Whittier clapped his hands again, his voice cutting through the sounds of the gym. "Alright, boys, let's get back to it, shall we? Time to sharpen up."
Damon and Ivan nodded, adjusting their stances as they prepared to resume their sparring session.
The sound of gloves being tightened echoed in the room as Damon bounced lightly on his toes, feeling the familiar tension in his legs.
Across from him, Ivan stood firm, his eyes locked on Damon's every movement.
The two squared up, and as soon as Whittier gave the signal, Damon moved in first, starting with his favored approach, a sharp, well-placed low kick aimed at Ivan's lead leg.
His shin connected with a satisfying thud, sending a ripple through Ivan's stance, but Ivan was quick to adjust, stepping back slightly to avoid taking another full-force blow.
Damon kept up the pressure, immediately following with another low kick, his Muay Thai instincts kicking in.
He knew that chopping down Ivan's legs would slow the Russian's movement, making him easier to deal with.
But as the sparring continued, Damon found himself stuck in a pattern. Another low kick. Then another. And another.
He wasn't fully utilizing the advantages he had, his height and reach.
Instead of stepping back and creating distance, Damon stayed within striking range, failing to maximize his range to keep Ivan at bay.
Whittier stood by, watching closely, his eyes narrowing as he noticed Damon's flaw.
The kicks were solid, no doubt, but Damon wasn't making use of his full skillset.
Ivan, on the other hand, took the hits well but had his own weaknesses.
As Damon continued to pepper him with kicks, Ivan's response was to close the distance, looking for an opening to use his Sambo.
But his approach was too predictable, he would lower his guard, telegraphing his intentions, and Damon quickly capitalized on it.
Damon threw a quick jab, followed by a left hook, catching Ivan's cheek as the Russian overcommitted on an attempt to grab hold of him.
Ivan stumbled back slightly, his hands coming up to protect his face.
Damon saw the opening and pressed forward, aiming a hard right cross, but Ivan managed to block it just in time.
Whittier looked between them, his voice calm but firm. "You both have strengths, but you're making it easier for each other. Damon, keep Ivan on the outside. Don't give him the chance to close the distance. And Ivan, you've got to be smarter about when you engage. If you can't get inside, you're gonna struggle."
He stepped back, gesturing for them to reset. "Let's go again. This time, Damon, I want to see you use that reach. Keep moving. And Ivan, make him work to stay on the outside."
Damon took the advice to heart as they prepared to spar again.
He adjusted his stance, bouncing more lightly on his toes, ready to change his approach.
This time, he wouldn't just rely on the low kicks. It was time to put everything together.
Whittier watched closely as Damon and Ivan squared off again, both fighters resetting after his feedback.
He could see the potential in both of them, raw, unpolished, but undeniably there.
Damon's Muay Thai was solid, especially his powerful kicks, but Whittier knew there was more to him.
If Damon could fully utilize his reach and footwork, he could become a dangerous striker who could pick opponents apart from a distance.
Whittier had also seen notes on Damon's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu background.
The kid had submissions in his toolkit, something Whittier knew they'd tap into later.
For now, though, striking was the focus.
Ivan, on the other hand, was a force of nature.
His background in Sambo, combined with his raw power, made him a tough opponent for anyone.
A state champion in Russia was no small feat, considering the talent pool over there.
His grappling was clearly his bread and butter, but Ivan's striking wasn't to be underestimated either.
Whittier crossed his arms as the two fighters squared off again, observing their stances, their footwork.
This wasn't just about letting them fight, it was about seeing where they could be refined, where their weaknesses could become strengths.
"Let's see what you've got," Whittier muttered to himself, keeping his eyes fixed on both fighters as they began to engage again.