Division 2: Fight 4, Odin Vs Bruce

[Odin Reeves]

...

[koenig]

(As I walked towards the ring I looked around at the crowd. There were hundreds of people here to watch the bloodshed that was forthcoming today. I would make sure they got what they desired so much.


--------One Hour Earlier-------

I found myself sitting in my room preparing for the fight I knew would happen today. It was my first real tournament in quite a while. I knew that I would be fighting some of the best if not the best fighters in Hircine. Grabbing my duffle bag of clothes and other things I headed towards the desitination that this tournament was being held.

Entering the building I walked over to a bench and sat down. Pulling my shirt off I grabbed my white tape and wrapped up first my hands and wrists, then my ankles. Finishing with that I bent down and pulled my Muay Thai shorts out of my bag, pulling them on after taking my jeans off I sat down once again. Lastly I pulled my long red hair back and tied it up in a ponytail with my blue bandane to keep my hair from getting in the way. Pulling out a cigarette from my pack i lit it and inhaled deeply. The whole time I sat there smoking I waited for the show to begin. Looking down at a piece of paper in my hands I read the name over and over again, Odin Reeves. Just fucking great, not only was he a fellow varronite, he had won the tournament not to long ago. Whatever it didn't matter, all that mattered was beating him.

-------END Flashback-----

(Climbing into the ring I rolled my shoulders to loosen them up. I then began to quickly stretch my legs as I waited for my opponent to show up.)

[Odin Reeves]

If this had been yesterday then Odin would’ve been to exhaust to fight. It wasn’t training, nor combat that had made him so tired, but setting up this event and getting the word out of a new tournament. He just wasn’t use to the idea of spreading the word, working resources, and constructing an arena. Despite a bit of help from past attendants – of both his seminars and tournaments – it had been a long day before he got the well-deserved rest that he needed. But, this was yesterday, and the tournament begun today. Rested and refreshed he took one final look of the ring, trying to note any wear-and-tear after all the prior first round matches.

Moving up the cold, unforgiving metal steps he walked along the edge of the canvas before dipping inside the ropes. His warm-up was finished, his equipment check done, and his opponent was here. There was no longer any reason to hold off on his match.

Tightening his fists he stretched the white tape that was formed over his knuckles. For this match he was going ‘soft’, sticking to a more traditional boxing look with his black satin short and taped hands. But there’d be nothing soft about this match. He was expecting nothing but sheer and utter dominance over his opponent, as he expected from himself in every match. If this guy managed to make this a war then all the better. Otherwise, he’d have nothing to feel upset about.

[koenig]

(Hearing my opponents footsteps I stopped stretching and turned around. I could feel the anticipation shooting through my body, this was it. Finally it would start. As he stepped into the ring I stood straight and bowed my head slightly to him in respect)

"its an honour to fight you in the first round odin"

(I said plainy as I rose my head from the bow. I then brought my hands up in a traditional boxing stance, with my left hand in front and my right near my chin. I then bent my knees slightly as my left foot slid out forward in front of me. Taking a deep breath I motioned for him to come at me with my left hand. Time for the fun to begin, i thought to myself as I awaited his attack)

[Odin Reeves]

Mentally Odin swatted the words out of the air, not listening to his opponent’s voice and only waited for physical signs that he was ready to fight. The preparation of his fighting stance was more then enough, and once waved forward Odin started to move across the standard size boxing ring. His movements forward were similar to that of an animal stalking it’s prey. His shoulders were hunched forward; his chin kept down, yet his eyes always remained locked on his opponent’s slightly moving frame. He didn’t bother with looking up at the mans eyes, he knew how much they could lie, how an experienced fighter could use them to distract their opponent. He’d have none of that.

With less then half a ring left to go before either man was in striking range Odin’s right side made a drastic change in his forward stalk. With a clear step forward he planted his right foot in front of the rest, raising his hands in similar appearance to that of his opponent, only with his front elbow tilted over more to the side then what a traditional boxing stance would be.

