FireStar Challenge Results (10-14)

[DoF Archive]

Date: 10/14/2002 10:51 PM Central Daylight Time
From: HOST Game Court


October 14th, 2002
The Outback
by Courtnall Chambers



Anubis Karos versus Manni Cohai
Fight for possession of the Red Opal, FireStar



OUTBACK -- Monday night is fight night in the Outback and, though the crowds were sparse, devoted fans of fist fighting were treated to a rare and thrilling challenge for possession of an Opal on the 14th. Manni Cohai stepped forward to make a play for the Opal called FireStar. The only man standing in his way: current FireStar holder Anubis Karos.

A Fight to the Finish
In the first match, Karos (0-0, first challenge in defense of FireStar, current reign) sought to confuse Cohai with quick fakes and powerful defenses in the early rounds, finally managing to draw first blood going into round three. Cohai drew closer by hammering a quick right into the Defender, but Karos was game and returned the blow before Cohai could get away.

Down by one point and knowing the match was still young, Cohai set up a defensive trap in the fourth round, lulling Karos into making a series of careful defensive moves which ultimately led to the Challenger sneaking another quick right in over a low block. With the score tied at two, the sixth round saw Karos moving back out into the lead, returning the favor of Cohai's jab in the previous round as Cohai looked to strike low.

With the lead once again in hand, Karos once again squandered it as he came in with the low strike, Cohai knocking him back with a mid-level kick in order to knot the score at three. From here on out, the action became fast and furious - in round seven, both fighters, in an amazing display, traded spinkicks to up the score to four apiece, ensuring an exciting end to the final rounds of Match One.

Rather than go directly for the kill, though, Cohai sought to knock Karos off-balance, a quick fake giving him the positional advantage that, in the end, would do him no good. In the tenth round, Cohai set up an upper body block only to leave himself helpless as Karos moved in for the toss. With that, Karos took the first match 5-4 in 10 rounds.

Second Match Reflects the First
Neither man came out swinging in the second match, instead opening cautiously and without risk. Forced to abandon a high kick to save his balance in the first round, Cohai came in with a ridgehand chop, missing the Defender as he came in low to sweep the challenger off his feet. Once again, Karos would draw first blood and once again he would squander the lead.

Cohai quickly came back to tie the score at one after knocking the Defender's legs out from under him. However, Cohai had begun to show signs of fatigue and a possible leg injury in the previous round - a fact that was not missed by the Defender. Unleashing a series of counterattacks and defense breaking kicks, Karos pulled away to a 3-1 lead after six rounds of fighting.

But for the umpteenth time that night, Karos would allow the challenger to come back. At the close of the seventh round, the score stood 4-2 in favor of the Defender. Two rounds, and a series of miscues by Karos later, the score was tied at four and Match Two would enter round 10 in sudden death. However, a win for the Challenger was not to be - after a positional round, Cohai brought in a low attack and was pushed back by a quick and brutal punch
by the Defender.

At the close of the eleventh round, Karos stood as winner of both the match and the challenge.

Final Results: Anubis Karos defeats Manni Cohai Two matches to None (5-4, 5-4).

Fight notes: Karos declared he was waiving his grace period after the match concluded.