WAR
The Journey of Martial

Dark

The air at the press conference for WAR 34: Team New Zealand vs. Team Mexico was so thick with energy it felt hard to breathe. The venue was packed with fight fans, journalists and industry insiders, who were all at the edges of their seats. They couldn’t wait to watch the epic clash of these two elite teams. A massive backdrop adorned with the WAR 34 logo dominated the stage. It was flanked on either side by the vibrant flags of both teams. This was going to be a showdown like no other and everyone in the room could feel it as cameras flashed. The microphones stood spaced out even the team members who were used to press at that point felt a little intimidated by the sight of them.

Richard Ricci stepped up to the podium with the assured presence of a seasoned leader. As the President of WAR, he commanded the room better than anyone in there.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the official press conference for WAR 34: Team New Zealand vs. Team Mexico,” Ricci said as his words stopped the murmuring in its tracks. “This is one of the most highly anticipated matchups in our tournament. These are world-class athletes who have fought their way into the spotlight. Let’s introduce the fighters.”

The room went quiet when we were waved up and Ari "Ace of Clubs" Morgan walked out first. Most people know him as the Super Lightweight of the team. He looked switched on and focused straight away and it was obvious he was already taking stock of the room instead of reacting to the noise. He always had that way about him.

Liam followed him on and took his seat next to him. You could tell he was a Heavyweight from a mile away and big enough that the stage felt smaller once he sat down. He gave the crowd a brief nod and stayed relaxed in his chair as if the attention wasn’t something he needed to think about.

The cheers came almost immediately, with people shouting names and holding their phones up and the noise pressed in from all sides. It felt like a battle cry that would lead up to the fight. This was something that people wouldn’t forget for a long time to come and I was a part of it. I sat down with the rest of the team and let the moment fully dawn on me. It was clear this wasn’t going to be a quiet or polite press conference and the tension was already there even before anyone started asking questions.

After us, Team Mexico came out and the noise warped straight away. Their captain, "El Milagro" Alejandro Ramírez, walked on with Michael Torres beside him. Alejandro is a Heavyweight and carries himself like he knows exactly how much space he takes up. Michael is Super Lightweight and looked like he was struggling to stand still even for a second. He was all jumpy and fidgety. The Mexican supporters in the crowd started chanting as soon as they saw them and it filled the room fast. Both of them waved as they sat down and seemed comfortable with the attention.

“Let’s get right to it,” he said. “On this stage, we’ve got four fighters who are about to be at the centre of one of the most intense match-ups we’ve seen in WAR. We’ll start with the captains.”

The first question went to Ari. A journalist locked in and asked, “How do you see your team matching up against Team Mexico, especially with someone like Alejandro Ramírez on their side?”

Ari didn’t miss a beat. It was almost as if he were insulted by the question.

“We respect Team Mexico,” he said. “They’ve got real talent. That doesn’t change why we’re here. We’ve got talent, too. We’ve trained just as hard, so we’re prepared and ready for whatever they bring. This is about representing New Zealand properly and we’re not backing down.”

Then, the question went to Alejandro.

“What do you make of Team New Zealand’s confidence?” someone asked.

Alejandro smiled before answering.

“Confidence is easy before the first punch connects,” he said. “Once we’re on the canvas, we’ll see who really wants it. Team Mexico is here to dominate. We’re not stepping back from anyone.”

There was a lot of murmuring right then, but we all kept our cool.

After that, the focus moved to the Heavyweights and a reporter asked Liam, “You’re facing Alejandro Ramírez, who is a fighter known for his power. How do you plan to deal with that?”

Liam leaned forward slightly before answering and looked as relaxed as he always does when things get serious. He had a confident grin on his face that was just so ‘him.’

“Power’s impressive if it gets anywhere near an opponent. But you can’t hit what you can’t catch. I’m faster, more precise, and I’ll be ready to take every opening. He might have power, but I’ve got the speed and the smarts to out-manoeuvre him.”

Michael Torres jumped in before Liam could answer properly and leaned into his mic with a grin that told you exactly what he was trying to do. Stir the pot.

“Speed won’t save you, Liam,” he said. “Alejandro’s going to bulldoze you, just like we’re going to roll over the rest of your team.”

That set the crowd off straight away. They were half cheering and half booing in a split second and the noise filled the room again. Ari leaned back in his chair like none of it mattered to him, while Alejandro rolled his shoulders and cracked his knuckles without saying a word, which somehow said more than if he had spoken. Still, if they thought they were intimidating the likes of Ari, they had another thing coming.

