Basileon-Madan was not like these ordinary spectators; he was a man of status in France. Although he might not have much money—at least by Jiang Hai's standards, as there weren't many people in the world wealthier than him—Basileon-Madan led Jiang Hai and his group directly to a private box on the second floor.
The bar was quite well-done; the second-floor boxes were actually like hotel suites.
Inside, there was a living room, bedrooms, and bathrooms; one could live here if it weren't for the lack of a kitchen.
The viewing area was on the balcony, which featured sofas, massage chairs, and even hanging baskets for women and children. It was very comfortable. After Jiang Hai and the others entered, a waiter led them over and handed them an iPad showing tonight's matchups.
After ordering their drinks, Jiang Hai and the others sat calmly on the balcony, looking down at the competition in the arena from their high vantage point.
"UFC (Mixed Martial Arts) has been very popular in Europe lately, and this place follows the UFC combat format. Aside from banning headbutts, hair pulling, eye-gouging, spitting, putting hands or feet into an opponent's mouth, groin strikes, orifice gouging, small joint manipulation (like grabbing a single finger), strikes to the spine or back of the head, heel strikes to the kidneys, grabbing the clavicle, pinching, kicking the head of a downed opponent, knee strikes to the head on the ground, stomping a downed opponent, pulling down an opponent's pants, attacking during breaks, or spiked takedowns on the head or neck, there aren't many restrictions. Consecutive knee strikes, head kicks, and horizontal elbows are all allowed here," Basileon-Madan explained with a smile as he watched Jiang Hai look at the match below.
Combat sports had always been a very lucrative profession; currently, boxing still held the top spot for income in the world of sports.
A boxer might only fight once or twice a year, but the broadcasting fees for those one or two matches were terrifyingly high.
Although UFC and American entertainment wrestling like WWE had become very popular in recent years and taken a lot of the traffic, one only had to think of 'Pretty Boy' or Pacquiao—fighting one match a year could net them tens of millions of dollars in shares.
This was far beyond what NBA players or soccer players could compare to. While they could earn that much in a year, they were exhausted, with almost no time for rest, whereas combat athletes had much more ample time.
Jiang Hai only learned most of this after going to the United States. There was no helping it; not many people in China followed such things. In fact, long ago, several major global combat associations had their eyes on the so-called 'virgin land' of combat sports in China, but due to the policies at the time, basically no format could enter.
If it weren't for boxing being an Olympic event, it's likely the national TV station wouldn't even broadcast boxing.
Chinese Kung Fu is quite famous internationally. Chinese martial arts are considered one of the world's three major combat styles, alongside Muay Thai and Israeli Krav Maga—though nowadays it's better to call it Sanda.
However, since the Qing Dynasty entered the pass, in order to emasculate the spirit of the Han people, the crackdown on folk martial artists was the strongest of any feudal dynasty. After this foundation was laid, the subsequent previous dynasty was constantly in turmoil, and there was a gap in the succession of folk martial arts practitioners.
By the time New China was established, the concept of 'using martial arts to break the law' reached its peak. At certain times, these martial artists were specifically targeted, and martial arts were directly emasculated into being merely performance items.
Many years have passed, and although the country now intends to pick martial arts back up, combat is truly not something you can just pick up on a whim. In several major international combat leagues, there are Chinese contestants, but they generally aren't very strong, and they are all in the lighter weight classes—Flyweight or Featherweight. There isn't even a Middleweight.
If one day a Chinese Super Heavyweight champion or a UFC champion emerged, the combat sports situation in the country might change significantly. But for now, it is what it is—an out-and-out niche profession.
However, in Europe, this profession has gradually seen a revival. Although UFC isn't as beloved by people worldwide as boxing is.
But in Europe and the US alone, the level and income of personnel have seen a huge increase.
Top UFC fighters can earn tens of millions of dollars just by fighting two matches a year, and that's not even counting endorsements. Of course, fighters don't really have many endorsements. Firstly, because they look too fierce, and secondly, because when they fight, their shorts, shoes, and gloves are all regulated, and their screen time isn't high, so they truly don't have many endorsements.
Unlike basketball or soccer stars; an NBA player has to play 82 regular-season games a year. If they wear a pair of shoes and play every game, they get eighty-two appearances on screen, at least broadcast statewide, making it naturally easier to find endorsements.
