Madeline Christiansen vs. Ryota Ito - Exceeding Expectations

[BlackAkuma]

If Ryota had the flexibility, she would’ve given herself a swift kick in the head for how that exchange had played out. She should’ve been on top of Madeline right now, keeping her under control, grinding her to dust under her body and getting ready to put her into something truly devastating. Instead, the more petite woman managed to escape and did a decent job of outmaneuvering her, showing some decent technical skill for someone so dainty. It was tempting to just write it off as luck, but she knew better than to be so dismissive. There was a little more to this woman than met her four eyes.

She kept those eyes locked on Madeline as she stood back up, warily eying her opponent, more cautious now that had a better idea of what she was up against. She dropped back down again and circled the ring, staying at a distance for the most part. She would juke in now and then, only to pull away at the last second. Testing and assessing, getting a feel for her foe’s movements, seeing how fast she could react…

Ryota came in for real immediately, moving in on Madeline with a wild burst. While she wasn’t the fastest wrestler, she could close the distance quickly when she wanted to and this was one of those times, as she used her powerful legs to charge in on the more petite woman, arms raised for a grapple. Before they could connect, however, she ducked down, reached out, and tried to snag her opponent’s legs as she plowed her shoulder into the woman’s stomach, attempting to bring her down hard and fast with a double-leg takedown.

[Lightman]

…Maybe if she caught it in time, she could lock on a kneebar?

It’s hard to say whether or not Madeline could have done anything after Ryota booted the Englishwoman back a great distance. Getting out of a side headlock against that dreadnought of a woman was one thing, but she could have been more swift with the next actions. Though as much as she could beat herself up she didn’t get the advantage, the night was still young. And most likely, Ryota would be cursing that she should have crushed Madeline.

She may not exactly see it dead in the eyes, but Madeline could tell.

Regardless, they would both start in neutral once more. Now no longer having the element of surprise, Madeline had to be careful concerning her next steps. Charging in wouldn’t work all too well, considering the last attempts, she just needs to take her time. Ryota would not charge straight away, content with circling Madeline, hands itching to gain an advantage. The English Rose was still on her game, her feet shuffling on the canvas with deft grace. She can react to those jukes and feints, though Ryota didn’t commit to either of them, keeping Madeline on her toes and guessing when the real charge would come.

Then it happened. Ryota came in like a locomotive, and while she wasn’t the fastest, she closed in on the Englishwoman. She seemed to come in high, but suddenly changed levels, getting in deep inside. With how strong Ryota was, sprawling against her wasn’t viable, especially as she got a good grip on her legs. As Ryota drives in, with her shoulder digging into her stomach, Madeline grips Ryota’s elbows before dropping backwards, seemingly accepting the takedown.

However, one of her legs hooked onto Ryota’s tree trunk of a leg, continuing the momentum to perform a butterfly sweep, hoping to end up on top of Ryota before seeking to wrap an arm around her head to secure side control.

[BlackAkuma]

Madeline was quick, Ryota would give her that. All these dancer types were, so nothing special there. It wouldn’t matter in the end, however - she could run all she wanted, but this ring was only so big, and she wasn’t nearly as slow as people thought.

She demonstrated that as she came rushing forward, closing the gap on Madeline with a flurry of stomping steps. She could see the momentary panic in her opponent’s eyes as she realized it was far too late to do anything - she felt for the feint, Ryota snagged her legs, and down they went, crashing onto the canvas with her on top. She was shorter than most heavyweights, and while that could work against her at times, it also meant that she could use her body like a wrecking ball, concentrating an immense amount of force into a small area. Madeline couldn't help but take a fall.

Now, with her on top, she could take control of the woman, pull her back, and-

”Huh?”

Ryota shook her head, confused as her world was suddenly flipped over, her own momentum used against her to complete the role. She suddenly found herself on the bottom, inexplicably looking up at Madeline, while the smaller woman wrapped her legs around thigh. Her was seized, control was established, and just like that, her opponent was in a position of power, mastering a much larger woman from the top.

It had to be absurd to watch like a lioness getting muscled down by a cub, but Ryota couldn't deny the reality—Madeline had managed to get the better of her, at least for the moment, putting her in an awkward position. It wasn’t one she had any intention of staying in, however.

”Off.” She brought her arm up, balled her fist, tight and shot her fist into Madeline’s side, targeting her ribs with a stiff hook.

[Lightman]

Ryota was already proving herself to be a terrifying opponent. Big lumbering foes are one thing, but powerful ones that have enough to offset any particular weaknesses would be a nightmare to deal with. Ryota wasn’t just built like a wall. She can move when needed, knows how to counter most grapples, and has the strength to do just about anything. She knows just how to use those strengths to bring an interesting challenge to the English Rose.

Which meant that Madeline had to be smarter, and more cunning than her opponent. And Madeline wasn’t afraid to take on bigger challenges.

At first, the onlookers would have assumed that Madeline’s chances of winning would be slim to none after the double-leg takedown. But the magic of grappling comes from moments where, before you know it, you end up in a dangerous place to be in. Madeline couldn’t help but smirk a bit. The Englishwoman could guess that Ryota wasn’t the type to be easily impressed, but screw it. To Madeline, she is. Completely flipping the tables that left Ryota under her is quite the sight.

