The bell rang sharp, slicing through the Apex arena's low murmur as the two fighters stepped forward, Ivan Novak in the blue corner, Zernom Caige in the red.
Inside the commentary booth, the analysts leaned in as the round began.
"We've got Ivan Novak in the blue corner," Jim Logan began, voice steady, "and Zernom Caige, coming off that brutal win over Shara the Pirate, in the red. This one's been circling on the radar for a while."
Mike Brewer chimed in. "Ivan's got a hell of a base. Strong judo, dominant chain wrestling. He's one of the few prospects who can really control guys with body-to-body contact. But yeah, Jim, like we talked about, his striking is still a step behind. A little stiff. A little predictable."