Combat fighters basically only endorse cars, but because they are so bulky, they can't endorse small cars either, which is awkward. So their main income comes from pay-per-view shares; if there are endorsements, fine, if not, so be it... Jiang Hai once had some interest in combat and had even studied it specifically, so now he watched them fight with great interest.
The two people currently fighting in the arena were naturally not UFC fighters, or at least not famous ones; they could only be considered average professional or amateur fighters. They fought here for an appearance fee; one reason was to stimulate consumption in the bar, and another was to let the audience place bets. In Europe and the US, bars like this are everywhere.
Of course, some underground fighting bars might be rigged or involve fatalities, which is much more stimulating, but the police also investigate them very strictly.
With such a large premises, this naturally couldn't be an underground fight. Compared to the place where Connerson Peters used to stay, this place was simply paradise. The two men in the arena had already fought for two rounds.
One of these two practiced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and the other was a boxer. In Jiang Hai's view, they weren't really engaging each other.
The Jiu-Jitsu practitioner kept trying to take the other down to fight on the ground, while the boxer kept using his jab to maintain distance, preventing the other from lunging in. If the opponent were determined to lunge, a combination of punches would be enough for him to win.
Different combat techniques from around the world have different advantages. For instance, boxers have great punch power, good footwork, high durability, and strong endurance. However, their biggest weakness is ground fighting; their lower body defense is poor, and once on the ground, their joint-lock defense is weak and their counter-attacking power is insufficient.
Muay Thai has powerful long-range kicks and high speed, and its close-range elbows and knees are unmatched. Ground fighting doesn't offer much advantage, but they don't necessarily lose out either. The downside is that mid-range attacks are weak; when legs can't sweep and elbows can't reach, their punches are somewhat powerless, which is the exact opposite of boxing. Moreover, because Muay Thai primarily trains the bones, they rarely produce heavyweight fighters, so their defense isn't strong. You often see Muay Thai fighters fighting other styles beautifully, but once they get hit hard two or three times, it's over.
Krav Maga and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu mainly specialize in ground fighting, submission techniques, and joint locks. They can't out-clash Muay Thai in hardness or out-power boxing in strength, but as soon as they are on the ground, the chances of Krav Maga or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu winning become extremely high.
So you often see UFC matches where, after just a few strikes, one person actively lies down. They aren't in a hurry to stand up but instead use their legs to block the opponent. Since direct stomping or kicking a downed opponent's head is forbidden, the opponent has to lean down to strike, which causes them to lose balance. At that point, whether it's an Armbar or a Guillotine Choke depends on the situation; once caught, there's a very high chance the fight is over.
Of course, if you get hit by a boxing combo while lunging at someone, or if a Muay Thai fighter sweeps your head or hits your cheek with an elbow, the fight is likely over too. That was the case with the two men currently in the arena.
These two were of similar skill levels. One feared the ground game, and the other feared the fast punches, so they were in a stalemate for the moment, testing each other occasionally, making for a fairly lively fight.
"Yo, isn't this Madan? How do you have time to play here today instead of talking business?" Just as everyone was enjoying the view, a mocking voice suddenly came from afar. Jiang Hai looked up and saw a man with bronze skin, wearing a white cloak made of what looked like feathers. He was holding two Western girls on either side, looking over smugly. The lighting here wasn't very good and was somewhat dim, but even so, he was wearing large sunglasses. Either he was blind, or he was just posing. Judging by his words, the latter was more likely.
This person probably wasn't from South America or Southeast Asia; he looked like the descendant of a Black man and a Caucasian man. The two girls beside him were similar—not quite black, but certainly not white. They could be considered mixed-race.
"Oh, it's you. Is there something? If not, get lost. I'm accompanying a client today," Basileon-Madan said calmly, gently swirling the red wine in his goblet, showing he wasn't one to be trifled with.
Hearing that this guy actually dared to speak to him like that, the mixed-race man's expression changed, and several of his lackeys behind him stood up. However, he waved them down at that moment, walked over to the edge of the balcony, and looked at Jiang Hai's group. (To be continued.)
Want to Go Down and Play?
