Page 54 of Beyond the Cage
“Fighting in black, with a record of fifty and one, the Latino monster, weighing in at two hundred and fifty pounds…Chiiiicoooo ‘Mad Dog’ Maddennnn,” the announcer continues.
What’s with all these dog names? First Pitbull, now Mad Dog.The volume of the music rises, and the spotlight centers on the entrance. The TV monitors come alive with the image of a dog, foaming at the mouth and barking ferociously.Okay then. Mad Dog steps into the spotlight, rolling his head. He’s big. Now,helooks like a turtle about to explode…and he looks mean. I don’t like this.
The arena lights come on and he walks slowly to the cage. Once inside, he stands in his corner and watches the entrance with a menacing glare. Chels squeezes my hand in reassurance as the lights go out again. This time, the crowd is louder. Above the cheers and whistles from the men are the screams of his female fans.Ughhh. Like before, the spotlight centers on the entrance and he steps into the light. This time, he’s wearing a boxer’s robe, the hood pulled over his bowed head. He pushes the hood back and zeroes in on the cage. The screams get louder.
“Look at your man!” Chels shouts. “You can safely say every woman in this room wishes they were you right now.”
Iamlooking at him…and he’s making his way toward a caged mad dog.God, please don’t let him get hurt.He removes his robe, hands it to Mannie, and climbs the steps to the cage. I watch as the ref explains the rules before they bump fists and walk to their corners. When the bell sounds, I hold my breath. They meet in the center of the ring, circling each other. Chico makes a few tentative punches, but Cameron moves out of the way easily. Chico becomes more aggressive, but Cameron evades all his attempts. That makes him angry. He lunges at Cameron, who’s now blocking every move. Cameron is calm, relaxed, confident…he’s got this.
Chico drops his guard and Cameron delivers a powerful uppercut which sends his opponent teetering backward. He capitalizes on that, slamming Chico to the mat. Jumping on top of him, he delivers blow after blow to Chico’s face. The crowd goes insane. The ref pulls him off and sends him to his corner. He starts the count, but Chico staggers to his feet. When the ref yells “Fight!”, Cameron comes out swinging – punching and kicking. The other man tries to protect his face, but he’s not very successful. Cameron bends his knees and punches him in the kidneys.Damn.That’s got to hurt.Chico falls against the cage, and the bell goes off. Cameron walks back to his corner and his trainers begin fussing over him. I turn my gaze to Mad Dog. He’s bleeding and his face is swollen. I don’t think I like this side of Cameron. Chelsea, on the other hand, can’t contain her excitement.
“Didn’t I tell you?” she screams.
The bell goes off again and they walk to the center of the ring. I don’t know how much more Chico can take. He throws a few punches and kicks, but they’re weak and Cameron blocks them effortlessly. He brings his elbow up and across Chico’s chin, then with his shin, swiftly lands a kick to his side. Putting his left foot forward, he spins and connects his right elbow with Chico’s head. Mad Dog falls to the mat like dead weight. The resulting noise from the crowd is deafening. The ref steps in, pushing Cameron back to his corner. My lion paces restlessly, hungrily eyeing his prey while Mannie animatedly yells instructions at him. The ref is shouting to Chico, who’s using the cage to help him to his feet. He pushes the ref aside and weaves toward Cameron, who stands with his hands at his sides, patiently waiting. He staggers forward, throws a weak punch, and Cameron catches him, holding him up. In a blur of movement, he falls backward to the mat with his legs around Chico’s waist. He brings his right leg up, placing his shin on Chico’s neck, and holds on to the man’s head with both hands. Now, the commentators are going crazy, too.
“Holy shit, the gogoplata!” one of them shouts. “He’s going for the submission!”
“If Mad Dog taps out, this will be his first submission!”
“It will be K.O.’s first submission win!”
“I think that’s the goal here…to make Mad Dog tap out!”
Now I see what he’s trying to do. He doesn’t want to just win; he wants to humiliate the other fighter – the knockout expert making the submission expert tap out. I guess that’s why he gets the big bucks. He’s putting on quite a show.
Chico looks determined, but Cameron tightens his hold until he finally gives in and taps out. He releases the broken man and jumps to his feet. Chelsea joins the crowd chanting his name as he exits the cage. I fall into my seat and expel a breath of relief. It’s over.
“That wasincredible! I’ve never seen him fight like that before!”
“I told you he was holding back,” I reply distractedly.
“Why do you sound so bummed? Hewon.”
I watch as they help Chico out of the cage. Some victory. He didn’t get hurt, but he hurt someone. When I become a doctor, I’ll take an oath to do no harm. Guys like this will probably be my patients. And Cameron will be the one putting them in my care. Chelsea turns her head to follow my gaze.
“Oh.” She nods in understanding. “I get it. C’mon, let’s go see him.”
By the time we work through the crowd and arrive ‘backstage’, Cameron’s changed and is leaning against the wall, hands in his pockets. However, he’s not alone. There’s some Latina chit fawning all over him, touching his arm, his chest, and smiling at him suggestively.What the fuck?He’s listening to what she’s saying, a blank, if not bored, expression on his face. He may not be encouraging her, but he’s not discouraging her, either. I forget all about the fight.
“Jas, calm down,” Chels warns.
“I’m calm. Don’t I look calm?” I reply through clenched teeth.
“On the outside. But I’ve known you since before we were old enough for bras. You have a tendency to overreact.”
“You think I shouldn’t react at all? Tothis?” I ask in disbelief.
“They’re in public…and he’s just standing there.”
“Fine,” I reply, only to appease her. I amnotletting this go.
I fix a smile on my face and approach them. He glances between me and the woman, confused by my smile. Once I’m at his side, I turn to the chit. Everything about her is fake – hair, lips, breasts, ass.This is what he likes?
“Hello,” I greet her, my smile not faltering.
Her smile fades and she turns up her nose at me. I slip my arm through his and look up at him.
“You ready to go, baby?”
