Bab 177: Chapter 177: Semifinals First Match I: Collision Course

Hank Binn, standing tall in the center of the cage, called both Ivan and Brian forward.

Though there was obvious tension between the two fighters, they didn't waver and kept their focus on one another.

Hank, a seasoned referee with countless bouts under his belt, kept his expression neutral.

"Alright, gentlemen, let's keep it clean," Hank said, his voice cutting through the room's buzz of excitement.

"You both know the rules, but I'm gonna go over them again. Protect yourselves at all times, listen to my instructions, and if I tell you to stop, you stop. No strikes to the back of the head, no eye pokes, no groin shots. Got it?"

With their fists clenched at their sides and their muscles taut and prepared, both fighters nodded.

"If you're caught in a submission or a position you can't defend from, tap, and I'll stop it. If I feel you're not intelligently defending yourself, I'm stopping the fight. You got me?"