"Oh ho, so tough..." Watching Bassleon Martin, the mixed-race man approached with a look of disdain, removing his sunglasses. A pair of rather "amusing" triangular eyes appeared before Jiang Hai and his group. Staring at those triangular eyes, Jiang Hai couldn't think of any other adjective besides "uh..." Where did he get the confidence to take off his sunglasses?
"Hah, so what if I'm tough? Do you want to fight? Is it you or your rusty scrap metal?" Bassleon Martin shot the man a look of contempt, speaking with equal disdain. It was clear that Bassleon wasn't someone easily pushed around!
"Hey, if you want a fight, you'll get one—just wait until the end of the evening!" After pointing a finger at Bassleon Martin, the man chuckled and retreated to watch the ongoing matches. Jiang Hai, however, frowned slightly.
He hadn't come here to defend anyone or start a fight. Although he feared no one, he had no intention of being used as a pawn. If Bassleon Martin was that type of person, then forget 20 percent—even if the commission was raised to 25 percent, he wouldn't agree to the agency, as the man would only bring him trouble.
"Mr. Jiang, please don't worry. That fellow is named Terrell Kim, the son of a director at the wine distribution company I used to work for. Since we are in Paris, he wouldn't dare cause serious trouble. Furthermore, I have complete confidence in my bodyguard." Bassleon Martin noticed Jiang Hai's frown and offered a smiling explanation.
Hearing this, Jiang Hai's brow relaxed slightly. As long as the conflict didn't involve him, he certainly didn't mind watching the drama unfold.
After hearing his explanation, Azalea and the others also turned their attention to Bassleon Martin's driver and bodyguard.
Wallis Shelley pondered for a moment, put on her glasses, and discreetly scanned the man. She then used the microcomputer hidden inside her makeup case, pretending to touch up her makeup while reviewing his profile.
In less than three minutes, she had ascertained the man's full profile, and Azalea leaned in to whisper the details into Jiang Hai's ear.
Bassleon Martin's bodyguard is named John Vitch, a former member of the French Foreign Legion. He left the service at twenty-five, fought in the European underground boxing circuit, and even worked as an assassin, though his mission acceptance rate was very low. He has some reputation in the underground fighting scene, but in the world of espionage, heh. According to Azalea, if they were in the ring, she might not be able to beat him, but if they fought right now, she could kill him a hundred times over before he even reacted. There's no need to worry about a person like that; he's adequate as a bodyguard but poses no threat to Jiang Hai. Furthermore, if it comes to a ring fight, Connorsen Peters fears no one.
After confirming that his safety was not compromised, Jiang Hai continued to watch the matches alongside Bassleon Martin.
Naturally, they could also place bets. European betting companies dared to offer odds on practically every kind of event.
Not only did they cover sports, but they would also take bets on which city would host the Olympics or the World Cup, and even on regime changes in various countries. Of course, those bets were generally limited to the US and certain European nations. Cough, cough, as for domestic matters, Jiang Hai knew nothing.
Naturally, people placed bets on matches like these, but the wagering here was more for entertainment than for trying to strike it rich. Thus, the maximum betting limit was capped at only five hundred euros.
The odds ranged from 0.1 to 3. This meant that the largest potential payout was only fifteen hundred euros, excluding the stake—just three purple bills. They could certainly afford that, especially since there was almost no chance of the odds reaching three times the stake.
Generally, the odds stayed between 0.7 and 1.2. The people running the gambling operation were always the ones making the profit; they simply wouldn't lose money.
After three or four matches had finished, a waiter soon knocked on the door. Upon receiving permission, he entered and asked Jiang Hai and his group if they wished to personally participate, as the roster for the upcoming matches was being finalized.
Bassleon Martin naturally didn't hesitate, immediately instructing his bodyguard and driver to go sign up.
However, the moment he took the iPad from the waiter and saw the opponent's profile, the bodyguard's expression instantly changed.
"What is it?" Bassleon Martin was a master of reading expressions. Seeing the look on his bodyguard's face, he immediately inquired.
"This person... I can't win against him." Hearing his employer's question, the man named John Vitch replied with a helpless expression.
"You haven't even fought and you already know you can't win?" Hearing this, Bassleon Martin's expression sank. He quickly walked over and looked at the person Terrell Kim had just signed up. He frowned as he studied the man.
The man wasn't one of Terrell Kim's subordinates that he recognized, but a South Korean named Park Tae-min, 1.87 meters tall, 190 pounds, and thirty-one years old. He had no prior knowledge of this person. What was the meaning of this?
