DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
UCC (UMMA) Managers Forum
HTML https://umma.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Rampage Sports
*****************************************************
#Post#: 1255--------------------------------------------------
Driven To Win - Chapter 2 - Project Emma
By: RampageSports Date: March 10, 2015, 9:22 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Driven To Win - Chapter 2 - Project Emma
Thump, thump!
I was back at the bag again after a long day of training. Tiff
had pushed me since the minute we started this morning. I
didn't broadcast my worries about the upcoming fight... it
seemed silly, to be honest. I've had so much success since
joining the UMMA, much of which I knew came through luck. Who
would believe, or even care, that I was tormented by this stupid
thing with Kristen Stewart?
But Tiff knew. And, as always, she cared. She understood how I
felt, and she didn't treat me as though I was being ridiculous.
Even though I probably was.
As for the luck thing... well, luck favors the prepared. With
Tiff, I'm always prepared.
She had pressured me all day, the both of us working until we
were exhausted. I know what our relationship has done for me
outside of the cage, but these past few days have really shown
me what I'm getting from it inside the octagon. Training is the
key to everything, and most of my competitors only wish they had
someone like Tiff to train with. Not only is she a talented
champion, but she's earned that title the hard way. Everyone
knows of her struggles against Nadine Coyle. Nobody knows them
better than I do. But what the others don't see is the way
those struggles have made her better. Tougher. Harder.
Can she be beaten?
Obviously, she can.
Does she give up?
Never.
It's the reason she stood there and suffered those brutal
beatings at Nadine's hands. She simply wouldn't quit. It's
also the reason I know she'll take another one, if the fight
breaks that way.
That's why I pour everything I have into getting her ready. I
never want one of her fights to break that way again.
Today's session had been one of our best, and I felt stronger
and more ready than I ever have.
And yet, here I am. Hitting this bag. Thinking I need more.
The follow-up to my conversation with Richelle last night never
happened. Things have been a little crazy around here this past
week or so. Richelle has been heading up the training sessions
twice a week, while Danni and Steph are off on "recruiting
trips." We all know that's nonsense, and there are plenty of
rumors floating around as to what's really going on. Nobody
knows for sure, though.
Whatever it is, it sure has made things interesting around here.
Even when Danni and Steph are here, Richelle is busy making up
for the things she didn't get done when she was on her own.
That's what happened today, and there was no way I was getting
in the middle of that.
So, imagine my surprise when Richelle walked into the training
room shortly before six. I started to say something, but her
attire made me stop. A pair of red Muay Thai style shorts were
held up by a thick, black waistband. Her upper-body was covered
by a plain, black tank top, the lower hem of which was tucked
neatly into the shorts. The straps of a red, compression-style
sports bra peeked out from under the tank as they ran over her
shoulders.
But, the real attention getters were the simple, black
fingerless gloves she was strapping to her wrists.
"What's this?" I asked.
She narrowed her eyes at me. "You promise not to break
anything, this time?" she said, indirectly answering my
question.
I smiled and shrugged. "I can't promise anything," I said. "I
hear bones get pretty brittle as they age."
She nodded. "Yeah, well," she began, "just remember I hit a lot
harder than that bag."
I unconsciously rubbed my jaw. "I remember," I said.
The cage next to where we were standing was the same one we'd
used the last time we "worked out" together. That was a day we
both wanted to forget, and Richelle deliberately skipped over it
as she led the way to a cage across the room.
"You know, I don't understand how you do this," she said.
"Do what?"
"I've seen you spar with Tiffany," she said. "It's exhausting
just to watch. How can you still have the energy to keep
going?"
I smiled. "I'm not old, like you. I always have a little
something left."
She nodded again. "Uh, huh," she said flatly.
We stepped inside and automatically took up positions across
from each other.
"So, what's your plan?" I asked. "Are we just gonna start
swinging at each other?"
"Uh... no," she said. "I've already seen that movie, and I
didn't care for the ending."
I nodded. "What, then?"
She set her stance and brought her hands up in front of her.
"Hit me," she said.
I raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Hit me," she said again.
"I thought you just said we weren't going to do this," I said.
"Quit stalling and hit me," she said.
I had no idea what she was trying to do, but she was quickly
becoming annoying.
I shook my head and brought my guard up.
"You think I can't hit you?" I asked.
"I know you can't," she said confidently as she started to
bounce on the balls of her feet.
I shook my head again, then settled into my own rhythm.
We circled for a while, then I snapped a jab as I tried to get a
feel for the distance. It fell short, and I pressed forward.
Richelle backed away and circled left. I tried the jab again,
but she was moving too quickly for me to land it. Not a
problem. I circled with her for a while, using my jab to back
her up as we went. As she neared the cage, I stopped suddenly,
took a half step right to cut her off and threw the jab again.
She blocked it high as she ducked under the straight right I
threw behind it. As she came up, she stepped in and gave me a
two-handed shove. I stumbled away as she resumed circling.
