The shrill blast of the silver whistle shattered the heavy silence in the room.
Marcus charged forward immediately like an angry bull charging at a red target wall.
He reached out with his heavy arms to grab Maya by her tactical jacket collar.
Maya stepped smoothly to her left, dodging his grip by just a few inches.
She used her quick speed to circle around his exposed right side on mats.
Marcus turned quickly with a frustrated grunt, swinging his arm in a broad sweep.
The crowd gasped as the blow barely missed her chin by a tiny fraction.
Sergeant Cole: You cannot run around this mat forever, Vance!
Maya: I am not running anywhere, I am just getting into proper position!
Maya drove a quick straight punch directly into his broad midsection with precision force.
The air rushed out of Marcus with a sharp, loud gasp of sheer surprise.
He stumbled backward two full steps before regaining his heavy balance on the mat.
The recruits sitting nearby cheered wildly at the sudden turn of physical events today.
Marcus's face turned red with deep embarrassment as he realized he was being outplayed.
He grit his sharp teeth tightly and growled like a cornered wild animal now.
He lunged again, this time trying to tackle her straight to the hard floor.
Maya held her ground until the very last second before sliding underneath his reaching arm.
She grabbed his sleeve tightly and pulled downward using his own heavy momentum against him.
Marcus flew forward over her shoulder with a loud, heavy crash against blue padding.
The entire hall erupted into shouting as the sergeant hit the mat flat on his back.
He lay there gasping for air with wide eyes staring up at the roof lights.
Maya stood over him in a low guard position, breathing steadily through her nose.
She did not smile or celebrate because the fight was not fully over yet.
Marcus struggled back to his feet with fury burning brightly in his red eyes.
He lunged forward recklessly, breaking his proper defensive stance in total desperation now.
Sergeant Cole: You will pay for making a fool out of me in front of them!
Maya: You made a fool out of yourself the day you betrayed my brother!
She blocked his wild wild right hook with a solid double forearm defense beat.
Then she swept his front foot cleanly from beneath him with one swift kick.
Marcus crashed down a second time, striking the mat with an echoing heavy thud.
Commander Harrison stepped quickly between them, holding up his right hand to stop action.
Commander Harrison: Match over! Winner by clean tactical submission is Private Vance!