Ricci stepped in quickly and brought the room back under control before it went any further.

“It’s clear both teams are confident,” he said. “Michael Torres, let’s hear from you properly. As a Super Lightweight, what do you see as the key to beating Team New Zealand’s Super Lightweight?”

Michael stayed leaning into the mic and didn’t lose the grin.

“They’re tough,” he said. “I’m not denying that. But we’ve got the edge in speed and precision. I’m going to make them miss and then make them pay. Anyone who thinks they can keep up with me is in for a long night.”

The last question went back to Ari.

“Any final thoughts before fight week starts?” someone asked.

Ari looked out at the room before answering.

“Oh, we’re here to win,” he said. “We respect Team Mexico, but when fight week’s done, we’ll be the ones standing.”

Ricci wrapped things up after that and thanked everyone before talking up the event and telling the crowd it was going to be a night worth watching.

When we stood up for the face-off, the room went wild again. Alejandro and Liam squared up in front of the cameras and didn’t look away from each other for a second. A few steps over, Ari and Michael locked eyes as well and it was clear that neither of them was interested in backing down.

I knew it was coming before it happened, but I didn’t expect it to escalate so quickly. Alejandro pushed Liam hard in the face and everything kicked off straight away. Security rushed in as the crowd got louder and people ran forward to see what was happening. Michael swung at Ari in the chaos and missed as Ari moved back, which only made things worse. More security piled in and it turned into a mess of shouting mouths and scrambling bodies. The flashing cameras were going off the wall.

By the time they dragged everyone apart, the room was completely out of control and the crowd loved every second of it. It was the clearest sign yet of what was coming once we finally got on the canvas.

The next morning, my alarm went off at five and dragged me straight out of sleep. It was time for the first weight check. My body felt heavy as soon as I sat up and it reminded me how much I still had to lose. The room was dark apart from a thin line of early light slipping through the curtains. I rubbed my eyes and felt how dry my mouth was. I thought about Jessica for a beat and had to shake it off. My mind was clearly looking for something to distract me from my nerves and I couldn’t let it. I had to just focus.

My phone buzzed not even a moment later and for a second, I thought it was her. It wasn’t. It was the reminder from WAR telling me to submit my current weight within the hour. I stared at the screen for a second before I got up to weigh myself. We would have another official weigh-in, but we all had to send prelims, though. Truth be told, my fingers felt heavier than they should have. I knew every other fighter on the card was doing the same thing at that moment and dealing with the same final stretch of the cut. We’d all be fighting off those last stubborn pounds before the official day.

By the time weigh-in day arrived, the exhaustion had settled into my bones properly, but the anticipation kept me switched on enough to function. The team headed out early to the venue, which was one of those sleek halls WAR liked to use with lighting rigs, screens, and more tech than most gyms had in total. It wasn’t treated like a formality at all. In fact, it felt more like an event than a checkpoint.

The place was already hyped when we arrived. Cameras were flashing and reporters were pushing in closer than they should have. There were more than just a couple of fans calling out names from every direction. The noise stayed constant and it was hard not to feel the build-up of it as everything moved along.

When my name was called, I walked up and stepped onto the scale under the lights. It was brighter than I expected and it felt like everyone was watching the numbers rather than me. I felt like a fish out of water. It was the weirdest thing to be watched like that. The display lit up for a second before it settled on a number. It’s super quick, but when you’re up there, you really feel like telling the thing to hurry up and pick a number.

“Super Welterweight, Martial Wilson, one hundred and seventy-five pounds,” the official announced.

Relief hit me straight away and it was strong enough to ease up some of that tiredness. The weight cut was done and I knew I’d made it where I needed to be, even though the real work was still ahead.

Raul Ortega was called next and the reaction in the room changed as soon as his name came up. The crowd got louder and the chants rolled in while he walked out with the calmness of someone who had done this before. He didn’t look around much and kept his eyes on the scale as he stepped up. The numbers blinked as they did with mine and then they locked in.

“Super Welterweight, Raul Ortega, one hundred and seventy-five pounds,” the official said.

After that, came the face-off. Ricci stood between us, but it didn’t really change anything. Raul and I looked straight at each other and neither of us broke eye contact. No one said anything because there wasn’t anything to say. It was just a liminal, kind of in-between moment where everything else dropped away and the fight felt very close.

The cameras kept flashing while the crowd fed off the tension. That was what most of them were there for and you could feel it in the way the room held still for those few seconds. Once it was done, we turned away and that was that. The next time we’d be in front of each other would be inside the arena and everything would be settled there.

