I am looking for an expression which would enhance the idea of wrestling. This is a text I am translating from another language (Greek) where the expression (ἀντιπαλαίω στῆθος με στῆθος) means literally "to wrestle against someone chest to chest". The meaning is that this is not just any wrestling, it is very real, physical, you can almost see the two men hitting each other's chests with their own...
The context where it is used goes something like:
The man withdrew to the backyard to wrestle against his enemy ________ (chest to chest?)
Looking up the expression "chest to chest", I received results for chest-on-chest, which is definitely not what I am looking for. The closest result was a word reference thread about the verbal expression to chest to chest someone, but I am sensing it is far too informal for what I need. Besides I am looking for an expression that would enhance the verb "wrestle", not a verb.
I would expect it is a repetitive expression like eye to eye, cheek to cheek. If this particular expression does not exist in English, is there an adverb that could replace it accurately?