Hello everyone! Aaron here, reporting live from my bedroom after the comedown of a truly EPIC weekend in Miami Gardens. If you haven't been keeping up with the blog until now, I'm coming down from the high that was SOCIAL GLOVES: Battle of the Platforms, the once-in-a-lifetime bout between the biggest YouTubers and TikTokers in the world. Now I know what you're probably thinking: What crazy antics did I miss while I was stuck at home and couldn't be there? Well, I'm here to tell you!
My Saturday started with pulling up to Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, with the impeccably hard-working LiveXLive social media team. It was a typically hot day in sunny south Florida, but the stadium felt even HOTTER with the heat of tension dominating the air. Even during the sound check, with host Charlamagne tha God broadcasted on every screen, the anticipation hung heavy. After Friday's Weigh-In, no one knew what awaited us that night during the actual bouts, but it's undeniable that we were all excited. And then the rain started.
If you're unfamiliar with soFlo weather patterns, just know that there's a tendency for quick and heavy rain to bring foreboding, and then quickly dissipate once the heat breaks. While me and my team kept our eyes on everything backstage, helping Press get their credentials and keeping you all informed on socials, the stormclouds of war were rolling in, and we all waited with bated breath. But then, as the clock struck 7:30, it began. During the Free-to-Air portion of the evening, fighters Kale Saurage and Ryan Johnston brought the noise, providing the viewers with a first bout of the evening that set the stage for everything else to POP. OFF.
Ryan Johnston bested Kale Saurage with a TOTAL KNOCK-OUT in the fifth round, as Team YouTube took their first victory. Rapper Trippie Redd was quick to follow, performing his hit rager "Dark Knight Dummo" and getting the audience absolutely ravenous for more. The bout between Ben Azelart and Landon McBroom was next, and after 3 rounds, McBroom cemented another win for Team YouTube. As DJ Khaled took the stage with Fat Joe, and the hit "All I Do is Win" was on the lips of everyone present, it seemed like the evening could be a lock for Team YouTube.
Michael Le and FaZe Clan's own FaZe Jarvis entered the ring as the first bout of the main event, and after only 2 rounds, Le was on the floor. Naturally, all of FaZe Clan was there to congratulate and hug Jarvis, and the smile on his face after the victory was contagious. Things were reaching a boiling point, and FAST. Another win for Team YouTube...was this about to be a sweep?
Female MC Latto brought some hot girl energy with her songs "Muwop" and "B*tch From the South", and while her energy was infectious and fiery, it was the perfect cooldown before the next bout: Nate Wyatt vs. DDG. DDG's track "Patience" with Coi Leray is dominating on TikTok right now, but he brought the flames for Team YouTube. Nate Wyatt repped Team TikTok, and their fight was viciously intense. Both fighters provided the audience with an unreal 5 rounds, and in the end DDG took the dub. More and more YouTube NFT coins made the flip from silver to gold as they racked up wins, and fans were on the edge of their seat. Could Team TikTok still come out victorious? Who could pull through and secure a win for them? WHO WOULD END UP WITH THE BRAGGING RIGHTS??????
I know you folks at home are DYING to know how the rest of the evening played out, so I'll be back soon with the rest of the event's run-down. Don't worry, you're not gonna miss the finishing blow! See you soon for the recap!