Afterwards, the team loaded onto the bus with Coach Flynn at the front as usual. The bus drove itself and moved smoothly through the city while we sat in silence. The inside was spotless and designed to keep distractions down, and the quiet chug of the engine was the only sound as the buildings passed by outside. Each of us stayed in our own heads while the tension built. We were getting closer to the arena.

When we arrived, the fight officials took us through the medical checks. It was thorough but routine and felt like another step that just had to be cleared before the night could move on. I could feel the anxiety sitting low in my stomach by then. Knowing that we were close to the moment everything had been building toward was beyond nerve-racking, but in a good way, though.

Not long after that, we were in the locker room getting into our Team New Zealand kit. It felt official once it was on and the impact of all the training that had gone into getting us here all came rushing back in. We started warming up straight away and the sound of pads being hit filled the room. I went bare-knuckle and felt every hit travel up my arm. My knuckles started to throb, but it stayed in the background and never became the main thing I was thinking about or focused on. I had to keep cool and focus on what was coming up.

Coach Flynn pulled us in for a final huddle before we headed out.

“This is it,” he said calmly. “You’ve done the work and made the sacrifices. Now, you get to show what Team New Zealand is about. Stick to your training and trust yourselves. Give it everything you’ve got. No matter what happens, you leave it all on the canvas. We’re here to win and we’re doing it together.”

I appreciated just how collected Coach Flynn was. Of course, this was years in the making for him. I was pretty sure he dealt with his own thoughts when he was young and on the canvas like us. Still, it settled things in my head more than anything else could have at that moment. We nodded to him and broke away.

Then, we headed for the tunnel.

The tunnel was dark and quiet but the sound of our footsteps echoed as we walked. With every step, the noise from the arena got louder and more defined. I could make out words by the time we were near the end. The light ahead was bright and the crowd had gone from a distant rumble to something that filled the space completely.

As soon as we stepped out, the arena sounds flooded us all at once. The noise was overwhelming and the air felt charged with it. You could feel it in your chest. There was bass to it. Fans were shouting and chanting from every side and it fed straight into the adrenaline that all of us were holding onto. This was the moment that everything had been leading toward and there was no room left for doubt or distraction.

We walked out together toward the centre of the arena. There was nothing left to say at that point. It was time to fight.

As the lights dropped, the crowd settled into a low rumble like thunder. A deep drumbeat started up next. It was slow and heavy, and it was joined by the sound of traditional Aztec music rolling through the arena. Team Mexico’s entrance had started, and it felt different from anything I had seen before.

"El Milagro" Alejandro Ramírez led Team Mexico out and he was wearing a crown that reflected all of the lights as he walked. The rest of the team followed behind him. They were carrying a large Mexican flag stretched across their shoulders. They moved together like a river of bodies and kept their pace steady all the way to the centre. The sound of their boots carried through the arena as they came out, which was crazy on account of the fact that the crowd hadn’t gone all the way quiet.

From where I stood, Alejandro looked completely at ease at the front. He carried himself like this was exactly where he expected to be. People talk about him as more than just their captain and you could see why. He had a presence that pulled attention whether he wanted it or not.

I already knew his story because everyone in the game knew it. He grew up in Tijuana during a rough time and violence was part of everyday life around him. His mum tried to keep him clear of it and leaned heavily on her faith to do that. He had just been accepted into the Mexico Fight Academy in Mexico City when everything went wrong. A week after the fact, he was caught in a drive-by near his home. He was hit three times — once in the thigh, once in the shoulder and once in the arm. At the hospital, his heart stopped for two minutes and he was officially gone.

That was the part that always stuck with people. It was like a story you tell around a campfire.

Anyway, somehow, he came back. He recovered from the injuries and carried on when most people would have just given up. From there, he climbed his way through the ranks and turned into someone a lot of people in Mexico saw as proof that you could survive things that should end you. That was where the nickname came from. El Milagro. It means The Miracle. It followed him everywhere.

By the time Team Mexico reached the middle of the WAR canvas, the noise in the arena had pushed up another level. The crown was still on his head and the flag was held high behind him. Nobody spoke and nobody needed to. The looks being exchanged all around were enough.

The new WAR arena was full and every seat was taken. There were 70,000 people packed in and all of them were waiting for the night to really start. We stood on the WAR canvas while the massive screen above us powered on. You could feel the anticipation tighten as everyone looked up and waited.

