That night, his one-time student Johnny Styles is competing for the now vacant United States Championship.
When Johnny wins the title, he is approached by Moon, Bull, and Pinto to join the Negaal Kickboxing Federation.
When his friend Charlie informs him that the three men also talked to David just two days before he was found murdered, Matt races to find Johnny.
Johnny refuses the offer from Negaal and is forced to fight Bull and Pinto, who overwhelm him and break his back.
The duo fight off the thugs, but then find themselves arrested for causing trouble at the shop when Bollen forces the shopkeeper to rat on them.
Negaal kills the German Champion with the "Tiger Claw", (an illegal strike that he had used on a Dutch Fighter years ago when he was a kickboxer, resulting in him getting a lifetime ban from the sport.)
With the help of fellow prisoner Joseph, Matt and Paul escape when one of the guards was revealed to be one of Negaal's men.
As they learn Negaal is planning a major party, they decide to crash it along with Angie, who defies Matt and Paul and goes undercover as well.
Negaal falls, and Matt proceeds back to the office, where he grabs the United States Championship belt.