MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

Chapter 457: A Predator Among Goats

The next day, the media was in full force.

Headlines flooded the internet. Analysts dissected every second of Damon’s fight, breaking down his precision, his dominance, his sheer control over every aspect of the bout. Social media was no different, clips of his performance spread like wildfire, racking up millions of views.

But what stood out the most was the conversation surrounding him.

A fighter who had never won a championship, never held gold around his waist, was now being called a GOAT.

It was rare, maybe even unheard of. Fighters were typically crowned legends after years of title reigns, multiple defenses, and rivalries that spanned eras. Yet here was Damon Cross, shattering that narrative.

Fans debated fiercely. Some claimed his dominance alone was enough to put him in the conversation. Others argued that until he won a belt, he wasn’t even close.

But amidst all the noise, one reply stood out.

A simple response from Damon himself, posted under a viral thread debating his status:

[I’m no GOAT, I like having GOAT for dinner though.]

The internet exploded.

Some took it as arrogance, others as cold-blooded confidence.

But even if some didn’t like him, especially those who still held onto the controversy of the late stoppage, none of it mattered.

No matter how much they criticized him, no matter how many called him reckless or heartless for not stopping on his own, there was one undeniable fact.

Damon Cross was still undefeated.

The only way to shut him up, to prove he wasn’t what people claimed, was for someone to humble him in the cage.

And yet, looking at the competition left in the tournament, even the most die-hard critics struggled to find a name they could pin their hopes on.

Because no matter how much they wanted him to lose, the reality was becoming clear.

Damon wasn’t just winning.

He was making it look effortless.

It took a different kind of beast to turn haters into fans.

But an even rarer one to leave them hopeless, filled with hate, yet with nothing to back it up.

No one had yet.

And at the moment, Damon was in a good place.

Healthy. Wealthy. Happy.

For once, there was no immediate struggle, no lingering doubts, no reason to dwell on the past or overthink the future. Everything was exactly as it should be. He had just put on one of the most dominant performances of his career, and the world was watching.

Back at the hotel, he scrolled through his phone, seeing the endless wave of posts dissecting his latest victory. Analysts breaking down his every move, fighters giving their reluctant respect, fans either celebrating him or desperately hoping someone would humble him.

It was a strange thing, knowing that every move he made, every word he said, carried weight. The pressure that came with being the guy didn’t feel like pressure at all. If anything, it felt like fuel.

A notification popped up, an article headline.

"Is Damon Cross Already the Best Middleweight in the World?"

He didn’t even click on it. He already knew what they were saying.

But beyond the noise, beyond the media, beyond the hype, there was still something real, his life outside the cage. And right now, he had the rare opportunity to enjoy it.

Svetlana was sitting on the hotel couch, scrolling through her own phone, legs tucked beneath her. She had been unusually quiet since they got back. Damon locked his phone and set it aside.

"You good?" he asked.

She glanced up, then gave a small smile. "Yeah. Just reading." Stay connected via novelhall.Côm

Damon raised an eyebrow. "About me?"

"Obviously," she said, rolling her eyes. "It’s all over the place. You’re everywhere right now."

Damon smirked, leaning back against the headboard. "And?"

She studied him for a moment before shrugging. "I just hope you don’t let all this get to your head."

Damon exhaled, amused. "Too late."

Svetlana tossed a pillow at him, laughing. "Idiot."

The next fight could wait. The tournament could wait.

For now, life was good.