"This man was my master when I was fighting underground. In fact, it was because of him that I ended my career in black boxing. So, I apologize, Mr. Martin, but my duty is to protect your security, not to engage in combat with an unbeatable opponent. If you are dissatisfied with me, you are free to dismiss me immediately." John Vitch looked at Bassleon Martin's face and spoke with utter resignation.
Bassleon Martin appeared to be a decent employer. While he wasn't excessively generous, he always paid what was due. John Vitch had fought many matches for Bassleon here, and after each one, he kept all the prize money and earnings, sometimes even receiving a separate bonus. That was why John Vitch hadn't complained when asked to fight; he had even been eager to participate. However, it now looked like his opponent had thoroughly studied his history.
"My apologies, Mr. Jiang, for this embarrassment. I will deal with this immediately." Hearing that John Vitch preferred dismissal over fighting, Bassleon Martin knew the man's resolve was absolute. Even if he was going to fire him, that could wait until they returned. His immediate priority was finding Terrell Kim to cancel the match tonight. Although he would likely be ridiculed, the business deal with Jiang Hai, worth hundreds of millions of US dollars, could not be delayed or compromised.
He had noticed from Jiang Hai's expression earlier that Jiang Hai strongly disliked being dragged into conflicts and being manipulated. Bassleon, who had merely wanted to show off his capabilities, now had to settle the matter quickly to put Jiang Hai at ease.
"Hold on, a South Korean!" Just as Bassleon was preparing to leave, Jiang Hai stood up, waved his hand lightly, and walked over to the profile to examine the man's details. Jiang Hai was initially unwilling to court trouble, just as he had thought, but upon learning the opponent was Korean, his interest was piqued.
It is well known that the people of China dislike the Island Nation (Japan) the most, followed closely by South Korea. If the opponent had hired a Frenchman, an Englishman, or even an American, German, Russian, or Indian to show off, Jiang Hai would have simply let Bassleon resolve it. But a South Korean? Giving one a beating would probably be quite satisfying!
Of course, he wasn't planning on fighting himself. Even if he wanted to, Azalea and the others would absolutely forbid it, because they would not allow it even if there was only a 0.0001% chance of the opponent harming Jiang Hai.
However, Jiang Hai had noticed Connorsen Peters looking slightly eager just now, so letting him go down and "play" wouldn't hurt.
"Connorsen, are you interested in going down and having a match?" Jiang Hai asked Connorsen Peters casually.
"Absolutely no problem!" Indeed, both in Jiang Hai's eyes and Connorsen Peters' eyes, going down to fight was merely a game, far less serious than what he was used to.
"Fine, then register his name: Connorsen Peters." Hearing Connorsen Peters' reply, Jiang Hai smiled lightly and instructed the nearby attendant. The attendant immediately began writing down the name. Connorsen Peters, meanwhile, was gently stretching his arms and legs. Although he hadn't fought in the underground scene for some time, he had certainly kept busy. He regularly sparred with Harriman Fells and Bell Leicester, and sometimes Jiang Hai would join in. When they were merely 'playing' and holding back lethal force, Jiang Hai was naturally the strongest, but Connorsen was the second strongest.
Of course, when it came to marksmanship, he was the weakest of the group. But concerning fighting and combat, he was extremely confident. Combining his already powerful physique with the spiritual energy he had absorbed from eating the beef and fish at the manor, Connorsen Peters was now a veritable human powerhouse.
After Connorsen Peters was confirmed to participate, the attendant left. A short while later, he returned with a set of sportswear for Connorsen Peters to change into. They certainly couldn't have him fight in his current casual suit. Since France was the capital of fashion, they were keenly aware of the value of the suit Connorsen Peters was wearing. Jiang Hai treated his subordinates exceptionally well, especially when traveling; bespoke luxury brand suits were a requirement, serving as a display of their status. While Connorsen Peters was changing, in another private box far away, the South Korean man had already changed and was reviewing his opponent's profile.
"It's not John Vitch, but it makes no difference. Whoever it is, they won't be able to stop me!" (To be continued.)
The Arrogant Park Tae-min
At this moment, in Park Tae-min's room, seven people were seated. Naturally, the one in the seat of honor was Park Tae-min, who was scheduled to fight today.
