The clock ticked into the final thirty seconds of Round 2.
Both men were breathing heavier now, sweat covering their backs and shoulders. The pace had slowed slightly, but the danger hadn't.
Ivan jabbed forward, then stepped into a right hand that glanced off RRD's temple. RRD stayed calm, circled left, then right, and came in low.
He changed levels fast. Ivan didn't react in time. RRD drove forward and wrapped his arms around the hips, then pushed with his shoulder. Ivan tried to widen his base, but RRD angled off and dragged him to the mat.
Jon Goodman reacted right away. "There it is! First takedown from RRD in the fight. That's huge."
Rich Alvarez followed. "It took almost ten minutes, but he finally found the timing. I expected more of this from him, honestly. He's been a top grappler his whole career."
Ivan scrambled from bottom, but RRD held tight and moved to half guard. He locked his arm around the head and leaned in, pressing his weight down.
Marvin Duke added, "Novak's been in control for most of the fight. But that takedown shows RRD's not just surviving. He's still thinking, still looking for moments."
RRD didn't posture or strike. He kept the position and rode the clock out, controlling the hips and keeping pressure.
The horn sounded to end Round 2.
Ivan sat on his stool, breathing deeper now. His corner poured water on his shoulders and spoke to him calmly.
They told him to stay ahead, keep the pressure, and not let that takedown affect his rhythm.
Across the cage, RRD stood before the stool even came in. He wiped his mouth, nodded to his coach, and paced slowly.
He had taken damage, but the takedown was a small win. It reminded everyone, and himself, that the fight wasn't finished.
The crowd buzzed as both men prepared for Round 3.
Damon sat at the edge of the bench, hands resting on his knees, sweat still drying on his shoulders from a light warm-up.
His breathing was calm, focused, but his eyes stayed on the screen showing the co-main event.
The room around him buzzed with quiet voices and shifting bodies. Everyone was watching.
Joey leaned forward from where he stood, arms crossed.
"What do you think so far?" he asked. "Who's the biggest threat between them?"
Damon didn't answer right away. He looked at the screen again. RRD was moving around the cage, blood on his eyebrow, still very active and dangerous. But the one pressing forward, the one controlling most of the exchanges was Ivan.
"Ivan," Damon said, finally.
He didn't need to explain at first. Everyone could see it. But after a few more seconds, he leaned back and spoke.
"His striking's improved. A lot. This fight's mostly been standing, and he's leading most of it. RRD's holding on, making it hard, but Ivan's staying ahead."
Joey nodded. "You think it's over?"
"No," Damon said simply. "RRD's still in it. He's strong. He's smart. He's not folding. But Ivan's reading him better than I expected. Especially for someone who used to wrestle first, think later."
There was a pause as RRD landed a clean shot on the screen.
Joey pointed. "You see that? RRD's still got heat."
Damon didn't disagree. He respected RRD. The man had only ever lost to one fighter, twice.
That record wasn't just good, it was built on real opponents. And even now, when Ivan had the momentum, RRD was still making him work for everything.
"If he wins this," Joey said, "you still doing the show?"
Damon smirked. "Of course. Whoever wins, it doesn't matter. I'm still coaching. But yeah… if it's Ivan, that rivalry's already built in."
Joey grinned and said nothing more. The screen kept flashing. The fight wasn't over.
The energy in the room rose again as the third round prepared to begin. Damon turned back toward it, eyes sharp, posture steady.
Whoever came out on top tonight… he'd be ready.
The third round began with neither man rushing. Both were bleeding, both marked up, but their eyes stayed open.
Ivan jabbed first, then followed with a low kick. He stepped left and threw a short right to the body.
RRD blocked it but didn't return fire. His legs were slower now. He adjusted his stance, keeping his guard up.
Ivan circled and struck again, this time with a quick body shot, then a short elbow over the top as he stepped in.
RRD absorbed it, then tried to clinch. Ivan pushed off, controlling the wrist before sliding out.
From the outside, Ivan stayed calm. He picked his moments.
He landed a left to the ribs, then stepped in behind it with a hook that caught RRD's chin. RRD moved back, adjusting his feet, but Ivan stayed in range.
A short kick landed behind RRD's knee. Then a straight right hand followed. RRD bit down and returned with a left hook, finally landing something clean.
Ivan grunted, backed up a step, then came forward again with a tighter guard.
RRD pressed forward, landed a jab, then moved in for a body lock. He dragged Ivan sideways, trying to muscle him down.
Ivan fought the grip, but RRD lifted and finished the takedown.
The crowd reacted right away.
Ivan hit the mat on his side, then rolled to his knees. RRD tried to hook the leg and stay on top, but Ivan shifted out and stood. His back touched the fence, but he was already resetting.
The takedown hadn't changed the pace.
Ivan hit a jab, moved right, and threw a hook to the body.
He kept RRD guessing. Every time RRD threw something straight, Ivan countered with something tight and short hooks, elbows, or stiff jabs that shook the head.
They traded again. RRD landed a short elbow in the pocket, then tried to clinch once more. Ivan shrugged him off and hammered the body with a clean shot.
Both men were slowing now, but Ivan looked fresher.
He stayed in the pocket longer, slipping past a right hand and landing another jab to the nose.
RRD's breathing was louder now. His guard dropped for a moment. Ivan threw a right hand down the middle, then slipped out of range again.
Another leg kick from Ivan. This time lower. RRD winced and stepped back. His movement was affected, but he didn't stop.
He charged forward, threw a wild combination, and caught Ivan with a right hand.
It snapped the head, but Ivan stayed upright and clinched. They wrestled on the cage again, short knees from both shoulder pressure and hand fighting.
RRD landed a short uppercut inside, then tried for a trip, but Ivan reversed it and pushed him off.
Back at range, Ivan kept jabbing. Each one touched the face. RRD didn't move his head enough, and the shots added up.