Our entrance came right after theirs. We made our way out of the tunnel and onto the WAR canvas. I was up front with the right edge of our flag in my hands. Ari took up the back. We walked out together with the national anthem in the background and I could hear our supporters singing in the crowd.

To tell you I’ve never felt such an amazing feeling in my life would be an understatement.

We stayed tight and kept our heads forward as we crossed onto the floor. The noise was there and it was loud, but it didn’t pull at us the way it had earlier in the week. It felt easier to shut out because we were all in our heads.

Ari set us off in the Haka.

“Stand together, warriors of New Zealand!”

We responded in unison.

“Stand together, all of us!”

Ari went on without hesitation.

“The power stands. The prestige stands!”

We answered back.

“The strength and the bravery of this team!”

He drove it harder.

“We stand for battle!”

“To fight. To be victorious!”

“BE STRONG! BE UNITED! BE WARRIORS OF NEW ZEALAND! I AHAHA!”

We roared it back.

“A warrior! A warrior!

We are strong! We are united!

We will fight for New Zealand forever and ever!

Yeah! Team in Black!

Yeah! Team in Black!

Yeah! Team in Black!

Yeah! Team in Black!

HAH!”

The whole arena was on its feet at that point and it felt beyond electric. People screamed from the rafters as we finished with our cut throat symbol. Coach Flynn watched us from the coach’s booth. He was surrounded by monitors and headsets. Once we stepped onto the WAR canvas, he couldn’t reach us anymore. From that point on, it was just us and the crowd.

We stopped opposite Team Mexico and lined up. From where I was, I could feel the difference between the two sides.

Everyone was on their feet as the teams lined up across the WAR canvas. The lights burned brighter overhead and the noise climbed with them, wave after wave, until it felt like the sound itself had weight. I could feel it in my ribs, in my chest. The air was alive.

Both teams were already in position. Still. Focused. Ready.

You could tell this was the moment. The one we had all trained for. The weeks of camp, the weight cuts, the silence in the gym at night. It all led here.

Gareth’s voice came through the arena first, steady and full.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” his voice rang out, clear and commanding.

“Welcome to WAR 34: Team New Zealand vs. Team Mexico!”

The crowd erupted.

“Introducing Team New Zealand!” the announcer continued, his voice rising with the noise of the crowd.

Team New Zealand

Heavyweight:

Liam Tahana

Super Middleweight:

Niko Houghton

Super Welterweight

Martial Wilson

Team New Zealand's Captain: Super Lightweight:

Ari "Ace of Clubs" Morgan

Super Featherweight:

Mason Evans

Women's Super Bantamweight:

Tia Clarke

Women's Super Flyweight:

Stacey Tui

“Introducing Team Mexico!” the announcer continued, his voice booming as the arena answered back.

Team Mexico

Team Mexico's Captain: Heavyweight:

"El Milagro" Alejandro Ramírez

Super Middleweight:

Emiliano Sanchez

Super Welterweight

Raul Ortega

Super Lightweight

Michael Torres

Super Featherweight:

Carlos Gacha

Women's Super Bantamweight:

Isabel Reyes

Women's Super Flyweight:

Alexa Perez

The crowd reacted straight away as the names came up on the screen and the noise rose again. Everyone on the WAR canvas tightened up a little as we saw who would be called first. I was jittery. This wasn’t a joke anymore. I had to prove myself more than anyone else to Coach Flynn, especially after telling him about Jessica and me. This had to go down smooth.

Rows of people rose into the dark and filled every level of the arena. Flags hung over the railings and phones glowed like fireflies across the crowd. The noise was unbroken and it pressed in from all sides until it was hard to tell where one reaction ended and the next began.

The WAR canvas sat under the lights at the centre of the floor. It was bright with the logo stamped in the middle where everything led. Screens circled the arena and rolled through names and colours while we took our places. The space felt closed off from the outside world and focused entirely on what was about to happen.

“And now, folks, it’s time for the first fight of the night,” Gareth said.

“This is going to be an intense one,” Duke added. “Let’s take a look at the tale of the tape.”

We all waved to the crowd. Suddenly, the screen flashed with bold letters:

Tale of the Tape:
Super Welterweight Bout

This is it, I thought to myself.

The realisation that I was up first came on quickly and brought a rush of adrenaline with it. I looked over at the rest of the team and they nodded back at me before stepping away and leaving me standing there.

The open space felt unreal in the best way. I was used to the cage closing in all around and having the fence there to lean on. Out here, there was nothing to hold the moment in. The lights reached farther out into the crowd, which made them feel closer. I liked it. The energy had more room to move and it made everything feel bigger.

