“Exactly.”
Ryan frowned.
Frank continued.
“He is suppressing something.”
“What does that even mean?”
“He is trying to stand like a beginner.”
Ryan laughed.
“Coach.”
“Listen to me.”
Frank’s voice sharpened.
“His hips are too balanced.”
“He tracks your shoulders, not your hands.”
“When they showed low-kick defense, his first instinct was to enter.”
“He has years.”
“He told me.”
“Judo.”
Frank nodded.
“Then don’t make this stupid.”
Ryan looked at the money.
Then at the room.
Too many eyes.
That was the real problem.
If Frank had whispered before the thousand came out, Ryan probably would have listened.
Now listening felt like retreat.
Ryan smiled.
“It’s technical.”
Frank stared at him.
“You said drop him.”
“Clean knockdown.”
“With control.”
“Back out.”
Ryan shook his head.
“I’m good.”
Frank looked disappointed.
Not afraid.
That bothered Ryan more than fear would have.
Melissa stepped between them.
“This only happens if we set rules.”
Denise approached too.
She looked at Eli.
“You want to do this?”
Eli shrugged.
“Kind of.”
“Why?”
He looked at the charity jar.
“If he loses, shelter gets a thousand.”
Ryan laughed.
“Confidence.”
Eli shook his head.
“No.”
“What?”
“I just think ninety seconds is short.”
The room made a sound.
Ryan smiled.
There.
Finally.
Something he could answer.
“Okay.”
Melissa raised a hand.
“Enough.”
She laid out rules.
Ninety seconds.
Technical sparring.
No strikes to the back of the head.
No knees.
No elbows.
No full-power head shots.
Body shots moderate.
Leg kicks light.
Any takedown must be controlled.
A clean knockdown counted only if Eli’s hand, knee, or body touched the mat because of a legal technique.
Slip did not count.
Push did not count.
Loss of balance after the break did not count.
No submissions.
No continued attack on the ground.
If either person escalated, Melissa stopped it.
Ryan nodded.
Eli nodded.
Frank did not.
He pulled Ryan aside one more time.
“You do not need this.”
Ryan looked annoyed.
“It’s for charity.”
“No.”
Frank pointed subtly toward the crowd.
“It’s for them.”
Ryan’s jaw tightened.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You want them to watch you be right.”
Ryan smiled without humor.
“I am right.”
Frank nodded slowly.
“Then you’re in trouble.”
The round began at 7:48.
Ryan bounced lightly.
Eli did not.
That was the first thing everyone noticed.
No nervous movement.
No wasted movement.
He stood with hands high, weight centered, eyes on Ryan’s chest.
Ryan touched gloves.
Eli touched back.
The timer beeped.
Ryan started with a jab.
Light.
Eli parried.
Second jab.
Eli moved his head just enough.
Third jab.
Landed on the forehead.
Not hard.
Clean.
Ryan smiled.
“Got you.”
Eli nodded.
“Yes.”
That response irritated him.
No excuse.
No reaction.
Ryan threw a low kick.
Eli checked late.
It landed.
Ryan added a right cross to the body.