Damon sat on his corner stool, wiping the sweat from his face and arms with a towel.
He took the water bottle from his cornerman and drank some water, feeling the cool liquid slide down his parched throat.
He was struggling to catch his breath, his chest heaving with exhaustion.
As he looked down at his hands, he saw that his palms were sweaty under his gloves. His knees felt weak, his arms heavy.
He tried to shake off the fatigue, but it was no use. He was tired, and he knew it.
Despite his calm exterior, Damon was nervous. He was worried that he might lose the fight if he didn't turn things around.
He shook his head, trying to clear his mind. He needed to focus on the final round.
Damon thought about his plan for the last round. He wanted to take the fight to the ground.
He hadn't seen Edward do any groundwork, so he might have the upper hand. But he knew it wouldn't be easy.
He had to manage to pull off the takedown, and he had no practice at all.
Damon took another sip of water, feeling it trickle down his throat.
The bell rang for the final round, and Damon stepped out of his corner, taking a deep breath. His legs still felt heavy, but his determination pushed him forward.
The crowd roared as both fighters moved to the center of the cage, knowing this round would decide everything.
Edward was quick to reassert his aggressive approach, his eyes locked on Damon. He feinted with a jab, testing Damon's reactions.
Damon, however, was more cautious this time, keeping his guard high and his distance measured. He wasn't about to get caught by another sudden punch.
Damon circled to his left, keeping his footwork light. He knew he couldn't afford to stand still and trade blows with Edward. His mind raced, calculating every move, every feint, every breath.
Edward lunged in with a quick combination—jab, cross, and a low kick—but Damon anticipated it.
He stepped back just enough to avoid the punches, then checked the low kick with his shin.
For a moment, it seemed like Edward would remain standing.
He widened his base, trying to maintain his balance, but Damon was relentless.
Damon adjusted his grip, gritting his teeth as he fought to complete the takedown.
With a final burst of energy, Damon managed to lift Edward's legs off the ground, sending him tumbling to the mat.
The crowd erupted in cheers, recognizing the monumental effort it took for Damon to execute the takedown.
Damon landed in Edward's guard, immediately trying to secure his position.
He knew his takedown had been sloppy, and Edward was already squirming beneath him, trying to break free.
Michael exclaimed, "Damon gets a takedown! It seems hes gunning for groundwork, we've seen him submit someone, so it might be exactly what he needs to swing this fight back in his favor."
Daniel added, "Edward was doing so well on the feet, but now he's on his back. Let's see if Damon can capitalize on this position and turn the tide."
Damon tried to posture up, looking to land some ground and pound, but Edward was already working to tie him up.
Edward wrapped his legs around Damon's waist and pulled him close, making it difficult for Damon to create any distance.
Damon knew he needed to be smart here. He couldn't afford to let Edward recover and potentially scramble back to his feet.
He pressed his forehead against Edward's chest, keeping his weight down while he looked for an opening.
Edward, however, wasn't going to just lie there. He pushed against Damon's hips, trying to create space.
Damon responded by dropping a couple of short punches to Edward's ribs, hoping to soften him up.
The punches weren't powerful, but they were enough to make Edward rethink his strategy.
Edward suddenly shifted his hips, trying to sweep Damon off balance, but Damon anticipated the move.
He widened his base and rode the sweep attempt, staying on top.
Damon then moved to half guard, pressing down on Edward's leg with his knee, inching his way to a more dominant position.