Chapter 869: The Predator

Chapter 869: Chapter 869: The Predator

Across from Francis stood Omar Cain, the reigning heavyweight champion of UNO.

Cain had a frightening record. Seven professional fights, with only two defeats, one of which had come at the hands of Anton Malikin. That alone told Damon something about the kind of fighter he was dealing with. Despite his relatively small number of appearances, Cain had already shared the cage with some serious competition.

There was certainly an animal in him.

However, Francis was no pushover either.

The man had once dominated the UFA heavyweight division before leaving the promotion following a dispute. For years, fans had called for his return, and when he finally came back, he wasted little time reminding everyone why they had missed him.

His return fight against the previous champion had been an incredibly scrappy affair, but Francis had eventually come out on top, reclaiming his place at the summit of the division.

Damon had kept an eye on him for quite some time.

Francis was an experienced fighter with years of competition behind him. He had also dabbled in professional boxing, earning considerable recognition there before focusing on MMA.

He wasn’t just a heavyweight with knockout power. He had a well-rounded skill set, and his experience made him particularly dangerous.

There was a reason people called him The Predator.

Damon leaned forward slightly, watching the two champions as they approached the centre of the cage.

’Now this is going to be interesting.’

But those two weren’t the only reasons Damon was interested in this fight.

It was also about the state of UFA’s heavyweight division.

While the division had its fair share of big names, it had struggled to generate much excitement before Francis returned. Even now, only a handful of fighters managed to consistently capture the fans’ attention.

The problem wasn’t necessarily their fighting ability. Rather, many heavyweights seemed more concerned with making weight than maintaining an athletic physique. While they were perfectly within the division’s weight limit, quite a few carried excessive body fat, which often affected their endurance and mobility.

Of course, there were exceptions. Some fighters could still produce incredible performances despite carrying extra weight, but they were few and far between.

What caught Damon’s attention about this particular matchup, however, was that both Francis and Cain were noticeably different.

They were big, muscular men who clearly took their physical conditioning seriously. Their builds suggested they could maintain a demanding pace without exhausting themselves too early, something that wasn’t always common among heavyweights.

’This could actually be a long fight.’

And that was exactly what Damon wanted to see.

Just then, the horn rang.

BEEEEEP!

Both heavyweights left their corners and moved toward the centre of the cage.

Francis stood at an imposing height, his thick shoulders and muscular frame making him look every bit the heavyweight champion. His gloves were held relatively low, and he moved with a surprising lightness for a man of his size.

Across from him, Omar Cain looked equally intimidating.

The UNO champion had a powerful build, thick legs and a broad upper body. Unlike Francis, however, Cain seemed more comfortable keeping a high guard while advancing behind his weight and physical strength.

The referee gave them their final instructions before calling for the glove touch.

They tapped gloves.

"Let’s get this started!"

Francis immediately took the centre, moving forward with a cautious bounce in his step. Cain remained patient, watching him while making small adjustments to his stance.

Neither man seemed particularly interested in rushing.

Francis threw the first jab.

It was quick for a heavyweight, snapping toward Cain’s face before the UNO champion moved his head away. Francis followed with another, this time stepping closer and sending a heavy right hand toward the body.

Cain caught it on his elbow and immediately attempted to close the distance.

Francis saw him coming and fired a short left hook.

WHOOOSH!

Cain managed to duck underneath, but the punch carried enough power to make the crowd react.

"That’s the kind of power Francis brings!" Demian exclaimed. "Even his shorter punches are dangerous!"

Jon nodded. "And Cain knows it. He’s already looking to get inside rather than remain at the end of those punches."

The UNO champion stepped forward again, this time throwing a jab of his own before driving a powerful right hand toward Francis’s head.

Francis leaned away, allowing the punch to pass in front of him, then immediately returned with a straight right.

THUD!

The punch landed against Cain’s guard, but the force behind it pushed the larger man backward.

Damon leaned forward slightly.

’That’s some serious power.’

Cain wasn’t discouraged. He shook his arms loose and moved forward again, this time abandoning the usual striking exchange. He dipped beneath Francis’s next jab, stepped deep between his legs and drove his shoulder into the champion’s chest. At the same time, he wrapped both arms around Francis’s waist, clasping his hands together behind his back.

"OH! Cain is looking for the takedown!"

Francis immediately widened his stance and attempted to frame against Cain’s head, but the UNO champion had already secured a tight body lock.

Cain kept his head pressed against Francis’s chest and drove through his hips, forcing the champion backward. Francis tried to turn away and break the grip, but Cain adjusted his footing and lifted with his legs.

The crowd erupted as Francis’s feet briefly left the canvas.

"HE’S GOT HIM UP!"

Francis fought to free his arms, but Cain’s grip was strong. The UNO champion turned his hips and attempted to dump him onto the canvas.

However, Francis managed to spread his weight and hook one leg around Cain’s, preventing him from completing the takedown cleanly.

Both men crashed against the cage.

Cain continued driving, determined to finish what he had started, but Francis managed to slip one arm inside and secure an underhook. He planted his feet, turned his hips and used his shoulder to push against Cain’s upper body.

The pressure forced Cain to adjust his stance, and Francis used that moment to turn them away from the fence, reversing their positions until the UNO champion found his back against the cage.

"That’s a smart adjustment from Francis!" Jon commented. "He couldn’t simply overpower Cain’s grip, so he fought for inside position and used the cage to help turn him around."

Damon watched closely.

The strength difference wasn’t as obvious as he had expected. Both men were incredibly powerful, and neither seemed particularly bothered by the physical exchanges.

Francis drove a short knee into Cain’s thigh before attempting another to the body. Cain blocked it with his elbow and tried to regain his body lock, but Francis pushed against his head and created enough space to separate.

The two returned to the centre.

Cain came forward immediately.

This time, Francis didn’t wait for him.

He stepped into range and unleashed a vicious right hand.

Cain moved his head, but the punch grazed his cheek. Before he could respond, Francis followed with a left hook that caught him cleanly.

BOOM!

Cain’s head snapped to the side.

The crowd exploded.

"OH MY GOD! FRANCIS JUST CAUGHT HIM!"