Continuing to push the pace Odin drew ever closer, his feet shuffling with a vigor not seen in a long time. The closer he got to his opponent the faster the shuffles became until he was nearly bum-rushing his current adversary. With a step to go before he got into striking range his right shoulder rolled back, hips turning over slightly as he shuffled forward, covering nearly twice the distance of his usual steps as he lunged outward. His right fist was already coiled to strike, and hooked out just enough to bypass his opponent’s defending left arm and curl inward to strike at a soft downward angle to his chin. It would be a jarring, disorientating move if it struck, and nearly the perfect way to start out a match, especially if he was hoping for an early victory.

[koenig]

(as Odin began to close the distance I stood still waiting with my hands up, constanstly watching his every move. I knew I wouyld have to figure out his strengths and weaknesses quick since I had never fought, or seen him fight anyone before. The only way to do this, was to test him early.

As he lunged outward towards me I got ready. As his hook went just outside of my left hand I smiled. This would be a perfect shot against me, if I didn't react that was. Dipping down low I weaved to my left like a boxer would, so that his hook would pass just over my head. As I weaved my left hand would pull back cocked and ready. As the hand passed over my head I would instantly come to full height while unloading my own left hook just over his extended right arm. The hook was aimed for the right side of his face just under his cheekbone.)

[Odin Reeves]

If there had been one thing that Odin was constantly trying to improve, as it always remained his weakest point, it was the speed of his feet. While he never attempted to kick, he was always trying to be more explosive with his actions, and the best way to do that was to do simple lunges and spins while training, or allot of roadwork. In either case it usually paid off, just slowly.

After watching his opponent begin to dip down Odin’s tactics were already changing, years of boxing had led his instincts to believe he knew what his opponent was about to try. This being said he preemptively went into his next set of motions, disbanding the power of his forward punch, though using the momentum it provided to further his cause. By pushing off with his back foot and pivoting over on his right he’d be able to strike his opponent as he came up on Odin’s right, or rather, what would’ve been Odin’s right.

His hook dropped immediately, descending in toward his own body as his tensed left arm began to pull away from his body due to the force of his spin. As he came around he threw his left arm out, go for a forearm-guided backhand. The series of motions would make this move look choreographed, as it would be one short miss after another. His, then his opponents as Odin spun away, then the near-perfectly timed backward, aimed and locked on to his opponent’s jaw line.

[koenig]

(As I began to come up I watched as Odin pivoted on one leg and began to spin. Being no stranger to counters quite like this I instantly stopped my own hook. As I regained my full height instead of throwing my left hook as desired I brought my left hand up quick to the side of my head instinctivly since most times thats where the next counter shot would be thrown. This would cause his arm to connect with my forearm. As the momentum of the hit swung my arm slightly towards my face. I grimaced from the pain that shot through my forearm.

Ignoring the pain I continued to keep my left hand up as I took a half step forward and threw a right hook for his now exposed left ribs. His ribs would be open due to his left arm being extended and likely still very close if not still touching my forearm that blocked the attack. If the hit struck my opponents ribs I would step back a pace to regain my composure, before I did anything else)

[Odin Reeves]

Moving into his strike, thus following the momentum, Odin continued to push and stepped around with his right leg, using his left as a pivot point. By doing so he was able to clearly get out of Bruces area of reach via his right side, while also putthing himself in prime position for a choke.

The next motions followed that of a snake. Odin's right arm slithered through the stale air to reach around the neck of his opponent before turning inward in order to pull back against the throat. His left arm would basically remain where it was, only moving enough to lock and pull his right arm back once it was in position. He'd find himself moving his feet alittle bit more, getting directly behind his opponent and twisting his hips over for maximum leverage and defensive purposes.

[koenig]

(As Odin continued to pivot I stopped using the momentum i would have initially used in my arm to throw the punch. As he got behind me. I instantly dropped my chin to my chest. This would cause his arm to instead of reach around my neck, it would reach around my chin and mouth. Doing jujitsu for years taught me that ninety percent of the time when an opponent got your back they were going to try to choke you out, since there weren't that many submissions to use from behind. I then brought my left arm instantly to the side of my head. This cause my fist to rest against my ear. In doing this it would make it very hard for an opponent to secure his hold with his other hand since my left arm would be bent and in the way.

