MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

Chapter 286 Backstage

"Well, ladies and gentlemen, that's that for this match!" Jim Logan's voice boomed as the bell rang. He was very excited.

Experience tales at empire

The crowd let out a loud chorus of gasps and cheers. Everyone in the arena was going crazy because the match was over so fast.

"That was unbelievable," He added with a tone of admiration in his voice. "You don't see a finish like that every day."

Jim nodded, leaning forward slightly as he adjusted his headset. "Absolutely. The way that submission came out of nowhere, just incredible timing and execution. But folks, we're not done yet!"

The energy in the Toyota Center was electric. Fans were on their feet, anticipation crackling in the air.

"It's time for the final fight of the preliminaries," Korvier said, his voice steady and calm, providing a contrast to Logan's boundless energy.

"Before we get to the co-main and main events, we've got one last match to close out the prelim card and it's a good one."

Jim leaned back, flipping through his notes. "Oh, it's more than good, Demien. Up next, we've got the rising star Damon Cross taking on Mikal Tereira. This fight could easily steal the show."

Korvier nodded. "Damon Cross, undefeated at 6-0, has been on a tear since joining the UFA. Known for his incredible striking, having knock outs since signing with the UFA, he's quickly becoming one of the most talked-about fighters in the middleweight division."

"And then there's Mikal Tereira," Jim added, his tone dropping slightly as he emphasized the fighter's name. "The man's a veteran of the sport, with 31 wins to his name, 11 of those by knockout. He's unpredictable, explosive, and always puts on a show."

Korvier leaned forward, his expression serious. "This fight is a classic clash of rising talent versus established experience. Can Damon keep his streak alive, or will Mikal's veteran savvy prove too much?"

After showing the fighters warming up backstage, the cameras moved to show Damon shadowboxing.

Mikal was hitting the pads with wild, powerful hooks while his trainer yelled commands in Portuguese.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Jim said, his voice rising with excitement, "you do NOT want to miss this one!"

The arena's lights dimmed slightly as the announcer's voice echoed through the venue.

"Up next... a middleweight bout to close out the preliminary card!"

In it, he had faced a virtual version of Mikal, recreating his unpredictable movements and testing counters to his wild attacks.

The simulations helped Damon refine his timing, improve his ability to slip Mikal's spinning strikes, and capitalize on the openings created by Mikal's overextensions.

He'd also drilled transitions and submissions to exploit Mikal's shaky ground game if the opportunity arose.

Now, as he stood backstage, Damon felt ready. His hands flexed inside his gloves, the tape tight around his wrists. He glanced at his coach.

"All the work's done, Damon," Victor said. "Now, it's time to show the world."

Damon exhaled deeply, nodding. His heart pounded with anticipation, but his mind was calm. He'd prepared for this.

"Let's do this," he muttered, bouncing a little higher as the sound of the crowd's roar seeped through the walls.

The familiar beat of his walkout music filled the backstage area, its hyper and exciting rhythm matching the energy buzzing through Damon's veins. The moment was here.

As soon as Damon turned to go to the tunnel, Svetlana grabbed his hand and hugged him.

She hugged him close for a moment, and her voice was soft. "You've got this. Go show them who you are."

Damon nodded against her shoulder, his own confidence bolstered by her quiet support.

Victor cleared his throat, breaking the moment.

His voice carried its usual commanding tone, but there was a hint of pride behind it. "Come on, Damon. Let's go in there and win."

Damon pulled back, offering Svetlana a small smile before nodding at Victor. "Yeah. Let's do this."

With that, he turned and began walking toward the tunnel, his coaches and a few teammates who had been part of his camp following closely behind him.

Svetlana stayed where she was, watching him go.

It was a rule, after all, only those directly involved in his camp were allowed to walk him through the tunnel.