The pressure was different, too. I wasn’t walking out just for myself. Every step I took had the team with me. It was the work we’d all put in to get here. The excitement was up high in my chest, but there was an edge to it now that told me that this wasn’t just about me winning anymore. I had to deliver for all of us.

It was just me and Raul after that. The lights felt harsher once the space opened up and the crowd noise dropped into the background. Just like that, we were up. I focused on him across the WAR canvas and felt my heartbeat settle into something rhythmic as we waited for the next call.

“Alright, this is where the night officially begins,” Gareth said. “Our first bout of WAR 34 is a Super Welterweight matchup, and it’s a big one.”

“That’s right,” Duke added. “Two talented fighters. Two very different styles. And this fight could set the tone for the entire night.”

The referee hovered between us and asked if we were ready. Raul and I both nodded without looking away from each other. The referee signalled the start and we stepped in to touch fists before moving apart and circling. I watched his shoulders and his feet while we measured the distance and waited for something to open up.

Raul went first with a quick jab that I slipped past. He followed it with a short combination and most of it hit my guard, but one shot caught me clean enough to snap my head around. I felt it in my jaw straight away and it would have put any untrained man on his back. But I stayed on my feet and answered with a low kick to his leg to slow him down.

“Both fighters are starting cautiously and feeling each other out,” Gareth said. “This is a high-stakes match-up right from the start.”

“Absolutely,” Duke said. “We know what Raul Ortega brings and now we’re seeing what Martial Wilson is ready to show.”

Raul started pushing forward after that and his timing tightened up. He threw fast combinations and didn’t give me much space. I kept my guard high and stayed patient while looking for something I could use, but he kept coming and his confidence showed in the way he stepped into every strike.

Come on. I need a window, I thought.

“Ortega is picking up the pace,” Duke said. “His striking is sharp and Martial needs to be careful here.”

The difference between fighting bare-knuckle and wearing gloves was obvious once the exchanges started locking in. I stayed planted and started landing cleaner punches along with kicks to the body. I threw a body kick and Raul caught it on his left arm before he stepped in and countered with a right hand that put me down for a flash knockdown.

“Wilson’s down,” Gareth said. “Ortega is going after him!”

“Raul took advantage of that perfectly,” Duke said. “This could be a problem if Martial does not recover fast!”

Raul followed me to the ground and looked to finish, but I kept moving on my back and managed to get back to my feet. He stayed on me and changed levels for a takedown, but I sprawled and defended it before standing back up. Once we were upright again, I started landing cleaner shots and could feel them getting through.

“Wilson is showing a lot of resilience here,” Duke said. “He defended the takedown well and now he is landing some solid strikes.”

“Ortega looks like he is slowing down,” Gareth said. “Wilson’s striking is coming together and the momentum is shifting.”

“You can see Wilson’s confidence growing,” Duke said. “He is starting to push this now.”

Does it look like my confidence is growing? I thought. Well, alright then. Let’s get it.

I pushed back after that and caught Raul with a straight right. I followed it with a left hook that made his legs dip. I stepped in and clinched him as I landed elbows and knees until he pulled away. He swung a left hook as he disengaged but I slipped it and answered with a right hook that hit him clean and put him down.

“OHHHHHHHHHHH!” The sound tore out of Gareth as the right hook landed clean and Raul Ortega’s legs gave way.

“BIG RIGHT HOOK FROM WILSON,” Gareth screams. “RAUL IS DOWN.”

“Martial is looking for the finish,” Duke shouted.

I was gunning for a ground and pound to finish it off for certain, but the referee stepped in immediately and pulled me back while signalling the fight was over.

“Wait, what?” I asked as I looked at the ref. “Really?”

I half expected it to reply to me.

Robot’s not gonna reply, I thought to myself. I just couldn’t believe it, though.

“That’s it! It’s over! MARTIAL WILSON!” Gareth screams.

“What a knockout,” Duke said. “Martial Wilson just put an exclamation point on this fight and his debut. What a way to start the night.”

“Martial Wilson with a statement win,” Gareth said. “Team New Zealand takes the lead one-nil.”

As the referee pulled me back, the sound from the arena finally caught up with me. The crowd was loud enough that it felt physical with all of the shouting and people stamping their feet in the stands. I stayed where I was for a moment and let the adrenaline run through me while everything around me felt slightly slowed down.

