go to the mat

/G OW1 T UW0 DH AH0 M AE0 T/
verb
  1. 1

    To continue to struggle or fight until either victorious or defeated.

    โ€œHe was ready to go to the mat to keep the old color scheme.โ€

Source: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/go%20to%20the%20mat