Park Tae-min was thirty-one years old this year. A Korean-American, he had joined the US Army early on and had almost become Bell's colleague by entering Delta Force. Unfortunately, he had been a coward on the battlefield and fled, leading to his entire squad being wiped out and the mission failing. After the failed mission, the US military was looking for him, but he had quietly escaped to Europe.
There, relying on the foundation of Taekwondo he had practiced since childhood, he began fighting in underground matches. However, if one were to say Chinese Kung Fu is eighty percent performance and twenty percent fighting, then south korean Taekwondo would be ninety or even one hundred percent performance.
Although the old saying goes that the hands are two doors while the fight depends entirely on the feet, Taekwondo had taken this concept to the extreme.
Taekwondo completely lacks fist techniques; their two hands are just for show. As for their leg techniques, to be honest, aside from looking good, there are no special skills—things like high leg sweeps, mid-air chain kicks, super axe kicks, and the like.
When fighting amateurs, it's very intimidating, looking fierce and powerful. But in the eyes of a true expert, these movements are nothing but openings. When he first arrived in Europe to fight in underground matches, he was beaten quite badly.
Later, he pretended to be Japanese and went to a Kyokushin Karate dojo. After learning Kyokushin Karate there, he used that reputation to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Relying on the physical foundation he had built from practicing Taekwondo before, his combat strength began to improve. While Taekwondo indeed has little combat utility, it does have a role in strengthening the body.
John Vitch was someone he met after completing his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training. He was indeed his master and had taught him, but he hadn't taught him the truly core techniques. Nevertheless, relying on these, Park Tae-min had made a name for himself in the underground fighting world.
At the peak of John Vitch's career, he emerged—an unknown south korean who defeated the then-unstoppable John Vitch. This not only earned him a fortune but also brought him immense fame.
Later, he transitioned to semi-professional fighting and now holds many titles. He has four dojos in South Korea and Europe specifically for teaching students. It was precisely because Terrell King had suffered several losses at the hands of John Malone that, upon learning of his situation, he sought him out and offered a heavy sum to bring him over. For someone like Terrell King, face was more important than money.
"This person looks a bit familiar, and he seems quite strong." Seeing Park Tae-min's indifferent expression, the others in the room leaned in to look at the information in his hand. Then, a female voice spoke up with some doubt.
There were seven people in Park Tae-min's room including himself: his coach, his driver, and his two girlfriends. Besides these four, there were two others who were none other than Han Ga-in and her husband Yeon Jeong-hun, who were somewhat connected to Mr. Jiang Hai. Looking at the data, she felt that Connerson Peters looked somewhat familiar.
"Eh, it doesn't matter. No matter how strong he is, can he be stronger than Tae-min? Don't be ridiculous. Don't you know how strong Tae-min is?" Hearing her words, Yeon Jeong-hun laughed and chimed in, while also flattering Park Tae-min.
When Yeon Jeong-hun was in South Korea, he would often hang out with famous young socialites and scions. This was considered an investment in relationships.
Free combat is a very popular sport in South Korea. They have many people fighting in the UFC who are considered stars and often participate in reality shows, like Kim Dong-hyun, Choi Hong-man, and Choo Sung-hoon.
So these second-generation elites would often hang out with these combat experts. As an expert in the European underground fighting scene, Park Tae-min naturally held a high status in South Korea, so Yeon Jeong-hun had some friendship with him.
Coming to France for a trip, he had occasionally heard him mention having a dojo in France and had originally wanted to visit. It turned out he was in France, so he invited them to watch the match tonight. After all, this celebrity couple was quite famous in South Korea, so it was understandable for Park Tae-min to be on good terms with them. However, when he looked at Han Ga-in, his eyes were glowing.
In South Korea, the perception of beauty is very different from that in China. The top goddess in South Korea is Kim Tae-hee, but her reputation in China isn't actually that big. Next are Han Ga-in and Son Ye-jin. Although Song Hye-kyo has many supporters, there are too many rumors about her private life, giving the public a sense of dislike.
Jun Ji-hyun is a homebody and a bit of a quiet person, so these two actresses who are very famous in China are not as prominent in South Korea. Conversely, those who aren't very famous in China have huge reputations in South Korea.