I looked up at the arena and then at the screen above us. My face was on it along with my name and the result of the fight. It read that I had beaten Raul Ortega by knockout. Seeing it written out like that felt strange. It was like it belonged to someone else. I’ll tell you that I was confident going in, but there was a voice in the back of my mind that made me feel like it wasn’t going to be a win for me. It was my debut, after all.

I was blown away. That’s for sure.

The noise kept rolling around the arena but I didn’t know what to do with it at first. It was something I had thought about plenty of times, but standing there in it felt unreal. I stayed still and let it fill the cracks in me while the impact of what had just happened slowly started to register.

I had to read it again before I was escorted to the medical bay as everyone was after their round

“Martial Wilson with a statement victory here tonight,” Gareth said. “Team New Zealand takes the lead one-nil.”

“Absolutely,” Duke said. “We knew Raul was dangerous, but Martial showed he has the power and the composure to take anyone out. This feels like the start of a big night.”

As things settled after the fight, the large screen above the arena came back on and drew everyone’s attention again. The crowd picked up as the next bout was queued and the details appeared.

“Ladies and gentlemen, up next we have a women’s Super Bantamweight fight,” Gareth said. “Representing Team New Zealand, Tia Clarke.”

“And from Team Mexico, Isabela Reyes,” Duke said. “This should be a good one. Both fighters are quick and technically sharp, and this weight class always delivers.”

Tale of the Tape:
Women's Super Bantamweight Bout

The arena was still loud from the last fight as Tia Clarke and Isabela Reyes stood facing each other in the middle of the WAR canvas. The referee moved between them and asked if they were ready. Both of them nodded and the fight started.

“And here we go,” Gareth said. “Tia Clarke versus Isabela Reyes in the women’s Super Bantamweight weight class. This should be an explosive one.”

Isabela Reyes came forward straight away and threw a flying knee. Clarke reacted quickly and got her guard up in time to block it. Reyes stayed on her and followed with heavy hooks that forced Clarke to cover up and move back.

“Reyes is coming out aggressive,” Duke said. “She is throwing those hooks with real intent, and Clarke needs to find her range and settle in.”

Clarke stabled herself and started to land her jab before following with a straight right that caught Reyes clean. Once she found her timing, she added leg kicks and got in a few solid shots to slow Reyes down. Clarke tried a flying knee of her own, but Reyes blocked it and immediately changed levels for a takedown that brought Clarke to the WAR canvas.

“Clarke is starting to find her rhythm with that jab and straight,” Gareth said. “But Reyes answers right back with the takedown, and this fight is moving fast.”

From her guard, Clarke stayed active and threw elbows that landed on the top of Reyes’s head. Reyes reacted to the shots and adjusted her position before posturing up and throwing punches of her own, some of which landed as Clarke worked to keep her guard tight.

It was literal mayhem.

“Clarke is doing a great job defending from the bottom,” Duke said. “Those elbows are hurting Reyes, but Reyes is staying active and landing some heavy shots from the top.”

Clarke found space and scrambled back to her feet. As soon as she did, we watched as she landed a clean straight right that caught Reyes flush in the centre of her face and split her nose. Blood started to run as Reyes reacted to it, but she kept coming forward and shot for another takedown. Clarke read it early and stopped the attempt before she answered with a knee to the body, followed by short elbows in close.

“Clarke’s striking is sharp tonight,” Gareth said. “That straight right may have broken Reyes’s nose, and she’s defending these takedowns very well.”

“Clarke is clearly ahead on the feet now,” Duke said. “Those combinations and leg kicks are stacking up and Reyes is running out of options.”

Clarke stayed in control as the fight continued with them both standing. She landed combinations and kept Reyes moving back. Reyes tried to answer with wide punches, but she was being beaten to the target. Clarke stayed calm and mixed her shots by using punches and front kicks to break Reyes down.

“Reyes is trying to fight back,” Gareth said. “But Clarke’s striking is too clean right now, and Reyes is taking a lot of damage.”

Reyes went for another takedown out of desperation, but Clarke shut it down and came back with more strikes. The pressure built as Clarke kept landing punches and elbows until Reyes started covering up. The shots kept coming and Reyes eventually folded and dropped to the WAR canvas.

“Clarke is not letting up,” Duke said. “Reyes is in real trouble here.”

Clarke followed her down and took the top position before raining down with hammer fists. The referee stepped in quickly and stopped the fight.

“It’s over,” Gareth said. “Tia Clarke with a dominant finish by ground and pound. That was a very composed performance.”

