Chapter 72 - Episode 71 – Good News

Buakaw's gaze underwent a complete transformation.What had begun as a harsh, testing stare had shifted to a look of seriousness midway through their sparring session. Now, however, his eyes burned with a battle intent mixed with shock and a strange, almost fanatical admiration.What he felt at that moment was not pain in the ordinary sense but an unprecedented sense of danger.The force behind Yogan's latest strike had not been particularly great—no explosive thud of raw power—but the precision of the landing spot and the perfect timing of the kick sent a piercing, numbing pain down Buakaw's famously steely calf. It was as if countless ants were gnawing at his nerves all at once."Again!" Buakaw roared, his battle spirit fully ignited.No longer holding back, he unleashed every skill that had once made him dominant in the K-1 ring.Suddenly his attacking rhythm accelerated. Combinations of punches and kicks poured out of him like an endless torrent, terrifying waves of strikes rippling toward Yogan.Yet Yogan stood as steady as a reef in the middle of a raging storm.In this moment he was no longer the same fighter who had first come to Thailand. Every bit of the month-long intensive training he had endured was now on display.The "Law Net" system—a strategic matrix of footwork, guard, and counterattack—was fully active. His arm blocks were airtight. His footwork was so subtle and shifting it seemed almost indistinct to the eye, like the flickering of heat haze.Buakaw's ferocious attacks, though seemingly brutal, were being neutralized—ninety percent of them rendered harmless at minimal cost to Yogan.Even more frightening was Yogan's composure. After blunting the storm of blows, his counterattack began. He had shed the obsession with a dramatic knockout that had once driven him. Now he was the calmest of hunters, waiting for a flaw.Whenever Buakaw's offense revealed even the slightest gap, Yogan's snake-like calf kick darted in from an incredible angle, striking the tender point on Buakaw's lower leg with surgical precision.Bang! Bang! Bang!Clear yet muffled thuds echoed constantly throughout the gym.Five minutes later the sparring session had taken a startling turn. Buakaw's forehead glistened with fine beads of sweat. His movements, so fluid at the start, were slowing and stiffening. A distinct red swelling had formed on the outer side of his right calf—an injury rare for a man whose legs were considered weapons of iron.By contrast, Yogan's breathing remained steady, his gaze calm and unwavering.Finally, after one more accurate strike to Buakaw's calf, Yogan stepped back of his own accord. He lowered his stance slightly and offered a respectful bow.Buakaw also stopped. He cast a long glance at his right leg, now somewhat unresponsive, then lifted his eyes to Yogan. For the first time a complex smile—a mixture of admiration and bittersweet acknowledgment—appeared on his stern face."Stop," he said in broken English. "If we keep fighting, my leg won't be able to train tomorrow."He walked up to Yogan, reached out a hand, and tapped him firmly on the shoulder. "Your reaction is the fastest I've ever seen. Your leg technique…" he paused, searching for the words. "I've never seen it before. It doesn't go for power, but it's more troublesome than any heavy kick. Your style isn't Muay Thai, nor is it kickboxing; it's something completely new—something born specifically for the cage."There were no winners or losers in this closed-door contest, but Yogan had earned the greatest respect from the number-one Muay Thai fighter with his unique system.That evening Buakaw hosted a dinner for Yogan's team at his mansion. After a few drinks the two kings from different domains became genuine friends. They spoke deep into the night, moving from fighting philosophies to life philosophies. Buakaw generously shared his years of experience in combat sports, while Yogan offered his unique perspective on the evolution of modern MMA.Over the next half-month, with Buakaw's promotion and introductions, Yogan visited several ancient Muay Thai grandmasters hidden throughout Thailand. In temple courtyards and secluded dojos he learned subtle but profound principles of power generation, distance management, and rhythm control—wisdom passed down through centuries.The "Law Net" system was continually replenished and improved, becoming ever more impenetrable.Just as Yogan was immersing himself in this pure exploration of the