MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

A few days had passed since the fight in Abu Dhabi. Damon and his team had returned to the US, but there was no time to rest.

Victor immediately set up training sessions focused on takedown defense, drilling Damon relentlessly.

Despite celebrating the win, Victor was quick to point out the gap in Damon's game, something they had both seen during the fight.

Damon couldn't deny it. Being caught off guard by Calvin Oland's takedown had exposed a weakness.

When I think back on his fights in The Supreme Fighter, there were moments where he'd been taken down, and while he always managed to recover, but that was a weakness in his defense that needed to be fixed.

Victor pushed him hard, bringing in wrestlers to shoot takedowns on him over and over, forcing him to adapt.

Day after day, Damon drilled sprawls, stuffed takedowns, and practiced regaining his footing.

He was doing well in training, and he hoped that progress would carry over into his next fight.

Thankfully, he had months ahead before any match could be set up.

That time would be put to good use.

Ty had been absent from the gym lately.

He'd expressed his desire to compete at an Olympic level in wrestling, and he wasn't just talking, he was putting in the work.

He joined a wrestling-only gym, which didn't surprise anyone. In fact, it had been Victor's idea.

Victor wasn't overly attached to his gym.

Sure, he cared about maintaining it and ensuring the coaching stayed top-notch, but he never got overly involved, so he didn't care if if they left the gym to join another.

His focus was always on the fighters, on what they needed.

Especially for fighters like Damon and Ashley, who were part of a big organization.

But recently, most of the focus had shifted to Damon. Ashley wouldn't be fighting anytime soon, her pregnancy was going to be a major setback for her career.

It wasn't like Ashley didn't have talent. Her record stood at a respectable 10-3, but she hadn't yet gained the attention she deserved.

The unfortunate truth was, she wasn't a big star. This pregnancy wouldn't make things easier.

When she returned, it would be a long, uphill climb to work her way back up the ranks.

But for all that it was worth, bringing life into the world was something special.

Damon was sure Joey and Ashley must be having a lot of conversations about it.

It would take sacrifice. Joey was still in college, and with everything happening, the timing couldn't have been more awkward.

Hopefully, they were doing well.

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In a room where all UFA matchmaking happened.

The matchmaking room was a sleek, functional space, designed more for focus than flair.

It looked like the kind of war room you'd see in movies, with a massive rectangular table in the center, surrounded by leather chairs.

The walls were lined with screens, displaying rankings, fighter statistics, recent fight highlights, and upcoming event schedules.

A large whiteboard stretched across one wall, scribbled with names, arrows, and potential matchups, organized chaos that only the people in this room truly understood.

On the table, there were stacks of documents, fighter profiles, and laptops scattered around, each open to spreadsheets and emails.

Coffee cups, half-empty water bottles, and energy drink cans sat nearby, signs of long nights spent deciding who fought who.

Ronen Black sat at the head of the table. If he weren't bald already, his hair would surely be snow-white from the stress that came with running the UFA.

Pull-outs, injuries, last-minute changes, fan outrages, it was all on him.

Being the president of the biggest MMA organization in the world meant carrying the weight of every decision.

Every fight mattered. Every card needed to deliver. The fans had to be happy because their excitement fueled the sport.

If they didn't like what they saw, the backlash was swift and unforgiving.

But it wasn't as simple as giving the fans what they wanted.

Fights had to make sense.

They needed to be fair to the fighters, balanced in terms of skill and timing.

Every matchup had to serve a purpose, either to test a prospect, elevate a contender, or crown a champion.

This was the delicate balance that Ronen and his team walked every day.

Mike Narmell, Shawn Chelbie, and Gunter Blackwell sat around the table, the tension in the room palpable.

The massive whiteboard behind them was filled with names and arrows, but one glaring empty slot stared back at them, the main event for the upcoming show.

Ronen sighed, leaning back in his chair. "You're telling me every single one of them isn't fit for the match?"

Mike nodded, his expression tired. "It's short notice, Ronen. Three weeks isn't enough for most fighters. Some are unfit, others are already booked, and the rest outright rejected the offer. We're left with very few choices."

Gunter Blackwell adjusted his glasses, his deep voice cutting in. "We might have to look outside the top 10 rankings. I know the plan was to keep this focused on top-tier fighters, but looking outside could save the show."

Ronen drummed his fingers on the table, thinking it over. "Alright, what about Chara Nargomadovi?"

Mike shook his head immediately. "Already booked. He's locked in for a fight next month, so he's out."

Shawn Chelbie spoke up for the first time, flipping through his notes. "We've got three fighters who are free, technically. They're not ideal options, but it's what we've got."

"Who are they?" Ronen asked, leaning forward.

Mike glanced down at the list. "First is Caolo Posta himself, but he's still injured and can't take the fight. Second is Antonio Fernades. He's tough, coming off a big win, but he's still unsure about stepping in on short notice. "

The Mike hesitated before continuing. "The third is Damon Cross. He just fought Calvin Oland in Abu Dhabi. Three weeks is pushing it, I doubt he'll accept."

Ronen raised an eyebrow. "Send the offers anyway. We need to move fast. If Damon doesn't take it, fine, but let's not leave stones unturned."

Mike nodded. "Got it. I'll draft the offers and make sure Jake Armansson is informed about the opponent change."

Ronen exhaled, the responsibility settling on his shoulders. "Good. Keep me updated."