He doesn't turn back to look at me but I know he hears my words of encouragement when he nods and jumps up to bounce around on the balls of his feet. The clap sounds that signals the corners need to get out of the cage.
He doesn’t waste any time putting Coach’s instructions into action. The second the bell rings, he's gone like a rocket out of a cannon, practically running across the cage so he can lay fists on Holladay's face.
Fuck waiting for the last round; he’s ready to end this fightnow.
Holladay tries to shoot for a takedown once or twice between running away from the onslaught, but Tristan's managed to remind himself not to get sloppy. His takedown defense is solid, even as his strikes begin to intensify.
In a last-ditch effort to get Tristan to the mat, Holladay shoots for a very telegraphed takedown. And as his body lowers down to waist level so he can go for the tackle, Tristan immediately spots the opportunity.
The uppercut lands flush on Holladay's chin.
He's out before he even hits the ground.
Tristan doesn't even react, he just raises his arms in victory. Looking every bit like the fighter that knew he was going to win--like it was an inevitable fact.
In contrast, I’m screaming my goddamn head off. Even Coach is clapping loudly, and that guy is one of the most expressionless people I know. We pile into the cage, stepping around the ref and doctor huddled over Holladay and rushing Tristan with enthusiastic hugs and back slaps.
But there are so many chaotic feelings inside me that inevitably my hug ends with me lifting him high in the air, needing to express my excitement because it feels like I’m bursting at the seams with joy. "That was amazing!" I scream when I drop him. Like my face is about to split in half from my smile. "You just won your UFC debut by knockout.Fuck yeah!" I punch his shoulder in pure glee before wrapping him in another bear hug.
He's grinning from ear-to-ear, and I swear to God, the sight of my brother happy is one of the greatest feelings in the world. I can't help it, I punch him again.
"Dude, I'm about to be more injured from you than from Holladay,” he says with a laugh. "Figure out another way to be happy for me, would you?"
I grin and wrap an arm around his shoulders. "Without a doubt, that was Fight of the Night. You're definitely getting that $50,000 bonus. Guess we're going to have to take the girls out for a nice dinner tonight, huh?"
If at all possible, the mention of his girlfriend makes his eyes glow even brighter. He's probably eager as fuck to get the post-fight formalities over with so he can get to her as quickly as possible.
My smile warms at the sight. He deserves all the good karma in the world.
The winner announcement and post-fight interview pass in a blur. By the time we step out of the cage, my head is spinning with all the flurry of activity. It isn't until Tristan rushes forward to the crowd that I'm snapped back to the moment.
Remy and Hailey are standing on the other side of the divider. Tristan got them tickets to the section reserved specifically for guests of the fighters, but they must've pushed down to the guard rail that separates the crowd from the fighters' path back into the tunnel. Both girls are practically vibrating with the excitement of his win.
Tristan rushes up to his girlfriend and, ignoring the railing between them, lifts her around the waist so he can press an eager kiss to her mouth.
She welcomes his attention, cupping his face in her hands and returning the kiss with just as much fervor. I can distantly hear her whispering how proud she is.
I roll my eyes—even though the smile stays on my face—and turn away from the sickening lovebirds. Instantly, my attention is captured by the tiny blonde at Remy's side.
"Hey, baby girl," I murmur, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pressing a kiss to her hair. "You good?"
She shines a thousand-watt smile up at me and for the second time tonight, I'm blown away by the happiness I feel for another person's happiness.
"Yeah," she breathes. "I'm good. That was incredible. Does he always fight like that?"
"On good nights, he does. Tonight was a good night. It was a hell of an initiation into the UFC." She nods in understanding. "You up for the after party? Tristan has to get checked out by the doctor, but after that we were planning on taking a shower and going out for a little bit. You down?"
She nods again, eagerly this time.
I chuckle and squeeze her tighter against me. "Good girl."
* * *
It's another two hours before we can meet up with the girls again. It's one of the most annoying parts about fighting, that even when you win, you're likely to go to the hospital or at least need to be patched up by the doctor in one way or another. It took forever to get out of there and up to the hotel room to shower and get changed.
By the time we make it to the hotel bar, it's obvious Remy and Hailey have had a few drinks while waiting for us. Remy's only tell that she's drunk is her loose posture and easy smile, but Hailey is clearly much happier and much louder than earlier tonight.
"Hi!" she squeaks when she spots us walking toward the bar. "You made it! Why did that take so long?"