Chapter Ten
Jet
“Here's the moment you all have been waiting for! Come on out, Jet!” It wasn't just their moment, it was mine, too. It was the moment I had been waiting for, as well. It was the time when adrenaline started pumping overtime. I felt jacked, and ready to kick some ass, and you better believe that I planned on it.
Coach was beside me. “Okay, Jet, are you ready to go?”
I nodded. I was more than ready.
The crowd, as usual, was losing its mind, screaming at me as I came down the aisle toward the cage. They called out my name in a fury, and it was obvious that I had some very loyal fans. I rushed into the cage and circled it, awaiting my opponent’s arrival. I saw my team going into my corner just as my opponent came out of the curtain and headed my way.
Bradley joined me in the cage, and we positioned ourselves in our respective corners and waited for the bell to ring.
With the ring of the bell, Bradley charged me. My head flew to the side from the impact of his punch. Blood spurted from my lips, and I took a step back to reset my position. I didn't step back far enough, however, as Bradley pummelled me with three blows at once, all to my face.
He swung again, but I blocked, and we exchanged jabs for a few minutes before the bell rang and we returned to our corners. Robbie applied something to my wounds, and gave me a drink of water, all the while yelling at me.
“Jet, get your head in the game, man. There is no reason for you to be taking any hits. We have prepared for this over and over again. Now get out there and ring that guy’s bell.”
I was nodding my head. It was about all I could do. I looked angrier than ever, and I was determined to do my coach proud. The bell went off, and we went at each other with kicks flying and punches slamming. I feinted to the side, and Bradley punched into the space where I had been. It was the perfect opportunity for me to come in with an uppercut to the face that connected so hard that Bradley staggered backwards. It took him a moment to recover his footing. He swung out his arm, but I ducked, and came back with a punch to the ribs, gut, and face, all landing perfectly.
I got the guy, but I also didn't expect him to stay put and swing a punch to my body, landing near my liver. I thought for a moment that I would throw up. I moved to the left, only to get another body shot, and I felt something twist in my back.
Bradley threw another punch, aiming for my face, but I blocked the punch, returning with a punch of my own. I slammed my fist right into Bradley’s face, bringing him to his knees.
I was bleeding, and although I was doing well, I needed to make sure that the fight didn't go to decision. I wanted a win, and Bradley had gotten in some pretty good shots.
Bradley stood up and hit me in the face. My head swung back, even though my body stayed firmly planted on the cage floor. I spun around with a spinning back kick, and pushed Bradley away from me, allowing me some time to breathe. When he came back in, I grabbed him in a clinch, and drove a few knees into him.
He pushed out of my grip, and I swung back, and hit even harder with a three-punch combination. We get into another clinch, and then we shoved off of one another. I charged at him, blood pouring from my head, and I hit him with a pow, pow, pow of punches.
Bradley started to back off as I hit him against the ropes. I was hitting him hard, but he wouldn't go down. What a mean monster that guy was; it was time to end this game.
I was focused as I systematically pummelled Bradley, hitting him mercilessly, crushing him in a pool of his own blood. I grinned as I looked down at my opponent, who wasn't about to get back up for more. I looked around at the crowd, and saw that there was blood dripping from his eyebrow down his nose.
The endorphins going through my body at that moment would prevent me from feeling any pain for the next little while, and hopefully vodka would take care of the rest later. I turned to look around at the crowd, screaming for their “king of the ring,” who just won yet another fight.
The guys in my corner, along with Coach, poured into the cage, jumping up and down in excitement. Coach grabbed me, and wrapped his arms around me, patting me on the back. That was when I felt the pain.
“I think I hurt my back, Robbie.”
“Okay, Tough Guy, we will have someone look at you. Let's wait for the decision, though.”
We didn’t wait long before the judges ruled me as the winner of the fight. My hands went into the air, and I circled the cage a few times before I headed out of the cage with my team. We went right back into the warmup area to see about getting me to a doctor.
“Jet, just have a seat while I get the doctor. I’m sure they are still trying to put Bradley's face back together.” I smiled, loving Robbie even more for that comment.
Many of the other fighters kept coming up to me, and congratulating me for the bloodbath I just laid out for all to see. Robbie came back with the doctor, and he started checking me out.
“Coach says you hurt your back.”
“Yeah, something kind of twisted back there when I got hit with a body shot. It doesn't feel right, and it hurts to touch it.” I showed him where the pain was coming from. He pushed into the spot I indicated, and I sucked in a deep breath. It hurt like a bitch, and I was none too happy that I got injured during my fight.
“You're going to need to rest on this one. Lots of ice. It's nothing serious, but you have to take care of yourself, or it could affect your future fights. Don't train hard for a while. A hot bath tonight will probably do you some good.”
“Okay, Doc, thanks a lot,” Robbie shook the doctor’s hand and turned back to me.
“Let's go get you drunk first, and then you can consider that bath.”
I laughed; he knew just how to make me feel better.