“Clarke looked excellent tonight,” Duke said. “She controlled every part of that fight. Team New Zealand picks up another win and now leads two-nil.”

The fights kept rolling in after that. Up next was Mason vs. Carlos Gacha. I wanted to say that Mase had it in the bag, but I didn’t want to get cocky.

Tale of the Tape:
Super Featherweight Bout

When the Super Featherweight fight started, Carlos Gacha kept his distance straight away and made it clear he wanted to use his reach and his southpaw stance. Mason Evans kept moving forward and started working his jab and low kicks as he tried to close the space and set his rhythm.

“Evans is starting well here,” Gareth said. “He’s using his jab and low kicks to try and slow Gacha down early.”

“But Gacha is staying patient,” Duke said. “He’s waiting to counter and that southpaw stance is already causing problems.”

As Evans continued to press, Gacha found his timing and began landing counters. He caught Evans with clean left straights more than once and each one sailed into Evans before he had time to adjust. The advantage of the southpaw stance became clearer as the exchanges went on and Gacha kept finding the same openings.

“Gacha is landing those counter left straights,” Gareth said. “Evans is struggling to deal with them and the stance difference is playing a big part.”

“Southpaws can be difficult to deal with,” Duke said. “Gacha is using that to his advantage right now.”

Gacha landed another clean one-two and the left straight rocked Evans. We could all see that it shook him and for a second, it almost looked like he wanted to turn to us. There’s no time for that on the WAR canvas. Gacha followed immediately with a left body kick that landed hard and folded Evans before sending him down to the WAR canvas.

“Big left straight from Gacha,” Gareth said. “Evans is hurt and that body kick puts him down.”

“Shoot,” I said under my breath.

“That kick landed perfectly,” Duke said. “Evans is in serious trouble.”

Evans stayed down and it was clear how much pain he was in. With no way to continue, he tapped the WAR canvas to signal the end. The referee stepped in quickly and pulled Gacha away.

“It’s over,” Gareth said. “Mason Evans taps out after that body shot from Carlos Gacha.”

“Gacha showed real precision and power tonight,” Duke said. “That left hand and body kick finished it. Team Mexico is on the board.”

The lights dropped again and the arena settled down as the screen above the WAR canvas came on. The next fight was announced as a Super Middleweight bout and the crowd reacted straight away. We all knew just how important this one was for both sides, them included.

“Ladies and gentlemen, up next we have a Super Middleweight fight,” Gareth said. “Representing Team New Zealand, Niko Houghton.”

“And from Team Mexico, Emiliano Sanchez,” Duke said. “This should be a big one. Niko Houghton is coming off a tough loss against Team Ireland and will be looking to put that behind him tonight.”

“That’s right,” Gareth said. “Houghton will want to show he is still a serious threat, but he has a difficult task here. Emiliano Sanchez is coming in with momentum after a strong win against Team South Africa, and he will want to keep that going.”

“Sanchez is a powerful striker and he looks confident,” Duke said. “Houghton needs to stay disciplined and stick to his plan. Both fighters have a lot riding on this and neither of them will be holding back.”

Tale of the Tape:
Super Middleweight Bout

When the fight started, Niko Houghton and Emiliano Sanchez moved straight toward each other and met in the middle of the WAR canvas. The crowd reacted as both of them started trading heavy shots without any hesitation. Sanchez landed clean punches that whipped Houghton’s head back, but Houghton stayed in front of him and came back with power of his own.

“They are going straight at each other,” Gareth said. “There is no feeling out here. They are brawling in the center.”

“Sanchez is landing these big shots, Gareth,” Duke said. “But Houghton is holding his ground and firing back. Neither of them is giving an inch.”

In the middle of the exchanges, Houghton changed levels and shot for a takedown. Sanchez tried to sprawl, but Houghton drove through it and brought him down to the WAR canvas.

“Houghton times the takedown perfectly,” Gareth said. “Sanchez tried to defend it, but Houghton stayed on it and got him down.”

“Now Houghton is in a strong position,” Duke said. “Sanchez really needs to be careful here.”

Once they hit the ground, Houghton started landing punches and elbows from inside Sanchez’s guard. The strikes were heavy and kept coming, but Sanchez reacted to the damage as it built. Houghton moved into half guard and continued working with elbows and punches while keeping Sanchez pinned.

“Houghton is staying busy on the ground,” Gareth said. “Those shots are hitting hard and he has moved into half guard.”

“Houghton is controlling everything here,” Duke said. “Sanchez has very little space and those strikes are adding up.”