"Cough, Tae-min?" Perhaps sensing Park Tae-min's blatant gaze, Yeon Jeong-hun suddenly felt a bit of regret for bringing his wife along. He had originally just wanted to show off his connections to Han Ga-in; he wouldn't be leading a sheep into a tiger's den, would he?
"Oh, Brother Jeong-hun, it's about time. I need to go prepare." Hearing Yeon Jeong-hun's words, Park Tae-min felt a bit embarrassed to be so blatant, so he just smiled and went downstairs to prepare.
"This friend of yours has some issues..." Watching Park Tae-min leave, Han Ga-in glanced at Yeon Jeong-hun and whispered. Yeon Jeong-hun could only smile awkwardly because he also felt that something wasn't right.
But even if it felt wrong now, they couldn't leave. They could only pray that he was just looking.
Soon, the announcer on the ring stated that tonight's matches were over and it was now time for the 'private duels.' The first match was Park Tae-min versus Connerson Peters. Bets could also be placed on these private matches. However, to avoid fixed fights, the backers of both sides would be announced. That way, if they lost, the fixed fight was one thing, but face was another. Few big companies' reputations were worth less than these tens of thousands of Euros.
Although it was a bet between Basileon-Madan and Terrell King, Connerson Peters bore the name of Mr. Jiang Hai.
"Next, we first introduce the fighter under Mr. Terrell King, the legend from the south korean and European underground fighting world, Park Tae-min!" After confirming both sides were ready, the announcer shouted loudly to stir up the audience's emotions.
Many of the spectators here followed underground fighting. While Park Tae-min's name might not be world-renowned, they knew a thing or two about him. For a moment, there was a lot of cheering and discussion.
"Yeah! Long live the Great south korean Nation! Park Tae-min is number one!" Amidst the focused gazes of the crowd, Park Tae-min walked out to his own music. As soon as he appeared, the atmosphere among the spectators became even more heated.
Sitting by the balcony, Mr. Jiang Hai watched this man's movements and couldn't help but chuckle. This guy's performance was so cheesy!
"Mr. Jiang Hai, this was my fault today. You really didn't need to get involved in this mess." Seeing Mr. Jiang Hai watching with interest, Basileon-Madan couldn't help but sigh. He had truly exhausted all his schemes this time.
"Let's act as if today's events never happened. We'll talk about other things at the negotiating table tomorrow." Hearing his words, Mr. Jiang Hai also smiled. He wasn't the type to be a 'nice guy.' Whether this person lost face, lost money, or even got killed had nothing to do with Mr. Jiang Hai. He just wanted Connorsen to slap the south korean's face, nothing more.
And now, seeing how arrogant this south korean was, Mr. Jiang Hai felt his decision was indeed the right one.
After the south korean had shown off on stage for about five minutes, it was finally Connerson Peters' turn to enter.
However, compared to the south korean, his entrance was much more plain. He simply walked out very calmly by himself.
"Next, the blue corner fighter is Mr. Jiang Hai's fighter, Connerson Peters." Looking at the approaching Connorsen, the announcer seemed a bit listless. Although Connorsen looked much bulkier than Park Tae-min, on this ring, cases of a smaller man knocking down a larger one were common because joint locks were allowed. It wasn't just pure boxing; being bulky might not necessarily be useful here.
Watching Connorsen walk onto the ring, the murmuring below grew louder. No one knew which side to bet on.
"Bet five hundred Euros for me on Connerson Peters." Seeing the calm Connorsen on the ring, Mr. Jiang Hai said with a smile.
"Then, I'll also bet five hundred." In a sense, Mr. Jiang Hai was standing up for him, so Basileon-Madan naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity to show goodwill, though Mr. Jiang Hai didn't care about his gesture.
"Alright, betting is closed..." About three minutes later, the announcer received word that it was time and prepared to announce the start. But at that moment, Mr. Jiang Hai in the second-floor box suddenly stood up and shouted toward the ring.
"Connorsen!" Hearing Mr. Jiang Hai's voice, everyone looked at him, wanting to see what he was going to say.
"Since you're carrying my name, then make a real scene here!" Ignoring the gazes of the crowd, Mr. Jiang Hai looked at Connorsen standing there and spoke loudly.
Upon hearing Mr. Jiang Hai's words, Connorsen grinned, and his gaze toward Park Tae-min held nothing but pity. (To be continued.)
