Capítulo 18: Defusing the Bomb
Weight reduction is more influenced by diet than exercise. Yu Jung-ak increased his normal weight to 82kg. Rather than bulking up, he focused on slowly improving muscle quality. As a result, his body fat decreased and muscle definition improved significantly.
While not exceptionally heavy for a lightweight fighter, Yu Jung-ak had a fairly large build. Given his weight, Yu Jung-ak started cutting weight earlier.
Weight cutting is the most challenging part for MMA fighters. They particularly struggle with not being able to eat properly. That's why they always need motivation and a trainer. It's that difficult to cut weight alone without someone's help. However, Yu Jung-ak managed weight cutting easily by himself.
This was because his regular diet wasn't much different from a weight-cutting diet. He avoided salty foods and limited carbohydrates. These are simple rules, but difficult to follow consistently. Yu Jung-ak strictly adhered to these principles normally, making weight cutting easier for him.
The water cutting done just before a fight was challenging for Yu Jung-ak too, but he endured it well.
The body reacts sensitively to sudden changes. Just as quitting smoking suddenly leads to withdrawal symptoms, it's natural for problems to occur when abruptly stopping one's regular diet.
This is why many people fail at dieting.
Yu Jung-ak pays attention to what he eats normally. So when he enters weight cutting, he doesn't need to suddenly change his diet. He only needs to modify a few things from his usual eating habits.
Since his body doesn't feel a drastic change, no major issues arise. This is why Yu Jung-ak cuts weight more easily than other fighters.
Yu Jung-ak was holding a press conference before the weigh-in.
Naturally, the fight between Crazy Go Kyung-hee and upset specialist Yu Jung-ak drew a lot of attention. Yu Jung-ak was a talent garnering interest even abroad.
However, Go Kyung-hee had over 13 years of MMA experience with more than 30 fights. His record was also good.
31 fights, 25 wins, 6 losses.
Before Spirit FC was established, he fought a lot in smaller overseas organizations and had good recognition abroad due to his exciting style.
In the past, he showed weaknesses in wrestling and on the ground, but now his takedown defense had improved significantly, addressing those shortcomings.
The community was already abuzz about the fight between Go Kyung-hee and Yu Jung-ak. Especially since Yu Jung-ak was a rookie with just 3 fights, while Go Kyung-hee was a veteran with over 30 fights.
31 fights in 13 years.
Excluding time in the military, it meant he had fought over 30 times in 10 years. Yet his win rate was 83%.
Though considered small for the lightweight division, he was certainly not an opponent to be taken lightly.
Moreover, the reason Yu Jung-ak's evaluation was slightly lower was because there was another fighter similar to him in the weight class.
That was Gal Seung-hyun, known as the 10th dan in Keybo.
Yu Jung-ak's progress was being compared to Gal Seung-hyun's. The difference was that Gal Seung-hyun finished most of his fights in the first round, while Yu Jung-ak had some struggles.
Naturally, a fighter's evaluation improves when they dominate and finish fights in the first round. Yu Jung-ak didn't have that. He wasn't the type to win with big strikes and finish opponents spectacularly. As such, Yu Jung-ak's striking skills were still considered unrefined, and his punching power average.
So for this fight, most experts predicted Go Kyung-hee's victory. Some experts bet on Yu Jung-ak's unpredictability, but most sided with Go Kyung-hee.
Yu Jung-ak's ability to cause upsets.
However, that was only possible when opponents underestimated Yu Jung-ak. In interviews, Go Kyung-hee consistently emphasized that he highly regarded Yu Jung-ak and would prepare properly without underestimating him.
Go Kyung-hee wasn't the type to enjoy trash talk.
He was the style to show his skills through exciting fights rather than words. Perhaps that's why Go Kyung-hee spoke highly of Yu Jung-ak, calling him a promising fighter. However, he didn't forget to add that he would be the victor.
To this, Yu Jung-ak only added that he would prepare his best as he was a dangerous opponent. There were no sparks flying as they just observed each other.
While not the situation the organizers wanted, they couldn't force them to insult each other.
There are fights where opponents criticize each other, and those where they don't.
And this fight was already drawing public attention without the need for them to disparage each other.
Finally, Go Kyung-hee and Yu Jung-ak met at the interview venue.
As he said before, Go Kyung-hee calmly stated he would win, and Yu Jung-ak didn't react much to it.
"A question for Yu Jung-ak. The difference in fight experience between you and Go Kyung-hee is more than tenfold. How do you plan to make up for this gap in experience?"
"My team is helping me a lot, so I'm not worried about the experience aspect."
"But doesn't that part still concern you?"
"I've always fought opponents with more experience than me. And I've won. This time too, I plan to prepare properly and win."
"There's talk that this fight is essentially a title contender match. What are your thoughts on this?"
"I'm waiting for a rematch with Kwon Cheol. The last fight ended disappointingly due to a cut, but this time I'll finish it definitively and reclaim the belt," Go Kyung-hee said calmly. He was already thinking about the title fight with Kwon Cheol that would follow, rather than Yu Jung-ak.
In fact, Go Kyung-hee had the skills to back this up.
The interview ended smoothly. And a few days later, the weigh-ins began.
Both passed smoothly as expected.
Yu Jung-ak observed Go Kyung-hee's body. There were rumors he had increased his strength, and they seemed true. He looked bigger than in the videos.
However, the same was true for Yu Jung-ak. While their size wasn't much different, their definition was. Someone who could fight in middleweight or even light heavyweight had cut down to lightweight, giving him an almost model-like physique.
