Passing His Guard

The fight choreography felt so vivid and real, but I wondered how much of that was based on personal experience or research. Did the author aim to highlight the physicality or the emotional stakes more?

Their banter and moments of vulnerability made me root for them, but I also wondered if the author drew from personal relationships or observations from the MMA world.

The gritty, energetic environment added so much flavor to the story. I'm curious whether the author has a personal connection to martial arts or if this was purely a creative choice.