coward coming out here. She’s raging! They still haven’t moved from that one spot! How much more of this punishment can Beckinsale take? OH SNAP!”
“Beckinsale popped a sneaky overhand punch right to Nash’s head. Nash got stung there. She wasn’t expecting that! She backs up a bit AND HERE COMES BECKINSALE! Listen to this crowd! Beckinsale unleashing fury of her own! SHE PUSHES NASH INTO THE STEEL, HARD! She’s hammering away with both hands! Months of being laid up! Wondering if she would ever be here again! Left and rights finding their target: Nash’s face! That’s the bell!”
“Nash dodged those last few, but she got hammered more than once! What a first round!”
“Both fighters retreat to their corners, and one would think each of their strategies might need a rethink after their opponent’s performance here.”
“OK, OK,” Ruben said, gripping Ava’s jaw, checking her over, “how you feeling?”
“Fuck, she’s incredible. Never gave me an inch...” Ava huffed.
“Oi!” Chris called out, rubbing her shoulders with an ice pack. “Kiss her arse later. Focus now. You can’t get pinned like that again.”
“He’s right, babes. Stick and move. You’ve got the reach and the power. You survived the first round. You’ve done better than last time. She’ll be even hungrier. Now come on, get ready! Here it comes!”
The boys left the ring and Ava rose, facing Nash who sauntered forward, hands up.
“Second round in what’s been an even fight so far!”
“Crowd has definitely got their money’s worth so far, very even fight. Both fighters start circling the ring now. Looks like Nash shadowing Beckinsale. Nash shaping up to throw one of those lethal right hooks.”
“She’s just waiting, isn’t she? You can see it. She’s measuring—OH! WELL THE ONE PERSON WHO WASN’T WAITING WAS BECKINSALE! Strong one-two there! BUT NOW NASH THROWS THEM BACK!”
“Beckinsale’s head was rocked!”
“She staggered there, did you notice that?”
“Sure did! Beckinsale opens the distance up! Trying to get more room, she’s on the back foot now! Nash is having none of it, already within striking distance!”
“Nash TACKLES BECKINSALE INTO THE STEEL AGAIN!”
“Come on ref! THIS ISN’T FUCKING FOOTBALL!”
Ava couldn’t tell which of the boys screamed that, such was the ringing at the back of her head. Her back felt like it had been whipped with a cinder block. She dug her teeth into the mouthguard, screaming her pain and frustration into it.
She was in the ring with a shadow that was constantly overwhelming her, suffocating her. She had studied Nash. As a fan and as a fighter. But her countless video sessions during training seemed useless in the Cage. Just as soon as she envisioned a plan of attack, Nash switched things up and belted her in a way she never expected.
