10
TAP OUT

Don came at Tommy like a human tank. He wrapped Tommy in his huge arms.

Tommy panicked. This was all wrong. He had seen the video. Don was a striker. He was no grappler. Yet here he was, stuck in Don’s grip. He had made the wrong plan. He was set for the wrong kind of fighter.

The crowd went crazy. Don pushed him to the cage wall. Tommy tried to slip out of his arms. Then Don went for a choke hold. This was bad. Don’s right arm was around Tommy’s neck. Tommy only had a few seconds before he would go weak. He pushed back with his head. Then he pushed on Don’s left elbow.

Tommy was free. But he had no time to be happy. Don came at him. Tommy threw some jabs. Don blocked them. He kicked with his left foot. Don danced away. Then Don came in with bull rush. He wanted a takedown.

Don got around him again. He put Tommy on his hip. He set up a hip throw. It was a classic judo move. Tommy crashed to the mat. The crowd moaned.

Don was on him. He wanted an arm lock. He had it. The fans roared. They wanted Tommy to stay strong. He tried not to tap out, but it hurt so much—

The bell sounded. The round was over. Tommy was saved.

Tommy went to his chair. Mr. Fay was there. “That was almost it.”

“Yeah,” Tommy agreed. “I mean, yes.”

“Tommy? In the middle of an MMA bout? ‘Yeah’ is okay. How do you feel?”

“I feel good. But I need a new plan. He’s a grappler.”

“Focus, then.”

Tommy closed his eyes. He saw himself in the ring. Not with Don. But with Ben. He had always tried to beat Ben with his fists and feet. But what if …

He had it! His plan. It was worth a try.

The arena buzzed for the last round. The ref called them to the center. The boys touched gloves. The crowd went crazy. The round began.

Tommy came at Don like ten tanks.

It was kind of nuts. He was no grappler. Tommy lived on speed, not power. But Don was so shocked that he froze. Tommy spun behind him, just like he had with Nate. Don tried to turn to his right, to face Tommy. Tommy had hoped for this. He moved his right leg against Don’s right ankle. Then he pushed.

Down went Don.

The crowd roared. Tommy heard it through his earplugs. Don put up his left arm to ward Tommy off. Tommy grabbed it. He put his knees across Don’s chest. Don tried to fight him. Tommy held on. He got Don’s left arm between his legs. Then he pushed down on the arm against his hip. Arm bar!

Don screamed in pain. Then he tapped out.

Tommy was stunned. He had won!

He got to his feet. The ref raised his arm. The crowd cheered. Tommy just stood there. He had looked defeat in the face. He had not choked. Best of all, Mr. Fay had let him figure it out by himself.

Don came over and hugged him. “That took guts, man.”

“You almost beat me.”

“Rematch sometime?”

“You got it,” Tommy said. “You earned it, dude.”

Then everyone he loved was in the ring with him. Mr. Fay. Nate Nitehawk. Ben. His friends. His family. He had done it. He had learned so much this week. About his own strong body. His mind. And most of all, about his heart.

That was why they called it fight school. It was not just a school for MMA. It was a school for life.