Since my right arm was still extended from the punch, I decided to use this to my own gain. shifting my upper body slightly to my left as much as i could I pulled my right arm in hard. This would cause my right elbow to pass beside my body and slam into odins stomach or right ribs behind me. I would continue to do this until he let go or did something about it.)

[Odin Reeves]

The alteration of Odin's feet were simple, his right was more or less centered between his opponents, only back about a foot, and his left was in line with that. His body was turned to the side, giving him a stronger leverage and a more defensive situation should a retaliation begin. While he was protecting himself mostly from a backward kick to the groin, these elbows would prove ineffective as well, especially considering Odin's sense of combat.

Regardless of what Bruce tried to do Odin would still be able to lock his right arm with his left, albiet around the mans chin and arm, but the pressure he could enduse would still be plenty enough to put his opponent to sleep. Though not taking any chances on using just his sheer strength Odin's tactics changed to technical when he lifted his left arm up, while maintaining the hold, and grabbed the back of Bruces head while bypassing his left arm, then pulled down while torquing his right arm up. This would make his opponent's chin press up harder against his jawline, possible pushing it out of place.

But that wasn't all of Odin's technique, next he'd lift his right leg up - putting more weight on his hold - and push his weight with a downward force against the back of his opponent's left knee. An easily collapsable area, which would send them both down a peg lower, though Odin could simply hunch as his opponent would be forced to kneel.

[koenig]

(As my jaw felt like it would break from the immense pressure being put on it I tried to find an opening to get out of this hold. Just then I felt the pressure on the back of my knee and I knew this was my chance. Instantly I grabbed onto his right elbow with my right hand. As my knee was collapsing I put my weight downwards to help me hit the ground on one knee harder while bending forward as much as i could. At the same time I would torque my hips to my right hard while pulling down as hard as I could with my arms. This would cause odin to flip over me in a judo throw. It wasn't a damaging move by any means, but at least it got him away from me and would give me time to gain my composure)

[Odin Reeves]

The type of hold Odin had on his opponent was a simple attempt at a rear-naked choke. His right arm was held tightly by the creavice of his left arm's elbow, but not directly held in position. He had some leeway, and with this his counter would appear even more dominating, as well as choreographed. For, Odin's true intent with the movement of putting his opponent on his knees was to get him to lay down on his stomach, where he would be truly helpless.

Thus, as his opponent finally brought his right arm up to grab Odin's elbow he released his hold on the chin, though remained pulling down on his opponent's head to keep him relying purely on his sense of touch to try and counter Odin's movements. His right arm would come out from across the chin/jawline of his opponent while his shoulder rotated around. Hooking his arm back inwards he'd wrap it around Bruces forearm by angling it down softly, then continued to bring it around and behind his back.

Either Bruces elbow/arm would go easily behind his back, giving into the move, or he'd face the possibility of his shoulder popping out and elbow cracking. Odin wasn't playing around, and total force was necessary in every around. And when it's topped with proper technique it's hard to defend against.

From this position Odin would put his weight forward, making Bruce lay down before he'd secure his opponent's right arm with his knee to adjust his own arm. He'd re-grab Bruces wrist and hoist his arm up higher, adding more pain before he'd attempt to secure his opponent's other arm. His knee still on his opponent's back.

The attempt at a flip had been smart, but Odin's position was just to dominant. The angle of his hold, the position of his body being sideways instead of parrell, and overall his weight and strength advantage. When it came to the upper body there were few that could match him, even less that could beat him - atleast in Hircine.

[Kyukaku]

I'm going to have to go with Odin on this one, but I'd like to note that you're getting better everytime I see you fight recently Bruce.

[kai]

OOC: Really close fight, but I'm giving it to Odin.