It was the final match of the purple belt Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament at Barbosa's MMA gym, and everyone was gazing on at the two competitors at the center of the room. Nick's chest was heaving up and down as he glared at Ben, who'd just insulted him by mentioning his girlfriend. Meanwhile, Ben was relaxed, unfazed despite the beast of a man in front of him, which shocked the audience.
Even the referee was considering closing his eyes once Nick ripped one of Ben's limbs off… However, a job was a job. So, as he stepped away from the two opponents, and looked down at his watch to set a timer, he made that final call. "Match start!"
Nick revealed an evil smirk and couldn't restrain himself as he pounced towards Ben! With his arms stretched forward, his black gi created a huge shadow covering Ben's body! However, Ben's face remained calm. Instead of fighting Nick with force, knowing he was at a large weight disadvantage, Ben instead stepped back, just out reach of Nick's grab which struck nothing but air. Nick's eyed enlarged a bit. He didn't remember this kid being so fast.
Ben also showed a slight smirk. That second agility potion did its job. Although it wasn't as useful once they started grappling, in situations like this where he could move around, he could tell the difference. What's more, it wasn't only his movement speed that was affected, but also his vision!
He was able to see moving objects a little better, helping him anticipate and dodge. Ben's eyes gleamed. 'Maybe…I can go to Koshien?'
However, Nick didn't appreciate the spirit of baseball… Instead, he was annoyed that he missed, and began lunging towards Ben over and over, as the shorter opponent ducked, dodged, and sidestepped every attack. Nick's teeth were beginning to gnash as he felt like he was looking like a fool here. He wasn't the only one having trouble though.
Ben wanted to counter himself, but even if his strength was comparable to Nick's, the weight disadvantage meant that if he tried to take Nick down, the big man would press his heavy weight down and collapse on top of Ben, a situation he didn't want to see because it was too prison-style…
The other issue was arm-length. Nick's arms were much longer, meaning that if Ben attacked, he'd be grabbed before he could even reach Nick's chest. So, Ben needed to wait for an opportunity, and soon, that chance came. Leaning forward a bit too far in order to grasp Ben, Nick became off balance as his arm extended towards Ben's face.
Seeing such a huge palm coming his way, Ben didn't cower, however. Instead, as he glanced down at Nick's uneven stance, his eyes narrowed, because this was it. As Nick watched his hand approach Ben and seeing the little man didn't dodge this time, his face became excited. He would have him at last!
Yet, when his hand reached where Ben was supposed to be, he spread a frown, because he didn't make contact with anything. His arm continued to move forward into empty air, as he fell further and further off balance. "Where is he—"
"Right here!"
For the first time, Nick felt a bit uneasy, because that voice—came right from below at his chest!
He glanced down and saw Ben, with his hips against his, wrapped around his arm as he pulled Nick forward along with his momentum! The next moment, Nick's eyes bulged as his feet were off the ground, and he was flying forward and flipping into the floor.
*BAM!*
It was a shoulder throw! The same move Valentina used on Ben when they first met, and now he felt much better, having finally gotten to return the favor.
One might say, how did he return the favor? Wasn't it on a completely different person? Semantics!
Faceslaps were like lego pieces. They could be interchanged and moved around as long as the end result came out cool…
In this case, the giant's body caused a massive impact even on these soft mats, the sound resonating throughout the gym and giving everybody shivers. That fall could not have felt good.
Nick wasn't a rookie though. Although he was taken by surprise, he knew how to fall to minimize the damage, and hurried to look around to assess the situation. However, when he saw Ben on top of him with a knee on his chest, he became furious. using his strength, he tried to push Ben's leg off of him. However…
Nick gnashed his teeth as he tried to force Ben off. It was a simple technique but one that had worked for him on every opponent he'd ever rolled with in this gym. That was, until now…
Because against Ben, his pure brute strength wasn't effective! Ben could match that strength! And although Nick's weight was crushing, that was only when he was on top. On the bottom now, his weight, instead became his weakness! It was more difficult for him to move and escape out of positions against the smaller and more flexible man. At this moment, as he watched Ben advance to laying on top of him from the side, Nick realized what was happening. His brute force technique which had worked for him so many times, was being countered!
The rough and wide movements created openings, and when he got the opportunity, Ben didn't hold back. Now, he was in an advantageous position over Nick, who was still in shock at how this match was moving forward, and he wasn't the only one. The entire crowd sat or stood with their jaws dropped. From the beginning of the match, there was only one way to describe this fight—one-sided!
Yet, it wasn't Nick the giant who was on the winning side every single one of them expected, but the little white belt in the gi that looked like it was covered in grass stains after he'd finished rolling around in the park for playtime!
How was this happening? That's what everyone wondered. Except, what followed shocked them even more.
