MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

Tonight, the UFA kicks off 2029 with a stacked card guaranteed to deliver.

In the middleweight division, rising contender Damon Cross steps into the octagon against Calvin Oland.

Cross, known for his precision and ability to shut down opponents, faces Oland, whose unorthodox style and knockout power make him a dangerous challenge for anyone.

The co-main event sees Elian Toprena, the featherweight champion, looking to make his mark in the lightweight division.

Standing in his way is the No. 1 contender, Erman Tsarukov, a ferocious wrestler who's been tearing through the ranks.

Toprena's relentless pressure and grappling meet Khanov's power and precision in a title eliminator that will possibly send the winner straight to for the lightweight crown.

And then, the main event.

A rematch in the middleweight division as Darik Pe Predis and Shane Brickland meet again for the championship.

DPP brings his relentless forward style and crushing power, while Brickland's pinpoint striking and unshakable durability make him as tough as they come.

A clash of styles, a clash of wills, the kind of fight that defines champions.

Three fights. Three stories. One unforgettable night.

The UFA kicks off the new year in style, and you won't want to miss it.

The next clip rolled, a cinematic slow-motion montage of the fighters arriving at the venue, each surrounded by their teams.

In the middle of the scene, Damon walked in with his group.

Even in the short shot, his focus was clear as he seemed to be deeply in talk with Victor.

The montage kept going, showing fighters in both calm and intense times.

It ended with the current middleweight champion walking into the building with his title shining in the frame.

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Damon tossed his phone onto the sofa and leaned back with a sigh. "Ahh, whatever," he muttered, clearly trying to brush something off.

Svetlana, sitting beside him, reached over and held his hand. "It's fine. Either way, you'll outshine them all," she said with a reassuring smile.

Damon chuckled, shaking his head.

It was easy to see why he was so angry. In the beginning, his fight with Calvin Oland was billed as the co-main event of the fight show. It was a big deal, and he had worked hard to get the attention.

And this was even worse when considering where they were.

But as the final poster dropped before the year ended, his fight had been bumped down to the third spot on the card.

Now, the co-main event belonged to a lightweight bout, leaving Damon feeling like he'd been sidelined.

Still, as he looked at Svetlana's confident expression, he couldn't help but smile.

Maybe she was right.

None of it mattered as long as he made his fight one to remember.

Victor stood nearby, watching the two with a faint smile on his face.

When he realized he was doing it, he quickly wiped it away, clearing his throat before speaking.

"She's right," Victor said, his tone firm but encouraging. "As long as you perform as planned and do what you do best, it doesn't matter if your fight is before the two biggest, or if it's the first fight on the show. What matters is making it unforgettable. You'll be remembered."

Victor crossed his arms, his gaze steady. "And think about it, your fight being bumped back because of theirs? That's the level you're working toward. That's where you want to be, where everything about you is so big it shifts the entire card."

Damon nodded slowly, letting Victor's words sink in.

That was the level Damon wanted to reach.

"Yeah," Damon said, more to himself than anyone else. It was exactly what he needed to hear.

Edward wasn't here today to be in Damon's corner, and neither were Joey or Ashley.

However, Ash and Ty had made it, along with the rest of the gym's coaching staff.

The team felt smaller than usual, but their energy was just as focused and determined.

Victor stepped closer to Damon, his tone calm but firm. "Alright, come on. We've got a lot of work to do before the show starts."

Damon nodded, standing and shaking out his limbs.

Victor pointed toward the pads. "Get on the pads for a few minutes, warm up, anything to keep your body moving. I'll be back in a few."

With that, Victor stepped away, leaving Damon to focus.

Ty grabbed the pads, ready to help, while Damon started loosening up, shadowboxing lightly.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The buzz of pre-fight adrenaline was already settling in, and the team around him ensured he stayed sharp and ready.

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Ash sat slouched on the sofa, scrolling through his phone with a bored expression as Damon worked on the pads with Ty.

Damon glanced over at him mid-combo. "What's up with you?"

Ash didn't look up, his tone flat. "Nothing… I swear Ashley and Joey screwed me over."

Damon chuckled, stepping back from the pads for a moment.

He remembered meeting Joey about a month ago and again just a few days before today.

From what Joey had said, the family dinner with Ash and Ashley's parents hadn't gone as badly as expected.

But judging by Ash's mood, there was clearly more to the story.

"How so?" Damon asked, shaking out his arms.

Ash sighed, setting his phone down. "Ashley is disowned."

Damon froze mid-step, Ty stopped holding the pads, and even Svetlana, who had been watching Damon, turned her attention to Ash.

"Are you serious?" Damon asked, eyebrows furrowed.

Ash finally looked up, seeing all their eyes on him as if he'd just dropped the wildest news imaginable.

"What… no," Ash said, shaking his head. "But she might as well be. Our parents don't exactly see her as their favorite. And now they're like helicopters, hovering over me, trying to figure out what I'm up to. All under the guise of 'preventing me from making the same mistake my twin sister made.'" He rolled his eyes, mockingly quoting their words. "'Aka getting a girl pregnant.' Pfft."

Ty raised an eyebrow, glancing at Damon. "Sounds rough."

Damon gave a small smirk, but there was sympathy in his tone. "Yeah, sounds like your parents haven't changed much from your stories."

Ash leaned back, tossing his phone onto the cushion beside him. "They never will. But hey, at least I'm still their golden child… for now."