"What the f*ck was that?" I said as I righted myself.
She didn't bother with an answer.
"I thought you were going to hit me," she said.
I felt the muscles in my jaw tighten as my teeth ground
together.
I retook my stance, and we circled again in the middle of the
cage.
I led with the jab again, with her catching it on her guard this
time. I reset, then quickly fired the jab-cross combo. She
retreated immediately, blocking the jab while the cross hit
nothing but air. She continued to retreat, nearly to the mesh
behind her. I followed, but she quickly circled right. I moved
to block her, which only caused her to circle back the other
way. I tried to corner her... patiently stalking my way forward
as I matched her movements. But, the distance was too great.
She drew me in just enough, then slipped free before I could get
in range. She danced her way back to the center of the cage and
waited.
"Are you gonna fight me, or what?" I asked.
"Are you gonna hit me, or what?" came the response.
She was really p*ssing me off.
I came at her again. She retreated before I could get close
enough, but I matched her step for step. She wouldn't have the
room to maneuver once she reached the edge of the octagon.
Then, she suddenly stopped. Before I had a chance to react, she
hooked her right arm outside my guard... and the b*tch slapped
me in the face. Hard.
By the time I got past the shock of what she'd done, she had
skipped away again.
I turned and glared at her.
"Are you f*cking crazy?" I yelled.
"Probably," she said, "but you still haven't hit me."
Now, I was seething.
"You'd better hope I don't," I snarled.
"You won't," she said.
I squared up to her and set my guard. I just wanted to slam my
fist into her face, but there was little I could do while she
was playing this bullsh*t game of cat and mouse. I tried to
come up with a way to corral her, but nothing was coming to me.
While I was focused on that, she suddenly pivoted and lashed
out.
And she f*cking slapped me, again.
"You stupid, b..."
My words were cut short as she backhanded me across the face.
She backpedaled, and I stormed after her in a rage. She found
herself against the fencing again, and I charged at her. At the
last second, she slid to her right... using both hands to usher
me along as my momentum carried me into the fence. I spun to
chase her again, but she hadn't retreated this time. Instead
she stepped into me... pressing her forearm against my chest.
She leaned against me and crushed me against the fence as she
grappled my hands and tied me up. I flailed like a wild woman
as I tried to get free, but she held fast.
"Stop," she said quietly.
"Go f*ck yourself," I spat as I struggled uselessly.
She let me flounder for a moment or two.
"Stop," she said again.
Slowly, I started to realize I was wasting my time. I was stuck
until she let me go. I stopped struggling, and she eased off of
me, wary that I might lash out. Finally, she stood upright and
held her palms out to me.
"No more," she said.
I nodded, having regained some control over myself.
She waited patiently while I let most of my anger bleed off.
"You want to tell me what the hell that was about?" I asked
after a few moments.
"That's how she beats you," she said.
I shook my head.
"No," I growled. "She never slapped me. Pretty sure I'd
remember that a bullsh*t move like that."
"Temper, temper, Miss Watson," she said.
She meandered back and forth as she spoke, while I stood rooted
to the canvas and continued to glared at her.
"I've watched the film," she said. "Kristen makes you miss.
She counters you with chippy shots as she keeps you guessing.
Most of all, she frustrates the sh*t out of you."
My eyes slid away from her as I thought about what she was
saying.
"And YOU, my dear, have anger management issues."
"I do not," I replied.
"Yes, you do. I know you do."
She stopped moving and zeroed in on me as she finished.
"After all... it's the same strategy I used against you."
My anger washed away as I realized it was true. Richelle saw
the recognition on my face.
"I had an advantage," she said. "I knew you were p*ssed before
we started. I used it against you."
I nodded. P*ssed was not the word.
"Kristen... I don't if there's just something in her style, or
if she knows something, or what. But she gets under your skin.
Once that happens, you start to beat yourself."
"What do you mean?"
"You walk right into every trap she sets for you," she said.
"You know all the techniques. You've used them yourself. But,
you stop recognizing them. You fall for everything, and she
pummels you because of it."
"The pummeling part I know about," I said.
"Well, you make it easy for her," she said with a shrug.
Just thinking about the way Kristen had dismantled me made my
blood boil. It was a feeling that could stick with me for
hours, and it could come on without warning or provocation.
It occurred to me that Richelle might have a point.
"You think I can learn to control it?"
She shrugged. "I know I did."
I nodded. None of us knew a lot about Richelle's past, but we
all knew what she was like, now.
If anyone knew about temper, it was her.
Well, her and...
"What the f*ck is THIS?"
Enter Danni. Right on queue.
"What are you still doing here?" Richelle asked her.
"Forget that," Danni said. "What the f*ck is THIS?"
"I'm just..."
"...standing in the cage with Emma!" Danni finished for her.
"That seems like a marvelous idea, to me. After all, it worked
out so well, the last time!"
"Danni, it's not like that. I'm just..."
