Fighting the Shadows (Cageside Chronicles: Tommy Knuckles Trilogy 3)

By Jarrah Loh

(Cageside Chronicles: Tommy Knuckles Trilogy Book 3)

The fiction book series that UFC & MMA fans have been waiting for!

As a world championship looms ever so close, sex, drugs and money threaten to spiral Tommy’s life into turmoil as his family and friends fall to the wayside. Will the shadows of his father’s past cast him into the darkness? Or will Tommy realize before it’s too late that not all battles are fought in the cage?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jarrah Loh
• Release date: Sep 30, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301311385

Jarrah Loh

Jarrah Loh is the author of the HarperCollins book Ultimate: The Complete Guide to UFC and Mixed Martial Arts and is also the creator of the fiction book series that MMA and UFC fans have been waiting for: Cageside Chronicles.He is the editor of Australia’s number-one Mixed Martial Arts magazine, Inside MMA (in association with FIGHT! USA) and also the editor of the world’s leading and longest running kickboxing/Muay Thai magazine, International Kickboxer.

Book preview

Fighting the Shadows

Tommy Knuckles Trilogy: Book Three

Jarrah Loh

Copyright

All characters and events in this publication, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved below, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the author.

Published by Jarrah Loh

Fighting the Shadows

Copyright 2012 Jarrah Loh

Smashwords Edition

The Cageside Chronicles name and logo are registered trademarks of Jarrah Loh

Cover art and logo design by Zenia Lakhani

Also by Jarrah Loh

CAGESIDE CHRONICLES

Tommy Knuckles Trilogy

Fighting the Storm

Fighting the Forgiven

Fighting the Shadows

Brothers Trilogy

Side by Side

Head to Head

Back to Back

Ultimate:

The Complete Guide to UFC and Mixed Martial Arts

Published by HarperCollins

All books available at www.jarrahloh.com

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

About the Author

Brothers Trilogy Book 1: Side by Side

Buy more Cageside Chronicles

Thanks

ONE

He dug his knee in hard. It sunk into Yoyo’s belly and Tommy felt strong as he postured up. He could hear and feel the intensity of the crowd growing and growing. They could taste the end coming, and so could Tommy. Yoyo didn’t try to get out from underneath – he knew it was over too, and did little but cover his face. But even that was futile. Tommy found the gaps, and his brutal punches smashed through the pathetic, last ditch defense. As one fist came rocketing down, Tommy raised the other up high, as if to show the crowd what it looked like before his opponent felt it. He then drove it down hard into Yoyo, breaking skin and mashing tissue, only to raise it back up into the spotlight and drive the next one down. Each time he brought another fist up, the crowd roared widely. It was all happening fast, but to Tommy it was in slow motion as he raised each hand to the cheers of his fans. He was like a rock star, and the masses were hanging on his every move. He could do no wrong. Every maneuver, every strike he drove home, they loved him more and more. They knew he’d won when he’d walked through the cage door.

Then the referee had him by the arm and was pulling him off. There would be no bouncing back for Yoyo Brown this time. It was a slaughter. He’d had more fights than Tommy had had sparring sessions, but the veteran fell easily to those heavy Tommy Knuckles hands.

They were side by side in front of the camera when Tommy’s hand was raised. The crowd screamed one more time and he left the cage with Thiago and Mad Max in tow. There was a standing ovation as he walked down the steps and stopped to pose for a few quick photographs up against the barrier as several dedicated fans pleaded for his time.

Gina was waiting as he left the fans, dressed in a simple, black evening dress and smiling from ear to ear. She wasn’t part of his official staff, but she slipped into his entourage as they walked from the main arena to backstage.

Though he barely had a scratch on him, Tommy had to sit down and get his post-fight medical the same as everyone else.

You did really well, Tommy, said Gina, and hugged him as he sat down on the chair to wait for the doctor. That was the best I’ve ever seen you. It was amazing.

Tommy smiled and gave her a kiss.

I was thinking that if they give you some time between your next fight…

Excuse me, Tommy, said a voice from behind Gina, cutting her off. It was a tall, thin blonde woman in a tight red jacket, matching lipstick and high heels. Honey Esquire, the fight reporter, with a cameraman attached.

Tommy motioned to Gina as if to speak, but she simply winked and moved away, leaving room for the reporter to set up.

Honey straightened her short black skirt and sat on the plastic seat the cameraman positioned in front of Tommy. She held up a puffy red microphone that was a shade darker than her lipstick. We are here backstage in Las Vegas for Ultimate Cage Fighting with hot commodity Tommy Knuckles, who has claimed another scalp in his furious scramble for the UCF welterweight title. Tommy, are you surprised at how easily a veteran like Jason Yoyo Brown folded tonight?

Honey put the fuzzy microphone to Tommy’s face. He hesitated and tried to grin his cheekiest grin, like Miguel had taught him. Yoyo who? he said.