Instant Kill? This is a complete rout!
"Round one, begin!" With both sides introduced, the referee stretched out his hand and spoke directly to the two.
After hearing the referee's words, Park Tae-min didn't immediately come forward to touch gloves; instead, he stood in place and performed a series of famous Tae Kwon Do kicks. His incredible speed and handsome movements naturally drew screams from many women, and listening to these screams, Park Tae-min smiled.
"Twenty seconds is enough to deal with you!" Park Tae-min said arrogantly, looking at Connorsen Peters.
Hearing his words, Connorsen Peters merely looked at him calmly, wondering if this guy was crazy!
At the referee's signal, the two stepped forward and touched gloves. Since they were playing MMA, or unrestricted fighting, they wore open-fingered UFC-style gloves, not boxing gloves. As the match began, Park Tae-min immediately took the offensive, constantly shuffling his feet on the ground, changing his position, and circling Connorsen Peters.
Connorsen Peters, however, simply stood still, watching him calmly to see what tricks he would pull.
Perhaps feeling he had probed enough, Park Tae-min silently stomped his right foot, instantly reaching an extreme speed as he rushed towards Connorsen Peters' lower body. When a smaller person fights a larger one, if they stand still and trade blows, there's a ninety percent chance they'll lose. Moreover, Connorsen Peters' height of over two meters was indeed intimidating when he stood there.
If he stood there and slugged it out, no matter how high he kicked, he wouldn't reach his opponent. So, in matches, or even fights, between smaller and larger individuals, if they get tangled up on the ground, the smaller person gains an advantage. "An inch long is an inch strong, an inch short is an inch dangerous" – this saying isn't just for show.
Park Tae-min's fame in Europe stemmed from his mastery of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Kyokushin Karate, which made his ground fighting skills exceptionally formidable. The moment he rushed in, his next move was to directly impact the opponent's abdomen, then use the momentum to knock the person down. Once on the ground, it would be his domain.
However, Connorsen Peters' fighting experience was no less than his. Although his mind wasn't the sharpest, he was absolutely relentless when fighting. In a no-holds-barred black market fight, he might have simply grabbed his opponent's head and delivered a knee strike. But here, attacking the back of the head would result in a loss, so he merely extended his large hand and instantly pressed down on the man's shoulder. The immense force instantly rendered Park Tae-min completely immobile.
"Damn it!" Feeling the immense power radiating from Connorsen Peters, Park Tae-min gritted his teeth. He had expected Connorsen Peters to be strong, given his build, but he hadn't anticipated just how strong this guy was!
Once pinned, since a frontal assault was impossible, he would attack from below. With this thought, Park Tae-min instantly slid his foot, rolled with the momentum, and immediately lay on the ground. Then, he clamped his legs, one in front of the other, towards the back of Connorsen Peters' knees. This is a basic grappling technique that can cause a tall person with a high center of gravity to lose balance and fall.
But unfortunately, this also depends on the opponent's skill level. Connorsen Peters already possessed immense strength, and now, with nothing else to do, he trained his body every day, plus he had unlimited access to spirit-infused beef and fish. His physical fitness had long surpassed that of ordinary people; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was infinitely close to human limits, at least in terms of strength.
So, even with a joint lock, Connorsen Peters' leg didn't even bend. Seeing his opponent's movements, Connorsen Peters couldn't help but bend down to grab his leg. As Connorsen Peters bent down, Park Tae-min's eyes lit up.
Then, he instantly propped himself up with his wrist and kicked towards Connorsen Peters' chin.
Although Taekwondo's combat effectiveness in a fight is limited, the leg strength it develops is very strong. Moreover, for such a killing opportunity, there are some tricks. So, seeing Connorsen Peters dare to bend down, Park Tae-min couldn't help but secretly gloat, thinking he was sure to win this time. He was already planning his next moves.
A kick to Connorsen Peters' chin to daze him, then a carp jump to stand up, followed by a knee strike, then mount him and continuously strike his head with both hands—yes, that's how the match would end.
However, while his plan was well-thought-out, even considering how to flirt with the Korean-Canadians after the match, things rarely go as smoothly as one imagines. Just as his foot was about to connect with Connorsen Peters, Connorsen Peters' idle right hand instantly snatched out and, to Park Tae-min's astonished gaze, grabbed his ankle.
