MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

A cute coffee shop in a quiet part of Santa Monica was where they ended up.

Although it was cool outside, the warm glow of the lights inside made a nice contrast.

Leaving his bags in the trunk, Damon followed Victor inside as the doorbell softly rang.

They picked a table by the window that offered a view to the street outside through the big glass pane.

As Victor looked at Damon, he leaned back in his chair and put his hands over his stomach. "So, tell me about your trip," he said. "How was it?"

Damon nodded, resting his hands on the table. "It was actually pretty good," he said, his tone thoughtful. "But I didn't get to explore much of the place."

Victor raised an eyebrow, tilting his head slightly. "Why not? Bangkok's an amazing city."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Damon hesitated, scratching the back of his head. "I may have been… training. A lot."

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The quiet sigh that Victor let out showed amusement and defeat on his face.

He was about to say something but stopped.

He leaned forward instead and put his elbows on the table."I see," he said simply, his tone neutral.

Damon saw the pause and could guess what Victor was thinking, but he didn't ask. He tried to change the subject by reaching for the menu. "What's good here?" he asked casually, glancing over the list.

Victor chuckled, shaking his head. "You've been gone for months, and you're asking about coffee? Get whatever you want. It's on me."

Damon smirked, looking up. "I'll take the most expensive thing they've got, then."

Victor laughed, a genuine laugh. "Yeah, you do that, big spender. Let's see if you've got millionaire tastes yet."

Victor's expression turned serious. "Speaking of money, we have to talk about your contract in the UFA. You had your last fight a while ago, and they offered you the same old contract."

Damon nodded, already aware of this. "Yeah, you told me you returned it. For a 2-fight contract, right?"

Victor nodded in confirmation. "Right. That might sound risky, but you trusted me on this and i appreciate that."

Leaning back, Damon pondered. He had always trusted Victor's judgment when it came to his career.

Vic always had a bigger plan in mind, even if it seemed risky.

Victor continued, his voice calm but confident. "Okay, I know it seems bad right now. But here's the thing: with this upcoming fight being your last on the current contract, if you manage to beat your next opponent, and we'll get to them in a second, you'll have leverage."

Damon raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Leverage? What kind of leverage?"

Victor smiled knowingly. "Depending on the round and the way you win, the doors this could open are huge. A first-round knockout? A dominant performance? Those things put you in a completely different negotiating position."

Damon slowly nodded, his thoughts already going over all the possible options. "So, you're saying I don't even have to push for a better contract?"

Victor shook his head. "No. They'll come to you with the big numbers. You just need to focus on what you do best, handle your business in the cage. Let me worry about the rest."

When Damon smiled, he looked like himself again, full of confidence. "Okay, deal " But now I'm interested: who will be my next opponent?"

Victor leaned back with a sly grin. "Let's just say… it's going to be a challenge. But it's one that'll make your name even bigger if you pull it off."

Damon squinted his eyes, and he could feel an adrenaline rush of competition starting to build in him. "I wouldn't want it any other way."

Victor leaned forward, and his speech. "Your opponent is Mikal Tereira."

Damon's eyes got a little bigger before going back to normal.

He kept his poker face on, but Victor saw the short response.

"What's wrong?" Victor asked, raising an eyebrow.

Damon shook his head, trying to dismiss it. "No, nothing. I just thought you meant the other Tereira."

Victor chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Not yet. Besides, that Tereira isn't in middleweight right now. Let's focus on the task at hand."

Victor slid a flash drive across the table toward Damon. "Mikal Tereira is a Brazilian mixed martial artist with a record of 31-12. Dangerous fighter. Of those 31 wins, 11 are by knockout. He's entertaining, unpredictable, and absolutely no joke. Here's the tape."

Damon picked up the drive, nodding as Victor continued.

"He's ranked 15 in the division. A fighter with a big reputation already, and you, you're building your own as the rising star with six consecutive wins. This fight is perfect for both of you in terms of exposure."

Victor leaned back in his chair, his tone shifting to emphasize the importance. "The fight will take place on the next pay-per-view event, just before the co-main event. It's the third-to-last fight on the card."

It made Damon raise an eyebrow. "Wait, the next pay-per-view? In December? That's not far off. Wasn't my fight supposed to be next year?"

Victor nodded. "It was. But after we sent back their initial contract and pushed for better terms, the UFA decided to slot you in earlier. They want to test your marketability on a bigger stage."

Damon smiled and leaned back in his chair. "UFA sure loves these short-notice fights, huh?"

Victor sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Well, this one might've been our fault, with all the back-and-forth on your contract. Let's just try not to get on their bad side anymore, alright?"

Damon chuckled, pocketing the flash drive. "Noted. Guess I'll start watching tapes tonight."

Victor nodded. "Good. Study him, understand him, and then break him down in the cage. You've got this, kid."

After that, he took some crisp bills out of his pocket and put them on the table. "Come on, let's leave. Your mother must be waiting for you."

While Damon was getting up from his seat, he stopped to think about something. "Oh wait. I need your help with something."

Victor stopped mid-motion, tilting his head slightly. "Mmh? What is it?"

Damon indicated that they should sit down again. Victor raised an eyebrow, but he complied and slid back into his chair.

Damon leaned forward a little and put his elbows on the table. "Remember when you said you'd help me with financial advice?"

Victor's eyes got a little narrower, and he had a look on his face that was both lighthearted and wary. "You didn't gamble away your earnings, right?"

Damon chuckled, shaking his head. "No, nothing like that. I just need help figuring out how to grow it."

Victor leaned back in his chair, relaxing a bit. "Go on."

"I know fighting pays well, especially with how things are going for me," Damon said, rubbing the back of his neck. "But it doesn't necessarily make you wealthy, not like you. I don't want to just rely on fight money. I want to poke my head into the business side, you know? Investments, real estate... stuff like that. And maybe later, when I know what I'm doing, I can start my own business."

Victor's face changed. He went from being playful to showing quiet acceptance. He smiled, but as he talked, his voice got more serious. "I see."