I hit the mats with him knowing a lot was on the line.
We’d put money down—him and his buddy betting against me. The moment we locked up, he tried to bully me with strength, but once we hit the ground, technique took over. I slipped his hold, reversed him, and locked him down until he had no choice but to tap.

Victory was mine. His friend didn’t take it well. Before I even get up, he lunged at me from behind, chocking me from behind and knocking me nearly out.

Then the two of them were on me.

One took me in full nelson and the other hammered fists into my stomach, over and over—two angry sore losers making sure I paid for embarrassing them. My abs burned, my breath shattered, and eventually my body gave out under the brutal double-team.

When they finally stepped away, I was curled up, beaten but not broken.
They’d won the cheap way… but everyone watching knew who the real fighter was.