Here is another snippet of a chapter I'm working on...

I love watching tape. You see things differently than when the cage door closes. Stuff happens so fast, but with tape, there is the pause button, the rewind button. There is comfort in those two buttons.

No tape today though. Today, I am in the nosebleeds, well the nosebleeds in terms of a converted gymnasium. But from my vantage point, the cage is a bright octagon of black and I can see everything that matters. I can see her.

Dar “the Damaja” Morales.

I’ve seen her before, but it was a different sport and a different time. I watched her in university when she was competing on the Greco-Roman wrestling team. She was brilliant and fearless.

She is pacing the cage like a panther where her eyes never leave her opponent. She is sizing up her prey. This is going to be good! It is clear there is going to be no touch of gloves, no shaking of hands or beers after.