Asher
The atmosphere of the crowd is electrifying. It’s easy to understand why the fighters, like Cam and my brother, get such a buzz from fight nights. The Octagon, Cam’s local venue, is packed to the rafters.
For the last week, Cam has been banging on about his last fight. He managed to knock New York Devon out in the first round. It definitely sounded like an epic fight, no matter how quickly it ended.
Tonight, Cam is fighting again. Another challenger from out of state. There was a decent stack of cash in it for him if he won. I was determined not to miss this one.
The line up was jammed packed, I’m sure to try and make as much money as possible. While I came to primarily catch Cameron’s fight, I’d be intrigued to stick around for the whole show. The best matches were usually the women, they were vicious fighters, maybe even more so than the men.
The scene around me is familiar and comfortable but at the same time I haven’t missed it. My older brother, Brady, is a fighter. Growing up with a single enlisted mother, we were moved around and left alone a lot. It was definitely a unique childhood.
It was from an early age that Brady began martial arts training. It was partly because Mom wanted us to know how to defend ourselves but it was also for us to develop some discipline. Of course, whatever Brady did I did, but he always loved it that little bit more than I did.
He started out in the backstreet clubs and underground rings during high school. While I wasn’t down for that, I was still there - cheering him on, training with him, lying to mom about the black eyes and bruises. This is actually where I first met Cam.
Now Brady’s in the big leagues, travelling the country for pro fights. Cam has never said it aloud but I know he idolized my brother, he wants to be on the same track the Brady is on.
Honestly, I think he could do it too. For sure, I’m glad it’s not me in the ring with him tonight. Training is one thing, this is the complete opposite.
Cameron’s match is scheduled for eight forty-five, and as I check the time once more I see we’re getting close. I shove my phone in my pocket and muscle my way through the crowd. If I’m going to watch my buddy fight, I want a front row seat.
I hear the crowd come to life before Cam makes his appearance on the other side of the room. He struts out, hoists himself onto the raised platform and climbs into the cage without hesitation. His opponent, a dark haired, built-like-a-brick-shithouse kind of guy comes into view from my right. He follows Cam into the cage, the door locking shut behind him.
“Match four of six,” The announcer calls over the loudspeaker. “Our homebird, Cameron Neelson, versus Nevada legend, Jaxon Grey. It’ll be a long journey home, folks.” The announcer jokes, already sounding confident in Cameron’s win.
I watch as Cam bends down and speaks to a girl through the cage. She’s small with brown hair, but she’s too far from me to recognize her. He laughs at something she says, then straightens, pulls his gloves on, and turns to face his opponent.
If it were anyone else I would wonder if he had a secret girlfriend that he hadn’t told me about. But it’s not, it’s Cam, my secretly gay best friend. Or at least it’s a secret amongst this crowd.
Seconds later, the bell sounds. Cam and Jaxon are circling each other, weightless on their toes, sizing each other up one last time while waiting for someone to strike first. Cam delivers the first blow, a quick feint to the sternum then a jab towards Jaxon’s head.
Jaxon steps in, closing the short distance between him and Cameron throwing a jab, hook combo. They’re only feeling each other out, testing the waters. That changes quickly. The crowd grows louder as he swings his arm and connects with Cam’s side. It’s a hard hit but Cam swallows it down and rights himself.
Cameron strikes back quickly while Jaxon’s guard is loose. His fist connects with Jaxon’s temple - hard, and the mountain of a guy staggers a step to the side. He doesn’t have a chance to react before Cam’s knee swings up to collide Jaxon’s ribs.
The crowd screams upon impact.
The girl across the room is alight, her face is serious but her eyes are blazing as she follows Cameron’s movements. She’s mesmerized by him and me by her. I want to know how Cameron knows her.
Our eyes meet across the cage and, while I hear the crowd surge around me no doubt reacting to the fight, I miss whatever happens. Suddenly my view of her is blocked. Jaxon lands on the floor with a thud as Cameron straddles his chest. Jaxon tries to unbalance him, to flip Cam off but he’s pinned too firmly.
By this point both of them are sweating, breathing hard, Jaxon’s forearms shake as they try to guard his bloodied face. Cameron continues to whale on him, he’s not slowing, in fact there’s no sign of him backing down.
Jaxon is shit outta luck, his chances of escaping from Cam’s grasp dwindling by the second.
With Cameron’s win almost certain, my mind wanders to the girl again. I’m still thinking of her when the ref blows his whistle and the fight is called to an end. The crowd is still going wild. Thankfully, everyone around me seems to have been cheering for Cameron.
I make my way towards the changing rooms but falter as I spot the mystery girl heading in the same direction. When we’re close enough, and far enough away from the crowd so that I can talk without yelling, I address her.
“You here for Cameron?”
She looks up at me, not startled, but definitely wary. “I am.”
Before I have a chance to ask anything else, a thick, sweaty arm wraps around my neck. Cameron is buzzing with energy, still bouncing as I clap him on the back.
“Good fight, man. You took down a mountain!”
“The bigger they are, the harder they fall.” Cam laughs. He turns to the mystery girl, and she gives him a hug, beaming.