One that Ryota made clear of her objections. A stiff fist sunk into Madeline’s side, eliciting a grunt from the English Rose. Once already did more than stung. Madeline didn’t want to experience more of them. Then again, she wasn’t looking to stay in that position for long.

“No.” Madeline replied matter-of-factly. The rose-tinted wrestler moved on top of Ryota, shifting herself tight onto the muscular build, one of her legs sliding up to trap one arm. Meanwhile, the other arm grabbed at the armpit of Ryota, pressing the other leg’s knee onto the belly, hopefully before Ryota could post. If all of that works, Madeline seeks to step over to a mounted triangle, transferring the weight to the knee to firmly lock it in.

[BlackAkuma]

Ryota wasn’t easily impressed, but angering her? Oh, that was a much simpler affair, and Madeline was already doing a spectacular job of reaching that point.

She’d thought that the punch would be enough to knock this flower of a woman off, but as it turned out, the rose’s thorns were sharper than she expected. Not only did she bear through the pain and hold her position after a short retort, but she actually had enough nerve to turn the position in her favor. Ryota’s brow furrowed as Madeline’s limbs went into action, crossing her up here, pulling her up there, working her leg around until…

A triangle hold. One of the better ones Ryota had seen, in fact.

While there were ways for her to mount an escape, once she was tempted to try with their weight difference, she wasn’t about to waste time going for them, not when the match was still fresh, and she had more productive ways to expend her energy. She pressed her feet against the canvas and pushed along, trying to force them over to the ropes so she could grab hold and force a break.

[Lightman]

Crown of Thorns is what she calls it. While there could be better moves to adorn the name than a ubiquitous hold like a triangle, it’s still very fitting. The stem of thorns that is her legs enclosed Ryota’s head like a boa, completely engulfing the body part within her flesh. Madeline wouldn’t claim to be like those “scissor specialists”, or whatever they want to call themselves, but she knew she had a strong choke locked in. A move she has done countless times, even before her time in LAW. It’s not like her other signature, but it’s still effective to wear down a beast like Ryota.

Of course, the next moments were critical for Ryota. And Madeline looked down at the opaque spectacles, focusing on what she’ll do next. Considering her size and power, there were a few options she could go for. It wouldn’t surprise the English Rose to lift her and go for a slam. Not legal in BJJ, but this isn’t BJJ after all. However, Madeline can easily counter that with a simple ankle pick. Could try punching her again. But Madeline could snatch both limbs, all the while letting the lower body do the work. So many options, indeed.

Which is what makes a buck to the ropes all the more surprising. Madeline was intrigued. The decision soon made sense, considering Ryota wasn’t some mindless brute with near superhuman-like strength. Why waste energy on something big that might not yield great results?

Still, the rope break allowed five seconds before Madeline was forced to release. And with a great flex of power, Madeline is set to make it the most painful, slowest five seconds. Gripping on Ryota’s wrist, summoning all the strength she could into this one. Sure, it could take seconds to knock someone out in a well-placed choke. But as soon as the referee forced the Englishwoman to release Ryota, those seconds wouldn’t be enough.

So close.

Regardless, Madeline would grant Ryota release, pushing Ryota’s body away with her legs before rolling away, getting onto her knees, and gripping the ropes as she stared straight at the behemoth. Madeline might not have had much time to wear her down some, but she made the brief time count still.

[BlackAkuma]

There was one problem with taking the ropes as her escape - the time limit, the five seconds where her opponent could milk the hold before she had to break it. There were two types of wrestlers: the goodies that let up on a hold immediately in such situation, not wanting to be accused of dishonorable conduct, and the smart ones who would milk it for all it was worth. Ryota herself fell into the latter camp - if the referee was going to give her time, she might as well make the most of it. Only made sense. Madeline, she figured, fell into the former camp, striking her as the bubbleheaded sort who would care about the impression she left on the audience.

In this, Ryota turned out to be wrong. Painfully wrong.

She grunted as Madeline continued to milk the hold even as the referee continued her count, getting everything she could out of the moment. To make matters worse, she amplified the pressure, and while the Briton was no bodybuilder, she had more than an ample amount of power stored up in those legs. It made the four seconds she spent in the woman’s clutches an agonizing time, right up until she finally broke free.

Thankfully, it wasn’t to last forever, as Madeline broke the hold and pushed Ryota away, creating some space between them. She wanted to be the first one standing, but she regretted that reflex straightaway, as she had to stumble on the way up, her body still needing to catch its breath. She grimaced but pushed through and moved away from the ropes with a cautious eye on her foe, far more wary and weary than when this match started. She was willing to concede that taking Madeline down might require some honest effort.

Rolling her shoulders to regain some feeling in them, she made her way back to the center of the ring, reset, and brought her arms back up in defense. She moved in slow on Madeline this time, not dedicating herself to anything serious - she wanted to see what this woman would try first, if she could get a better understanding of her style.