Finely sculpted muscles down to the smallest details.
It was a body that looked like it could snap a bow at any moment. The weigh-ins ended smoothly, and the fight day approached.
Saturday, January 28, 2017.
It was exactly one year since Yu Jung-ak's MMA debut.
The fight was scheduled for 5 rounds and was the main event.
The blue corner's Yu Jung-ak entered first, followed by the red corner's Go Kyung-hee. Their fight began. And after 3 rounds, the audience was watching with faces close to astonishment.
The characteristic of Go Kyung-hee's fights was their intensity.
His fights were known for explosive strikes.
But even as the 3rd round was ending, that explosion hadn't happened.
"The fight is completely overturning expert predictions. Commentator Kang Du-hwan, did you expect the fight to go this way?"
"I didn't expect this either. I mentioned that Yu Jung-ak was excellent defensively, but I didn't think he'd prevent even a single clean strike for three entire rounds."
"In contrast, Go Kyung-hee's face is turning red. How do you think the fight will progress?"
"Go Kyung-hee has often turned fights around with a single blow when he was behind, but I think it might be difficult now. He's allowed too many strikes, and Yu Jung-ak is too skilled. It's like a swamp. He's systematically breaking down Go Kyung-hee."
The fight was one-sided.
Yu Jung-ak had been pummeling Go Kyung-hee for three rounds.
In contrast, Go Kyung-hee had only landed two low kicks and one middle kick, failing to land a single other strike on Yu Jung-ak.
His fists didn't even graze Yu Jung-ak's chin, while Yu Jung-ak's jabs smoothly penetrated Go Kyung-hee's guard.
Go Kyung-hee's face was covered in blood. Both eyes were swollen, and a large lump had formed on his forehead. Yu Jung-ak was subduing Go Kyung-hee with a solemn expression.
Literally subduing.
Thud! Thud!
Go Kyung-hee's face reeled from the jabs. This time it was a double jab. Yu Jung-ak, who had opened with a jab, stepped back and threw another jab.
Go Kyung-hee's pursuit stopped.
And the bell signaling the end of the 3rd round rang.
The arena was silent, without a single cheer.
Yu Jung-ak was disarming the bomb that was Go Kyung-hee with a very calm plan.
==
"Kyung-hee! Are you okay?"
"I'm still fine. No major damage."
He didn't seem too exhausted yet. Although he had taken many hits, he hadn't used many large movements. Moreover, Go Kyung-hee had excellent stamina even for his weight class.
He still had plenty of energy.
However, the condition of Go Kyung-hee's face was not good, regardless of his stamina.
"Hey, aim for counters. His punches aren't that strong. You've endured harder punches than his, why are you getting beaten up like this?"
"His punches aren't heavy. They're light. But they're sharp. It's like being hit with an awl."
"No matter how much you stab with an awl, the game ends with one hammer blow. There are still 2 rounds left. If it doesn't work, just get in close and do some dirty boxing."
"He's not even giving me that distance."
Go Kyung-hee grinned.
"Hey, get your head in the game. It's not over yet."
"Coach, I think I should retire."
Go Kyung-hee said quietly.
"What?"
"I don't think I can do it anymore. In the past, even if I took this many hits, I felt like I could turn it around with one shot, but not now. I can tell just by looking. Today's not a day when that one shot will come."
"Don't let your spirit weaken. Why are you like this today? It's not like you. Are you badly hurt somewhere?"
The coach asked while massaging Go Kyung-hee's arm.
"I'm not hurt."
"Then are you giving up on the game? Forfeiting? What's going on with you?"
"It just seems like they prepared properly. But I'll fight to the end."
"Hey! Go Kyung-hee! Are you hurt somewhere or not?"
"It's not that. I just want to retire."
The bell for the start of the 4th round rang while the coach was speaking.
Go Kyung-hee, a dominant force in the lightweight division who had defined an era with his heavy and explosive style. Despite unfavorable physical attributes, his high win rate was due to his strong mentality.
Go Kyung-hee, who never once thought of losing no matter who his opponent was.
Now he was sensing defeat against Yu Jung-ak.
After the 3rd round, Go Kyung-hee fully realized he couldn't beat Yu Jung-ak. His footwork, punch timing.
Yu Jung-ak had analyzed everything about him and come prepared.
In contrast, how much had he prepared?
Go Kyung-hee said he prepared hard, but he had only gone through his usual training. Although Go Kyung-hee always trained extensively, that was all.
Yu Jung-ak had thoroughly exploited Go Kyung-hee's weaknesses, and was demonstrating it perfectly in the actual fight.
Until the 2nd round, Go Kyung-hee found Yu Jung-ak annoying, but his feelings changed in the 3rd round. He could see how intensely Yu Jung-ak had prepared for this fight.
Go Kyung-hee grinned as he looked at Yu Jung-ak standing with a solemn expression in the opposite corner.
Somehow, Yu Jung-ak seemed cool to him.
And he understood why people called Yu Jung-ak the future of MMA.
Go Kyung-hee realized what he needed to do in this fight.
And he initiated the glove touch that he hadn't done in the 2nd and 3rd rounds.
As Go Kyung-hee extended his hand, Yu Jung-ak did the same.
Glove touch.
Go Kyung-hee suddenly thought this could be his last glove touch. It was strange. Even though he knew he was losing, he felt oddly good.
4th round start.
Go Kyung-hee immediately threw a big strike to pressure Yu Jung-ak. A sharp jab came flying back.
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