Damon squeezed with everything he had left, feeling his muscles burn with the effort.
Edward's struggles slowed, his resistance weakening as the choke took effect.
Damon could feel the seconds ticking down, but he held on, refusing to let go.
Edward's hands clawed weakly at Damon's arms, but there was no escape.
Damon could feel the victory within his hands.
He just needed to hold on a little longer. The roar of the crowd was a distraction, but Damon didn't lose his focus.
Damon tightened his grip, forcing every bit of his remaining strength into the choke. His muscles screamed with the effort as he held on tightly.
Edward's struggles continued to weaken, his attempts to escape growing increasingly feeble.
For a moment, he seemed to regain some fight, his arms moving sluggishly in a last, desperate effort.
But as the choke deepened, his movements began to slow again.
The referee moved in to check Edward's condition. He lifted Edward's arm, letting it drop to the mat.
It fell limply, but when he checked again, there was a bit of strength remaining. Edward's arm still had some resistance, though it was weak.
Damon, determined, kept the choke tight, feeling victory was close.
Just as Edward's resistance seemed to be fading completely, the bell rang, signaling the end of the round. The referee stepped in, waving his arms to stop the match.
The crowd erupted into a mix of cheers and confusion with some other booing.
Damon, panting heavily, released the choke and sank back onto the mat, convinced he had secured the win.
The referee moved over to Edward, who was still unconscious.
The medical team finished their checks and gave a thumbs-up to the commentators. Michael said, "It's reassuring to see that Edward seems to be in good condition. The medical team has cleared him, and now we await the final decision."
Daniel added, "Edward appears to be stable, which is great news. Now, the judges will decide the outcome of this intense fight."
As the medical team left the cage, Damon saw the judges gathering with the referee and the announcer.
They handed the announcer a piece of paper. The announcer glanced at the paper and then looked at Damon.
Damon's heart sank as he saw the announcer's gaze shift towards him.
The referee and announcer approached the cage. The referee helped Edward to his feet, and Edward walked over to Damon, extending a hand. They pulled each other into a hug.
Damon whispered, "No matter the results, man, you made me fight hard, and I appreciate and respect that. Thank you."
Edward nodded in agreement. "Thank you as well."
The referee, seeing the sportsmanship between the fighters, cleared his throat. "Okay, come on," he said, taking both fighters' hands and guiding them to the center of the cage.
****
In the Office.
Mr. Steele's eyes were fixed on the monitor, his expression a mix of surprise and intrigue.
He leaned forward, his hands on the table, and said, "Well, I didn't expect this." He stood, and walked closer to the monitor, his eyes scanning the scene.
"With that fight, I should've made you main event," he muttered to himself, a hint of regret in his voice. He shook his head, his gaze still fixed on the screen.
The monitor showed Damon and Edward embracing, their faces filled with respect and admiration for each other.
***
The announcer stepped forward, holding the piece of paper. He raised his microphone and addressed the crowd, "Ladies and gentlemen, we have a decision regarding this match."