MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat
Chapter 68: Chapter 68: My Time Now

Damon stood in front of the door, his hand raised to knock. But he hesitated, thinking it was better to leave Edward alone.

He seemed to be taking the loss very hard. Damon turned around and walked quickly towards his own room.

As he walked, he pushed the thoughts of Edward out of his mind.

He didn't want to think about the other fighter's disappointment and frustration. Instead, he focused on his own upcoming fight.

Damon knew that losing wasn't the end of the world.

He had learned that lesson before. But it was easy to say that now, when he wasn't the one who had lost.

He had a temper, and he knew how hard it was to control his emotions when things didn't go his way.

Damon entered his room and sat down on the bench, taking a few deep breaths.

He tried to clear his mind and focus on the present moment.

He thought about his own strategy and technique, going over the moves he would make in the ring.

He stood up and began to pace back and forth, his mind filled with thoughts of the fight.

Damon walked over to the table, where his fighting gear was laid out.

He removed the plastic wrapping and began to undress, taking off his clothes and putting on his fighting shorts. He then put on his protective cup, making sure it was securely in place.

Next, he wrapped his hands with the bandages, carefully covering his wrists and fingers. He then slipped on his gloves, feeling the familiar weight and texture of the padding.

Damon closed his eyes, taking a moment to focus on his breathing. He thought about his training, and how far he had come.

He had spent countless hours practicing his basic punches, kicks, and elbows with the new punching bag.

When he first started on the punching bag, his proficiency level on basic Muay Thai attacks was at 50%.

But now, after a month of intense training, he had improved to 70%. This was a significant gain, and he felt proud of his progress.

Damon thought about his technique, going over each move in his mind.

He pictured himself throwing perfect jabs, hooks, and uppercuts. He imagined his kicks landing precisely, with power and speed.

His mind wandered towards the Question Mark kick, a more complex move that he was still working on.

His proficiency level was at 37%, which was lower than he wanted. But he knew that with continued practice, he would master it.

Damon's training sessions with the punching bag had been incredibly helpful. He had seen significant improvement in his technique, and his confidence had grown.

He felt more prepared for his upcoming fight, and he was eager to put his skills to the test.

With his eyes still closed, Damon took a few more deep breaths, focusing on his mental preparation.

He visualized himself winning the fight, his hand being raised in victory. He pictured the crowd cheering.

Finally, Damon opened his eyes, feeling ready and focused.

Damon finished his mental preparation and stood up. He felt ready. He grabbed his mouthguard from the table and slipped it into his pocket, then headed out of his room.

The hallway was quiet, and his footsteps echoed softly as he walked.

He could hear faint noises coming from the arena, a reminder that his fight was now. Damon took a deep breath and focused on staying calm.

When he reached the entrance to the hall leading to the cage, he paused for a moment.

This was it. He walked forward, his mind clear and focused. He could see the lights and hear the crowd more clearly now. The energy was building.

As he walked towards the cage, an official stepped forward to check him. The official nodded and said, "Stand still for a moment."

Damon followed the instructions. The official checked his gloves, making sure they were secure. Then, he did the cup check, pressing lightly to ensure everything was in place.

"All good," the official said, giving Damon a quick nod. "You're ready."

Damon nodded back and kept walking, his eyes focused on the cage ahead.

He felt the adrenaline starting to rise, but he stayed calm. He knew he had to keep his emotions in check.

The announcer's voice boomed through the arena. "Introducing... Damon Cross!" The crowd responded with cheers, and Damon felt a surge of confidence. He kept walking, one step at a time, towards the cage.

He glanced across the cage at his opponent, a shorter fighter named Jaxon Lee, as usual.

As Damon entered the cage, the commentators began their discussion.

Michael Bosley spoke first. "Well, that was quite a tough end for Edward earlier. It's always hard to see a fighter's last chance slip away."

Daniel Greene nodded. "Yes, it's tough. But now it's time for others to shine. Damon Cross is stepping into the cage next. He's on a 2-0 win streak. His Muay Thai skills are impressive."

Michael added, "Damon's been doing great with his kicks and elbows. He's shown strong performance in his last fights."

Daniel continued, "His opponent, Jaxon Lee, has a strong boxing background. He relies on his punches. It'll be interesting to see how Damon's Muay Thai handles Jaxon's boxing."

The crowd cheered as Damon and Jaxon faced each other. The stage was set for another exciting fight.

The referee entered the cage and addressed both fighters.

"Alright, gentlemen," he said, "I'm going to go over the rules. Obey my commands at all times. Protect yourself at all times.

No hitting to the back of the head, no low blows, no grabbing the cage, and no kneeing the groin. If you want to touch gloves, do it now."

Damon and Jaxon touched gloves.

"Fight clean. Fight fair. If you're ready, I'm ready. Let's have a good fight."

The referee stepped back to his position and signaled for the fight to begin. "Alright, fighters. Ready? Fight!"

Damon flashed a confident smile, his eyes locking onto Jaxon's across the cage. "Just another day in the office," he muttered, his voice low and even.

The words were going to be a familiar mantra, a reminder that he'd been in tough spots before and always come out on top.