MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

Chapter 328 Edward's debute II

The fight pressed on, with Edward continuing to demonstrate sharp footwork and solid takedown defense.

Each time Luis tried to close the distance, Edward circled out or landed a clean jab to keep him at bay. It wasn't just good, it was impressive.

Edward was very disciplined, and his plan was working out just the way Damon had hoped.

He kept his cool, kept his distance, and didn't commit too much to any strikes that could leave him open.

Damon stood outside the cage, arms crossed, carefully observing. "Keep it up, Eddie," he muttered under his breath.

He knew that if Edward maintained this level of performance, the fight was his to win.

Whether it came from a well-timed counter or grinding Luis down over the course of three rounds, Edward was dictating the pace.

But...

Luis wasn't out of options yet. Fighters like him, grapplers who thrived on control and ground dominance, weren't easy to break.

And when their plans started falling apart, desperation often fueled them.

Damon could see it. Luis was starting to hesitate, his movements less fluid, his takedown attempts less confident.

"Desperation's coming," Damon said softly to Victor, who nodded silently beside him. They both knew what that meant.

Luis would either go for broke or make a critical mistake.

The question was, could Edward capitalize when that moment came?

It was a game of patience now, a test to see who would crack first.

And just as Damon thought, Edward held his ground, executing his game plan with precision.

He kept hitting Luis in the leg with low kicks, and each one made the grappler less stable.

He even did the one-of-a-kind move he had shown Damon in training: the spinning back kick to the thigh instead of the body.

People in the crowd were amazed when the kick hit Luis straight on the leg, making him stumble backwards.

Edward seized the opportunity, pressing forward with calculated aggression.

Then came the overhead punch.

It went through smoothly and sent Luis flying into the canvas.

Luis tightened his grip, keeping Edward's chest pressed against him and controlling his movements.

Damon could see where this was headed, and he didn't like it.

"Posture up, Eddie!" Damon shouted, his voice cutting through the muted atmosphere of the small venue. "Get your hands on his hips and create space!"

Edward heard the advice and tried to adjust, but Luis was already a step ahead.

The grappler shifted again, swiveling his hips and throwing his legs up high, angling for an armbar.

"Watch your arm!" Damon yelled. "Stack him! Stack him now!"

Edward reacted just in time, leaning his weight forward and stacking Luis onto his shoulders, preventing him from locking the armbar fully.

It was a small victory, but Luis wasn't done.

He used the failed submission attempt to transition to a triangle choke, his legs shooting up and wrapping around Edward's neck.

"Damn it," Damon muttered under his breath, gripping the cage. "Eddie, posture up! Hands on his knee, pull it down! Don't let him cinch it!"

Victor joined in, his voice booming. "Turn your body, Eddie! Don't let him cut the angle!"

Edward struggled, his face reddening as Luis tightened the choke.

He planted one knee on the canvas and used the other foot to push off, rotating his body slightly to relieve some of the pressure.

Following Damon's advice, he grabbed at Luis's knee, pulling it down to create a sliver of space.

Luis adjusted, his grip tightening again, but Edward used the moment to drive forward, stacking Luis once more.

The pressure on his neck lessened, and with a burst of effort, Edward slipped his head free.

Edward scrambled to his feet, backing away from Luis and resetting the fight to the feet.

Damon exhaled sharply, his grip on the cage relaxing slightly. "Good work, Eddie. Now stay standing."

Luis got to his feet as well, his face a mix of frustration and determination.

Edward's strikes had been picking him apart earlier, and his legs were clearly compromised from the damage he'd taken.

But Luis was relentless, and Damon knew he'd dive for another opportunity to take the fight to the ground.

"Don't get baited again," Damon muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

Edward nodded slightly as if he could hear the unspoken warning, his stance tightening as the fight resumed.