[Lightman]

While she is aware of the Babyface/heel dynamic that many pro wrestling federations do adopt, Madeline feels she doesn’t fit into those kinds of categories. The brunette can respect those who play the character or not, but it always depends on how good or bad the person is in general. Much as she can be pleasant and amicable, even she has her mean streak. You don’t get far in the competition without an edge. Her rule was always to operate within what was acceptable in the ring, nothing that would cause a disqualification. And milking a hold with the given time she has is certainly acceptable.

She raised her hips, flexing her thighs, cranking the hold for all it’s worth. While it’s too much to ask for a knockout at this juncture, the Englishwoman sought to get damn close to it. Opportunities like this might not be frequent, so Madeline was going to get the most out of the brief time she had. A shame it was only four seconds. But she made those four seconds count before she would eventually be told to release her foe.

With the assistance of the ropes, Madeline rose to her feet, noticing Ryota being too fast in standing up. A sign that the triangle choke was plenty effective, but also a bit of arrogance from the Japanese Juggernaut. The English Rose didn’t get ahead of herself, but she was feeling more confident. It shows she can be beaten.

But this was still in the early moments, and much more work was to be done. Both would resume at square one, moving towards the centre of the ring. Madeline circled Ryota, settling into her stance once more, shifting closer to Ryota’s range. It dawned on her how less talkative she had been during the whole affair. While she can entertain some jovial banter, it didn’t warrant it here. Not to Ryota, at least. Now’s not the time for banter, it was time to concentrate. Some options were open for Madeline. Ryota was very strong with her grappling, but Madeline was confident she could match it, so that pathway wasn’t a total risk. Though with the stance that Madeline’s in, perhaps Ryota is expecting another charge. A lock up? Takedown? The only thing that Ryota wouldn’t have to fear is Madeline pulling guard.

Hmmm…how about this?

Eventually, Madeline would make her move. Only that her leg swung up hard and fast to fire a front kick aiming under Ryota’s chin. Nothing flashy. Short, simple, brutal.

[BlackAkuma]

Interested? Intrigued? Curious?

Ryota hesitated to use those words to describe her opponents, but the more this fight went on, the more it seemed like just have to with the so-called ‘English Rose’. She had wanted to write the brunette off early on, thinking she was another fly-by-nighter, but that last exchange had proven otherwise. Though she had a soft exterior, she couldn't deny that there was more going on underneath this particular hood, something she could really sink her teeth into. She was still trying to get a grip on this style. Some mixed martial arts in there, maybe judo, maybe jujitsu…

She tried to keep her wandering mind aside and focus as they continued to hound each other, pacing about the ring and keeping their distance. Ryota didn’t want to commit to anything, but this match had a time limit, and she couldn't dawdle forever. She just needed the right opening, the right moment to move. Maybe here, maybe there.

In this instance, she was about to lunge when Madeline beat her to the punch—or kick. By the time she registered the movement, it was too late. She’d stepped into range, and all she could do was raise her arms for a hasty defense. It worked after a fashion, with the kick slapping against her forearms, but there was only so much even arms like hers could do against a proper kick, and Madeline’s was quite proper, indeed.

It blasted the guard apart and smacked Ryota clean on the chin, forcing her back a few steps, more stunned than seriously hurt. She got her mind right soon enough and glowered at her foe, radiating heat through her glasses as she approached. Storming in, she raised her leg and shot it out hard towards Madeline’s chest, trying to drive her away with a powerful Big Boot to the chest.

[Lightman]

Was this a massive risk? Sure. Madeline could admit to that. There was no way the English Rose could have known how Ryota was about to react to a front kick. It took a lot of effort to figure out how to combat her strength in the grappling side of things. The Japanese woman's impressive brawn required much more know-how to fight it.

Striking, however, that was a different unknown. There is much of a higher chance that Ryota could be even stronger in that category compared with her grappling. Chances are is that she could counter and take advantage of her strength to grind the Englishwoman to dust. And with how simple this attempt was, it’s hard to tell about the success of it.

Or perhaps the reason why it could be successful is that Ryota wouldn’t expect it. It would be silly of her to try anything fancy, not when the match was heating up. She kept things straightforward. It is uncomplicated and easy to capitalise on the surprise.

Madeline would catch her clean on the chin, just as she hoped. It wasn’t as squeaky clean, to Ryota’s credit. Ryota tried to stop that attempt, but against a powerful strike with the legs, it would be to no avail. Seeing her stunned, Madeline’s reaction was to give chase and rush in to capitalise, closing in on the distance. She didn’t know which one to go for next. Perhaps another strike? Or she can try for another takedown, knowing it wouldn’t be stumped…

…Neither of those options would come to fruition as Ryota recovered much sooner than expected. As soon as she saw the raised leg, Madeline tried to react with a block. But as Ryota showed, such hasty defences wouldn’t amount to anything good. Madeline felt her forearms smack right into her chest, flattening her breasts for a moment. The force itself sent her crashing to the ground, somersaulting backwards like she wiped out hard. She would use that to create space, rolling for a mad scramble to her feet.