From half guard, Houghton advanced into side control and then into full mount. Sanchez tried to bridge and create space, but Houghton stayed balanced and kept his position. From mount, Houghton landed repeated punches and kept Sanchez trapped underneath him.

“Houghton has full mount and he is absolutely unloading,” Gareth said. “Sanchez is in serious trouble.”

“Sanchez is covering up,” Duke said. “But Houghton is not letting him escape. This is getting close to the end.”

As Sanchez covered up more, Houghton switched to elbows and landed clean shots from the top. The referee stepped in once it was clear Sanchez couldn’t defend himself anymore and stopped the fight.

“It is all over,” Gareth said. “The referee steps in and Niko Houghton gets the stoppage.”

“That was a dominant performance,” Duke said. “Houghton needed this one and he delivered. Team New Zealand picks up another win.”

With Team New Zealand up three to one, the tension in the arena climbed again as the next fight was announced. The screen above the WAR canvas came on and showed the names of the fighters who were about to walk out. This was the one people had been waiting for.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Gareth said, “with Team New Zealand securing three points, their captain is released. Up next is a Super Lightweight fight that has been building all week. Representing Team New Zealand is the captain, Ari "Ace of Clubs" Morgan.”

“And from Team Mexico, we have Michael Torres,” Duke said. “There is real history between these two and they do not like each other. This one is going to be intense.”

“That’s right,” Gareth said. “Ari Morgan is stepping in with a point to prove, both as captain and to settle things with Torres. They have gone back and forth all week, and now it is time to see it handled on the WAR canvas.”

“Morgan brings constant pressure and power in this weight class,” Duke said. “But Torres is quick, technical, and knows how to get under someone’s skin. This has all the signs of a fight that turns into a war.”

As both fighters finished getting ready, the air in the arena continued to build. Everyone there understood that this fight was not only about the score. It was about pride and respect. Both of them were walking in with something personal on the line.

Tale of the Tape:
Super Lightweight Bout

When the fight between Ari Morgan and Michael Torres started, the tension in the arena was insane. We were all jumping around like children. None of us could sit still. The history between them had been talked about all week and the crowd was locked in from the opening moment.

From the start, Ari took control. We were properly chuffed with him. He used the space well and kept Torres on the outside with jabs and leg kicks. The kicks hit right on target and started to slow Torres down. Ari was really making it harder for him to step in and get anything going.

“Ari Morgan is setting the tone early,” Gareth said. “Those leg kicks are already causing problems.”

“Torres is struggling to close the distance,” Duke said. “Ari is using the space well and controlling the pace.”

As Torres pushed forward and his frustration started to bubble up on his face, Ari started dancing. He was adding more variety and he mixed in shots to the body like it was light work for him. He threw out a few head kicks to keep Torres guessing. A clean combination came down soon after. He started with a left hook, followed by a straight right, and finished with a head kick that rocked Torres and sent him stumbling.

“That combination hurt him,” Gareth said. “Torres is in trouble and trying to stay upright.”

“This is very neat work from Ari Morgan,” Duke said. “He is breaking Torres down with timing and accuracy.”

Torres changed levels and went for a takedown to try and reset things. Ari read it early, sprawled, shrugged him off and collected him with a knee to the body. It hit solidly and forced Torres back.

“Torres went for the takedown,” Gareth said. “But Ari defends it well and lands a knee on the way out.”

Ari stayed on him after that. He landed a spinning back kick to the body that folded Torres forward and stepped straight into the clinch. From there, he used a trip to bring Torres down to the WAR canvas.

“Ari takes him down with a clean trip,” Duke said. “He is fully in control now.”

On the ground, Ari moved quickly. He passed guard without much resistance and settled into mount. From there, he landed punches and elbows while Torres covered up and tried to survive. As Torres wiggled around to protect himself, he gave up his back and Ari took it immediately. Ari locked him in a rear-naked choke.

“Ari has mount and is putting the pressure on!” Gareth shouted. “This could be tickets for Torres.”

“He is going for the choke,” Duke said. “Torres is trapped here!”

The choke was tight and Torres tapped after a short struggle. The referee stepped in and stopped the fight.

“It’s over,” Gareth said. “Ari Morgan wins it with dominant striking followed by the submission!”

“And that gives Team New Zealand their fourth point,” Duke said. “They have clinched the overall win tonight!”

The crowd screamed and bellowed like nothing I’ve ever heard. It was insane. We were shouting and jumping like we’d just won the lottery and to be honest, it genuinely felt like we had.