The reporter gave him a phony giggle and brought the microphone back to herself. You are still undefeated in UCF, and in fact, the only tarnish on your record was a draw against Diego Silva in your debut bout almost two years ago, which you have avenged. Just this year you have defeated Dax Huntington, Brendan Barrows, and now Yoyo. Do you believe tonight’s win will put you in position for a title shot?

Tommy tried his best to remain cool. Look, they keep giving me opponents and I keep mowing them down. UCF does their job and I do mine. They tell me when and where, and I show up and do my job. If they want to put me up against the champ, I wouldn’t have a problem with that.

So, are you saying that you have what it takes to beat the champ?

Miki Yakuda? Yes.

Yakuda has been fighting almost as long as you have been alive. Some have said that you have no business fighting the champ yet.

Tommy furrowed his eyebrows. I never said I should fight him. You asked me if I could beat him. If UCF want me to fight him, I’ll fight him. If not, then I wait.

You wait? Honey repeated. "So you do want to fight him soon?"

Tommy sat up higher in his chair. She was getting to him, but although he was aware of it, he couldn’t stop himself getting upset. Look, I told you; they set the fights, I fight them. What more do you want from me? I fight more than most of the fighters out there and I have beaten everyone UCF have put in front of me. Yakuda has been fighting a long time, but maybe it has been too long. He has had two fights in the same time that I have had six – and now seven, tonight.

Are you calling out Miki The Catfish Yakuda to defend his belt?

Tommy knew he was being baited, but he didn’t care anymore. Why couldn’t he give her what she wanted? Calling him out? Sure. I’m calling him out. A champion needs to defend his title. Maybe he should defend it against me.

Honey beamed. You heard it here first, folks. Tommy Knuckles is calling out long-time UCF welterweight champion, Miki Yakuda. If you fight him by the end of the year, you will be the youngest UCF champion in history.

Tommy shrugged. I can fight him by the end of the year, no problem. I’ll fight him tomorrow.

Honey’s smile grew wider. Wow! This is a Tommy Knuckles none of us have ever seen. Right here, ladies and gentleman, you heard it first. The kid who has been on everyone’s lips is putting it all out there. The Knuckles versus The Catfish – he says make it happen!

Honey turned and nodded to the cameraman, then handed him the microphone.

Thanks, Tommy, she said, standing up from her chair. That’s really great – really great. You are what this sport needs. If you can get that belt before you turn twenty-three, you will be remembered forever.

Thanks, said Tommy.

Seriously, she said. I know you’re the quiet type, but that type of effort will really take you to the next stage. It’s not only about fighting when you get to this level, you need to put yourself out there, Tommy.

I know, I know, said Tommy. Miguel had told him as much a hundred times or more.

She put a hand on his shoulder. I really hope this happens for you. The fans love The Catfish, but you’re right, he hardly fights anymore and we need some new blood up on the podium.

Thanks, he said again as she waved goodbye. Tommy watched her walk away as he considered what she’d said.

She’s so fake, said Gina, suddenly at his side.

Huh? sputtered Tommy, broken from his thoughts.

"Honey Esquire, she said, rolling her eyes. She’s so fake. What does she know about fighting, anyway? What has she ever done except look at herself in a mirror?"

Tommy shrugged. I don’t know. She seems nice.

Gina snorted. "Yeah, seems."

Tommy sat back in his seat. I wish the doc would hurry up, he said, trying to change the subject.

What did she say?

Honey? I dunno. I think they’re trying to get Miki Yakuda to fight me.

Gina raised her eyebrows. The Catfish? Really? Wow.

Well, it’s not that surprising, is it? I mean, I just beat Yoyo like he was a rookie. Who else do I have to fight?

I guess…it’s just. I don’t know. I mean, it’s The Catfish. He’s been unbeatable for so long.

All fighters are beatable, said Tommy. Someone has to beat him sometime. Why not me?

What does Thiago think? asked Gina.

I’m sure he thinks it’s a bad idea.

Maybe you should listen to him. Remember what happened with Diego?

Tommy shook his head. Yeah, I remember. I remember that all of you thought I was stupid. And I remember that it was probably the best thing that ever happened to me. People still say that was the greatest fight of my career. If I hadn’t have taken that fight, I never would have advanced to the main card in Brazil, and no one would even know who I am.

The doctor finally came to see Tommy and Gina didn’t say anything else.

Mad Max and Thiago were packing up their gear back in the locker room, but it was Miguel who greeted Tommy as he walked in with Gina. Tommy Knuckles is in the building! he hollered. Ha, ha! Yes, yes. You have done it again, my boy. Yes, yes, you made me very proud out there. I have seen many fighters beaten by Yoyo – many fighters. He came to Tommy and slung one arm over his shoulder, patting him on the chest with the other hand. "You keep getting better and better out there. Maybe you are ready for The Catfish, no? Ha, ha. You could be right, maybe you are ready."

Tommy looked over at Thiago, who was