martial Dao, an overseas call from America disrupted his peace.On the other end of the line was David Chen's voice, excited and even trembling with emotion."Yogan! They accepted! UFC accepted all our demands!""What is it?" Yogan asked calmly. He had just finished a meditation session with an elderly martial artist, and his mind was as still as water."Your next fight—the fight you wanted!" David took a deep breath on the phone, his tone heralding a historic moment. "UFC 196, main event! You against Rafael dos Anjos for the UFC Lightweight Championship!"Here it was—the opportunity he had envisioned.Yogan slowly opened his eyes, a sharp glint appearing in them. He had not expected the UFC to move with such speed and influence to bring this super fight to the forefront."When is the fight?" Yogan asked."About ten weeks from now," David replied. "Time isn't exactly generous, but Dana White is very sincere. He believes your fight with Anjos is the most anticipated matchup in the entire combat sports world right now—big enough to blow up the market. He's given us an unprecedented 'super fight contract!'"David's voice rose with excitement: "You'll get a base purse of three million dollars, a pay-per-view share starting at five hundred thousand buys, and a five-dollar cut for every buy sold. Yogan, this will go down in history!""Very good." Yogan's reply was concise yet filled with undeniable power. "Tell them there's nothing wrong with me. Ten weeks is enough.""Great!" David breathed a huge sigh of relief. "Then you…""I'm going back now," Yogan interrupted in a determined tone. "It's time to show the world my new weapon."After hanging up the phone, Yogan immediately gathered his team and prepared to return to San Jose.When the news was officially announced by the UFC, the entire combat-sports community erupted.Official Announcement: Spectacular Match Confirmed! UFC Featherweight King Yogan will move up in weight to challenge Lightweight Champion Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 196!The headline exploded like a nuclear bomb across major sports media and social media."Oh my God! Are they serious? He just became the Featherweight Champion and is fighting for the Lightweight Championship so soon?""This is a really cool fight! Champion versus Champion, I'm so excited!""Is Yogan crazy? Anjos is a beast right now! He demolished 'Cowboy' Cerrone and dominated Anthony Pettis before that! His low kicks and ground jiu-jitsu are everyone's nightmare!"At first the majority of public opinion saw Yogan's move as admirable courage but too hasty—predicting he would be finished off by the more experienced and aggressive champion Anjos.But soon, as major combat-sports media outlets began to analyze the matchup in depth, the tone started to change dramatically.On ESPN's flagship fight analysis program, host Joe Rogan turned to the camera in his signature excited manner."Guys, we all might have misunderstood something! Yogan doesn't mean 'gain weight,' it means 'go home!'"Let's analyze it calmly: He's one point nine meters tall and has a one point ninety-five meter reach. That body is top-tier even in the Lightweight division! He no longer has to suffer to lose those damned fifteen kilos! How intimidating will Yogan be when he doesn't have to cut weight? This is a complete liberation for him!"The segment went viral. Analysts began to run slow-motion clips of Yogan's sparring with Buakaw, pointing out the refined precision of his calf kicks and the unshakable composure of his "Law Net" defense. Forums buzzed with speculation. Could Yogan's newly forged style—a hybrid of MMA, Muay Thai, and something uniquely his own—be the weapon that would dethrone Rafael dos Anjos?Inside his training camp in San Jose, Yogan ignored the chatter. Every morning before dawn he visualized Buakaw's kicks and the lessons from the Thai masters. Every afternoon he drilled with his team, refining angles and footwork, testing how his improved system worked inside the cage. At night he meditated, breathing slow and deep, imagining the moment when the octagon door would close behind him.The world now waited for UFC 196. For some it was just another fight card. For Yogan it was the culmination of everything—the suffering of weight cuts, the long months of training far from home, the search for a new way of fighting.Ten weeks to go. Ten weeks to prove that his evolution had not been a dream. Ten weeks until the calm hunter unveiled his new weapon to the world.---