9
FIGHT NIGHT

Fight night!

The arena was packed. The fights were great. The fight school kids and parents were in a special area. That was when Tommy saw Don for the first time. He seemed bigger than in the video. He wore all black. Tommy wore a red shirt and jeans.

“He’s huge,” Tommy told Ben.

“That’s good. The crowd roots for the smaller guy. The bigger they come? The harder they fall, right?” Ben took a selfie with Tommy, then checked it out. “Look at yourself! You’re as tight as a zip line. You need to relax. We have a plan. Remember?”

“Okay. I’ll try.” Tommy set his jaw. He took big breaths. In. Out. In. Out. He had worked hard. He had been in the cage with Nate Nitehawk. He had studied the video. He saw that Don punched well and kicked better. But he had bad footwork. Tommy needed to be fast. Speed was the key to winning.

A half-hour before the main event, he said good-bye to his buds. Then he went to a dressing room with Mr. Fay. Nate was there. So was Rich. It was quiet. Mr. Fay and Nate got him ready. Tommy put on shorts and a white shirt. Both had the Stars MMA logo. He fastened his headgear.

“You good to go?” Mr. Fay asked.

“I’m good,” Tommy said.

“Don’t forget the ears,” Nate told him.

“Oops! You’re right.”

“Forget what?” Mr. Fay asked.

Tommy found his earplugs. He took off the headgear, put them in, and put the headgear back in place. “That. So I don’t hear the crowd.”

Mr. Fay blinked. “I should have thought of that.”

Nate laughed. “That’s why I was a champ, George. And you never were.”

Tommy took a moment with his brother.

“Stick to the plan,” Rich said.

Tommy nodded. He was ready. This time, he would not choke.

The call came in on the P.A. “Tommy Robbins? Tommy Robbins to the cage!”

Don was in the cage when Tommy stepped into the arena. “From the Stars MMA Fight School, meet Tommy Robbins!”

There were a lot of cheers. Ben was right. The crowd rooted for Tommy. He smiled a grim smile as the ref talked rules and safety. There would be two rounds of one minute each.

The crowd went nuts as the ref moved Tommy and Don to the center.

They touched gloves. The fight was on.