MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

"Almost had you there," Damon said, eyes sharp.

Ash didn't respond, focused on his next move. He faked a low takedown, then popped up quickly, grabbing Damon's arm and spinning into an arm drag.

He pulled Damon off-balance for a second and quickly moved to take his back.

Damon felt it and immediately dropped to a knee, turning into Ash before he could secure the position.

He grabbed Ash's wrist, controlling it, and used his other hand to post on the ground, pushing himself back up to his feet.

Ash wasn't giving up. He drove forward again, grabbing for Damon's waist, trying to lock his hands. Damon fought the grip, digging his elbows in and keeping Ash's hands from locking around his hips.

They struggled for a moment, pushing against each other. Damon shoved Ash back, creating space again.

"You sure about this, Ash?" Damon asked, voice steady.

Ash just smiled, wiping sweat from his face, then dove in once more. This time he got under Damon's hips, lifting him slightly off the ground. Damon quickly wrapped his legs around Ash's waist, pulling him into full guard as they hit the mat.

Ash immediately started working to pass Damon's guard, pushing on his legs and trying to slide a knee through. Damon stayed calm, controlling Ash's wrists and keeping his legs tight.

"Now we're talking," Damon said quietly as Ash struggled.

Ash shifted, trying to break free of Damon's guard. He pushed down on Damon's knee, trying to create space for a pass. Damon reacted by shifting his hips, keeping his guard closed and strong.

Ash switched to another tactic, posturing up and trying to rain down punches. Damon quickly controlled his wrists, stopping the strikes before they could gain momentum.

"You're slowing down, Ash," Damon said, tightening his grip on Ash's wrists.

Ash ignored him and leaned back, trying to force his knee through Damon's guard. He made some progress, almost breaking it, but Damon adjusted, turning his hips and threatening a triangle choke.

Ash immediately pulled back, avoiding the triangle, but it gave Damon the opening to switch to an armbar attempt. Damon shot his legs up, locking Ash's arm in, and began to extend.

Ash grunted, twisting his body and pulling his arm out just before Damon could fully lock it in. Damon let go and reset his guard, not letting Ash pass.

"Close one," Damon said, grinning as Ash backed off.

Ash moved forward again, pushing his forearm against Damon's neck, trying to control his posture.

Damon reacted by breaking Ash's grip and pulling him down into his guard again, controlling his posture.

Ash moved his hips, trying to angle for a pass, but Damon was ready. He pushed on Ash's hips, creating enough space to slide his own legs out and transition to an open guard.

As soon as Damon's legs were free, he quickly went for an ankle lock, twisting Ash's leg as he locked it in.

Ash grimaced, but he spun with the hold, preventing Damon from finishing the submission. Ash kicked out and freed his leg, standing back up.

They both got to their feet, breathing harder now but still sharp.

Damon cracked his neck, stepping forward. "You really want this?"

Ash didn't respond, just shot in again, aiming for a quick single-leg. Damon reacted by sprawling hard, this time catching Ash under his weight. He spun around, taking Ash's back as Ash scrambled on the ground.

Damon locked in a seatbelt grip, controlling Ash's body, and started to work his hooks in. Ash struggled, keeping his arms tight and defending his neck.

For a moment, they were still, both breathing heavily. Damon slowly worked one arm under Ash's chin, threatening a rear-naked choke.

Ash grabbed at Damon's wrist, fighting off the choke as best he could.

Damon tightened his grip, the choke getting deeper. Ash squirmed, trying to twist out of it.

Damon held on, squeezing slowly, but Ash managed to pull Damon's arm down just enough to stop the choke from fully locking in.

Ash turned into Damon, breaking the grip and escaping back to a neutral position. Damon let him go, stepping back and letting Ash stand up.

"Still hanging in there," Damon said, slightly impressed.

Ash didn't waste time, shooting in again, trying to catch Damon off guard. Damon defended with a sprawl, controlling Ash's head and resetting once more.

They circled again, both a bit slower now but still determined.

Ash shot in again, this time with more aggression, and Damon wasn't fast enough to sprawl.

Ash caught him in a deep single leg, pulling Damon's leg in tight and driving him backward.

Damon tried to hop out of it, but Ash swept his other leg, sending Damon crashing onto his back.

Ash immediately scrambled on top, securing side control.

Damon grunted, trying to shrimp out, but Ash locked down his hips with his knee, pinning him to the mat.

Damon struggled to move, but Ash was already setting up for a better position.

"Got you now, big guy," Ash muttered, his voice smug.

Damon grimaced as Ash dropped his weight heavier, making it hard to breathe.

Ash moved methodically, controlling Damon's attempts to escape.

He slid his knee across Damon's torso, shifting into a more dominant side control.

Damon tried to bridge, but Ash held him down, controlling his head with one arm while his hips smothered Damon's movement.

"You thought you had me earlier," Ash said, his voice growing cocky. "But you forgot who you're messing with."

Damon struggled to free his arms, but Ash was already securing a head-and-arm choke setup.

Ash leaned in, tightening his grip, slowly applying pressure to Damon's neck and shoulder.

Damon felt the squeeze, his breath getting short, but he stayed calm, waiting for the right moment to defend.

Ash smirked, seeing Damon's breathing change. "What's the matter? Getting tired? Should've stayed standing."

Damon planted his feet, trying to bridge again, but Ash anticipated it.

He floated on top, keeping his balance, then dropped back into side control before Damon could escape.

"Just relax," Ash said, his tone mocking. "You're not getting out of this."

Ash leaned forward, putting more weight on Damon's chest. He transitioned to full mount, sitting heavily on Damon's torso.

Damon felt the shift and tried to buck him off, but Ash's position was solid.

Damon pushed against Ash's chest, trying to create space, but Ash easily flattened his arms down, trapping them.

Ash dropped his hips lower, completely controlling Damon's torso. Damon struggled beneath him, but Ash's control was tight.