Merrick nods, "Oh, no worries about revealing your secrets. None of my business, personally.
As they finish up their discussion, Tiergar nods to the center of the room. "Looks like their about ready to begin."
Indeed the action is about ready to begin. As proposed, these fighters appear to be rather equally matched. They spend a good bit of the first minute and a half circling the outer edge of the fighting ring. Each fighter makes a couple of half-hearted attempts at fighting but each turns out to be a simple probing of the other's abilities.
After the initial time of cautious probing Graff charges Michael's position. Michael nearly is struck hard, but he is able to spin out of Graff's grasp at the last second. As he spins, Graff is able to reach down and clip one of Michael's legs. Michael spills to the ground - uninjured but now prone.
Graff smiles and prepares a mighty foot stomp down upon Michael's chest. Michael anticipates the move and at the last minute slides to the side. Graffs foot connects with nothing but the floor of the ring, sending a brief moment of pain up Graff's leg. Michael reaches out and traps Graff's foot between his body and his arm. Michael turns, spilling Graff down to the ground as well.
Both instantly jump to their feet and begin to square off once more. Graff again asserts himself first, landing a solid punch upon Michael's shoulder. Michael attempted to get out of the way and did succeed in moving his face out of the path of danger. His shoulder took the blow that was intended for his face.
Michael returned the blow with one of his own. Michael's elbow swung wide and connected with Graff's side. The blow sent Graf back several steps. Again the two squared off and circled around.
Michael pursued Graff as he retreated from the blow. Michael pounced on Graff and knocked him to the ground. For a few moments Michael held Graff's arms pinned beneath his knees and delivered a few successive blows to Graff's face.
With a strong kicking surge upward, Graff pushed Michael off of his chest, sending him sprawling forward onto his face. Graff used the momentum to stand before Michael could. Rather than pounce on the downed Michael, Graff waited for Michael to stand. He expected Michael would stand quickly without looking in his direction. His anticipation was correct. As Michael began to rise Graff had a free shot at Michael's back. Graff planted a solid foot to Michael's kidneys, sending him sprawling once more. Tis time, Michael flipped over so that he was on his back.
Graff regained his posture as Michael brought himself to his feet. Graff swung, but Michael dodged out of the way. Michael punched Graff twice in the gut, causing Graff to double over. Michael prepared an overhead blow to drop Graff to the ground, but Graff beat him to the next attack. Graff brought both his hands together up in one mighty fist and connects under Michael's chin. Michael lept into the air and spun around twice before landing flat on his face. The blow from the impact with the ground knocked Michael out cold.
