MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

The cage was full of life when Daniel Korvier walked in with a microphone in his hand. He looked confident in his suit.

The cheers from the crowd got louder as he pointed to Damon Cross, who was standing in the middle of the cage with a calm, focused look on his face despite the chaos.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Daniel began, his voice cutting through the noise, "how about that knockout?!"

As the cheers from the crowd filled the arena, it exploded.

He looked around with a small smile on his face as he took it all in.

Mikal Tereira, now standing with the help of his corner, leaned against the cage, visibly shaken but holding his composure.

Daniel turned his attention to Damon first, his grin wide as he raised the mic.

"Damon Cross, what a performance! You just knocked out Mikal Tereira in the second round with one of the slickest head kicks we've ever seen. How are you feeling right now?"

Damon wiped the sweat from his brow, his grin widening. "I feel great, Daniel. Mikal's a tough guy, and I knew coming in that I had to stay sharp. But yeah… I feel amazing."

Daniel nodded, gesturing toward the crowd. "The kick, Damon, walk me through it. You faked the knee, pulled it back, and then BAM! You went high with the kick. Was that planned, or was it something you saw in the moment?"

Damon chuckled, his confidence evident. "We worked on setups in training, but honestly, it was more instinct in the moment. I noticed he kept reacting to my knees, so I used that to set up the high kick. It's all about reading the opponent."

Daniel laughed, shaking his head. "Man, the crowd loved it, and so did we. Now, this is your seventh professional win. Your stock is skyrocketing. What's next for Damon Cross? Who do you want next?"

Damon's gaze shifted to the camera, his tone firm. "I'm here to fight the best, Daniel. Whoever's in my way, I'm ready. But I want someone in the top ten next. I'm ready to climb those rankings and show the world what I can do."

The crowd erupted again, their cheers filling the arena.

Daniel nodded, making it clear that he approved the hunger. "Damon, congratulations on an incredible performance!"

Damon nodded in thanks, stepping back as Daniel turned toward Mikal.

Daniel walked up to Mikal, who was standing with his corner close by to support him and a towel around his shoulders.

Even though he lost, the Brazilian fighter had a small smile on his face, and it was clear that he respected Damon.

"Mikal," Daniel began, his tone soft, "tough loss tonight, but you've always been known for your unpredictability and your heart. What was going through your mind in there against Damon Cross?"

Mikal began speaking in Portuguese, his voice subdued. "Ele é um lutador muito técnico e paciente. Eu tentei encontrar meu ritmo, mas ele é perigoso e preciso. Aquele chute… eu não vi vindo."

(Interpreter: "He's a very technical and patient fighter. I tried to find my rhythm, but he's dangerous and precise. That kick… I didn't see it coming.")

The crowd cheered in respect, appreciating Mikal's honesty.

Daniel nodded. "You've been in wars before, and we know you'll bounce back. What's next for you after this?"

Mikal spoke again in Portuguese, his voice carrying determination. "Eu vou para casa, treino mais e volto mais forte. Este é o nosso trabalho. Da próxima vez, estarei pronto."

(Interpreter: "I'll go home, train harder, and come back stronger. This is what we do. Next time, I'll be ready.")

Daniel clapped Mikal on the shoulder, his respect clear. "We can't wait to see you back in here, Mikal. Thank you for always putting on a show."

Turning back to the crowd, Daniel raised the mic high. "Ladies and gentlemen, let's hear it one more time for both of these incredible fighters, Mikal Tereira and your winner, Damon Cross!"

When both fighters raised their hands, the arena went crazy.

It was a moment that cemented Damon's standing as a rising star and honored Mikal's bravery.

Daniel got up from the cage and left the fighters to enjoy the crowd's excitement.

Damon got back with his team. The fight and the crowd's energy were still making him feel good.

As they walked down the tunnel to the backstage area, his adrenaline began to fade, replaced by the familiar ache of a hard-fought victory.

Victor walked beside him, his expression a mix of pride and determination.

"Where's Lana?" Damon asked, glancing around as they moved.

Victor left his hands stuffed in his pockets. "She was in the crowd. I'm sure she's in the back waiting for you."

He paused, giving Damon a sidelong look. "Anyway, that thing about going after the top 10, it's ballsy. But I trust you can do it."

Damon nodded, a small grin tugging at the corners of his lips. "I did that on purpose," he admitted. "Whether they give me a top 10 fight or not, by putting it out there, I'm forcing them to consider it. I'm making sure they know I'm ready for that level."

Ash smirked at Damon. "Big brain move, D."

Joey rolled his eyes, leaning against the wall. "Who do you think taught him?"

Ash turned to Joey with an exaggerated look of disbelief, pointing at him like he had just said something absurd. "Shush, big brains are talking here," Ash quipped, shaking his head dramatically.

Edward chuckled at their antics, but mostly kept his composure. "You guys are impossible," he muttered, his arms crossed as he leaned back in his seat.

Damon shifted his attention to Edward. "Hey, you said you've got a match coming up, right? RBCS? Ronen Black's Contender Series?"

Edward nodded, his expression serious but calm. "Yeah. It's not locked in officially, but I've been training like it is."

Victor, standing nearby, crossed his arms and chimed in. "The UFA hasn't made any moves yet, but once Edward secures this fight and gets a win, I'm confident they'll offer him a contract. Contender Series fighters usually get fast-tracked if they show promise."

Damon nodded, his gaze steady as he addressed Edward. "I'm sure it'll be fine. You've been putting in the work. When the time comes, you'll handle it."

Edward gave a small smile, appreciating the confidence. "Thanks, D. I'm ready. Just need the green light, you know?"
Your next journey awaits at empire

Ash leaned in with a mischievous grin. "Don't forget to give us a shoutout in your post-fight speech, though. Like, 'Thanks to my big-brain coaches Ash and Joey.'"

Joey rolled his eyes, shoving Ash lightly. "You mean 'Thanks to the one guy who actually gave me useful advice,' right?"

They laughed, and the stress from Damon's fight earlier went away as they made fun of each other.

Victor took a quick look at Damon and his face softened."It's good to see the team hyped. Keep this energy, boys. You've all got bright futures ahead of you."