"Oh no!" Seeing Connorsen Peters' move, Park Tae-min cried out inwardly, but he didn't panic. Instead, he instantly kicked Connorsen Peters' face with his other foot, trying to pull his foot back.
But unfortunately, Connorsen Peters didn't give him the chance. As soon as he grabbed his ankle, Connorsen Peters suddenly stood up, then directly swung him up. Then, to the astonished and bewildered gazes of Park Tae-min, the entire audience, and the referee, he directly swung his leg and slammed it heavily onto the ring in front of him… With a loud "bang!", Park Tae-min was directly and heavily slammed onto the ring. Fortunately, the ring was hollow and covered with canvas, not actual concrete, otherwise, that one hit alone would have been enough to half-kill him.
But Connorsen Peters didn't just slam him once. Holding his leg, while Park Tae-min was powerless to resist and his whole body was limp, he slammed him seven times in a row around himself—bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang—just like the Hulk slamming Loki in The Avengers, grabbing one leg and repeatedly smashing him to the ground. Perhaps after seven slams, he remembered the rules, and then casually tossed Park Tae-min aside. By this point, however, Park Tae-min had long since passed out, unconscious.
His eyes rolled back, his mouth was askew, his body limp as noodles, and he probably had at least a few broken bones. If not for the slight rise and fall of his chest, one could have easily assumed he was dead.
The referee, seeing this situation, reacted immediately, calling for the paramedics who were already prepared. What else was there to say? Get him to the hospital immediately! Connorsen Peters couldn't help but scoff disdainfully as he watched them busy themselves.
"No match for me," he rumbled, repeating what Jiang Hai had taught him. Connorsen Peters slowly walked to the edge of the ring, opened the door, and exited. He didn't return to the changing room but headed directly towards the staircase leading to the second floor.
Watching Connorsen Peters approach, the entire arena fell silent. Everyone's gaze towards him was filled with nothing but terror. Even Terrell King in the box next to Jiang Hai, and Basileon Martin, who was there to discuss business with Jiang Hai, had their mouths agape in shock. As for Martin's bodyguard and driver, his gaze at Connorsen Peters held three parts vigilance, two parts terror, and five parts apprehension. He wondered how many rounds he could last against this giant.
However, given the current situation, he probably wouldn't last even a minute.
Meanwhile, in Park Tae-min's room, seeing him beaten beyond recognition, his coach, driver, and two girlfriends quickly fled. As for Han Jiaren and Yeon Jeong-hoon, after exchanging a glance, they also quietly left. They had sensed Park Tae-min's ill intentions earlier, so why not leave now?
"Well done!" Jiang Hai knew nothing of these events. Seeing Connorsen Peters return, Jiang Hai smiled and said to him. Hearing Jiang Hai's words, Connorsen Peters also chuckled naively.
To him, he was Jiang Hai's glove; whoever Jiang Hai told him to hit, he would hit. He picked up his clothes nearby, went to the restroom to change, and then stood behind Jiang Hai, just as before.
However, at this moment, Basileon Martin and the others were paying more attention to him than to Jiang Hai.
"Mr. Jiang, this warrior, where did you hire him?" Basileon Martin thought for a moment, looking at Connorsen Peters, and then asked. If he also had such a warrior, not only would his personal safety be assured, but imagine the prestige of bringing him to such a fighting arena. So, after a moment of hesitation, he asked.
"Oh, he wasn't hired; he's more like family to me!" Hearing Basileon Martin's words, Jiang Hai smiled. Basileon Martin nodded calmly, understanding Jiang Hai's meaning—hiring him was out of the question. More importantly, he knew exactly how much money Jiang Hai had.
So, there was no need to talk about setting a price or anything like that; Jiang Hai would just slap him in the face.
After dismissing that thought, Basileon Martin continued to chat with Jiang Hai.
It was as if nothing had happened, so one had to admit, this guy was a good businessman.
After chatting for a while longer, the two left. As for later entertainment, it was naturally unnecessary. Seeing the two women beside Jiang Hai, both beautiful enough to be celebrities, Basileon Martin wouldn't risk leaving a bad impression on his companion.
So, after leaving, the two went their separate ways. Jiang Hai and his group returned directly to the hotel; negotiations were to continue tomorrow. (To be continued.)