"Standing there across from the fighter who put your dumb ass in
the hospital," Danni cut in again. "And you're not exactly
dressed for a meeting."
Richelle massaged her temples with her fingers.
"You know I hate when you do that," she said.
"Do what?"
"Ask me questions and then refuse to let me answer."
"Well, I'm so f*cking sorry," Danni shot back, "but I thought we
had an understanding."
Richelle rolled her eyes, then turned to me.
"I'll be back in a minute," she said before exiting the cage to
go deal with Danni.
I stood and watched them, unable to hear what was being said but
getting the gist of it, anyway.
"I'm not made of glass," I heard Richelle say.
"Well, YOU'RE the one who told me..."
They were standing less than a foot from each other. Tempers
flaring... arms flying... each driving the other nuts in ways
only she could.
It made me wonder if they saw what the rest of us saw. They
didn't seem to, but I had a feeling they'd figure it out,
someday.
As long as they didn't kill each other first.
I saw Richelle gesture toward the door, and then the
conversation really got interesting. Their voices rose
steadily... loud enough for me to hear Danni say, "Forget it!
If you're gonna do this, then I'm staying!"
"I'll take that," I blurted out.
They both turned in my direction, and I wondered exactly what
made me think it would be a good idea to insert myself in the
middle of this.
"I can use all the help I can get," I continued. "If Danni
wants to stay, I'm all for it."
Danni turned to Richelle.
"There, see?"
Richelle rolled her eyes again.
"Fine," she said with a sigh.
She glanced at the clock on the wall.
"It's already after seven," she said. "You both want to pick it
up, tomorrow?"
Danni nodded. I was ready to start, right then and there. But,
I decided I'd already shared enough of my opinion. So, I
nodded, as well.
"You wanna pull Tiff in on this?" Richelle asked me.
"Sure," I said. There was no way having Tiffany here could
hurt.
"Great," Richelle said. "It'll be a f*cking party."
And, in a lot of ways, it was.
Well, for everyone else, anyway.
We got together every night over the weeks that followed. Tiff
and I would do a little extra sparring while we waited for
Richelle and Danni to get free from whatever it was they did in
those offices of theirs. Even on the days when Danni was out,
she would come back after hours. Before long, Steph caught wind
of what was happening, and joined in.
And that, much to my utter delight, is how I became a full-blown
project.
It took a day or two before we eventually settled on a plan.
Tiff handled most of the sparring duties, while the others tried
to dream up ways to aggravate the living hell out of me.
Fun.
One technique I particularly enjoyed had Richelle, Danni and
Steph arrayed around the cage. Then, when Tiff managed to force
me close enough, they would reach in and... well, they would
drive me f*cking crazy. Poking at my legs. Nipping at my
heels. All while Tiff was still swinging at me.
The first few times we did it, I damn near lost my mind.
Did it work? Well, I know I got better at it. I learned to
block them out... to channel my anger and focus on what was in
front of me. Instead of becoming distracted, I became more
aware... both of what Tiffany was doing and where I was in the
cage. It was strange... like finding a way to cope with a
problem I didn't know I had. But, it did make me feel stronger.
More capable.
But, maybe that feeling wasn't only from the training.
A simple request. Not even a request. I had told Richelle how
badly I wanted to win this fight. Instead of scoffing at me,
she had immediately set to work on helping. Danni joined in
without a thought. Not only had Steph been willing to pitch in,
she had been p*ssed that she wasn't included from the start.
And Tiff... well, she was always there for me.
A simple request... and now I had a whole team behind me. A
team I wanted to win for.
Not that I needed any additional motivation.
So, did it work? Well, the flight for Vegas leaves tonight.
So, we're gonna know soon enough.
[hr]
Character Reference
HTML https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjMxOhMMXhVcF82aG5SXzA/Emma_100x120.jpg
Name: Emma Watson<br>
Nickname(s):<br>
Background: Reigning FAC featherweight champion, training
partner and romantic partner of Tiffany Mulheron
HTML https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjMxOhMMXhVcF82aG5SXzA/Richelle_100x120.jpg
Name: Richelle Winterfeld<br>
Nickname(s):<br>
Background: Owner of the RSI stable, former underground fighter
HTML https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjMxOhMMXhVcF82aG5SXzA/Danni_100x120.jpg
Name: Danneel Harris<br>
Nickname(s): Danni<br>
Background: RSI stable leader, reigning DEF welterweight
champion
HTML https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjMxOhMMXhVcF82aG5SXzA/Stephanie_100x120.jpg
Name: Stephanie McMahon<br>
Nickname(s): Steph<br>
Background: RSI's fighter development coordinator, former DEF
super heavyweight champion, current SCQ super heavyweight
contender
HTML https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjMxOhMMXhVcF82aG5SXzA/Tiffany_100x120.jpg
Name: Tiffany Mulheron<br>
Nickname(s): Tiff<br>
Background: Reigning ESL featherweight champion, training
partner and romantic partner of Emma Watson
*****************************************************