Damon sat on a bench in front of the mirror, adopting a meditation posture.
He wore his usual fighting kit, consisting of shorts and gloves. His eyes were fixed on his reflection, his mind focused on the upcoming fight.
During the weigh-in, he had finally discovered who his opponent was.
The revelation had left him stunned but not entirely surprised. He recalled the conversation between Edward and Mr. Steele, and Edward's reaction after losing his last fight.
Mr. Steele's words echoed in his mind: "Your opponent wants it more than you." Who else would be desperate, than the guy who cried when he lost.
And due to his suspicion before his training had been tailored to prepare him for Edward's fighting style.
He imagined the chaotic fighter, with his unpredictable movements and aggressive attacks, facing him in the cage.
Damon's eyes narrowed as he visualized the fight. He could see himself standing calmly, his fists clenched, ready to face the storm that was Edward.
Damon looked at the clock on the wall, it was almost his time.
He had done everything he needed to do, weigh ins and checks, now all he could do was wait. Wait for the knock on the door, wait for the signal that it was time to go out there and face Edward.
The knock came, and Damon stood up, his heart beating slightly faster.
He took his mouthguard and slipped it into his mouth, and he got out of the room, and walked towards the hallway.
Today, the hallway was different. It was packed with people, staff and officials milling up and down, talking in hushed tones.
He made his way towards the hall, but before he could twist the handle to the hall, the guy who had been waiting near the door spoke up putting his hand up. "You go last," he said, his voice firm but not unkind.
Damon paused, his hand on the door handle. He took a deep breath.
...
In the hall, the stands were full, packed with people who liked fighting, had nothing to do at night, or were just bored.
The crowd's enthusiasm boosted Damon's confidence as he made his way to the cage.
Michael said, "Damon Cross is making his way to the cage, and the crowd is clearly excited to see him in action, he's gaining fans."
Daniel added, "Absolutely. Damon is on a hot streak, and the fans remember his performances. With his height and power, not to mention the chin on him, he's a tough opponent for anyone. Edward has a real challenge ahead."
At the cage entrance, an official stopped Damon for the procedure check.
The official examined Damon's gloves and then asked to see his mouthguard. Damon opened his mouth to show it was in place.
The official then asked for the cup check, and Damon patted himself to show everything was secure.
"All clear. Good luck," the official said, giving Damon a pat on the back.
Damon walked towards the cage, his gaze locked on the inside.
He climbed through the cage door and stepped inside, his eyes meeting Edward's. Both of them had no visible expression showing.
The announcer stepped to the center of the cage with the microphone. "Please welcome, Damon Cross!"
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, their excitement reaching a peak.
Commentators Michael Bosley and Daniel Greene began their analysis as the fighters prepared for the bout.
Michael nodded. "It's interesting to see how these two fighters match up. Edward's aggressive style versus Damon's controlled approach. Damon has been impressive with his last clean knockout, and now he's looking to make it four in a row win streak."
Daniel continued, "Edward's last loss might have taken a toll on him. Today's opponent is not too different than his last one, like you said it's aggressive against controlled, so maybe he needs to change his approach, otherwise Damon's power and accuracy could make this a quick fight if he finds his opening."
As refeee finished his talk with the fighters and they touched gloves, everyone was ready for a spectacle.
Michael concluded, "We're about to get underway. Both fighters are in their corners, and this match is set to begin. It's going to be a clash of styles, and we're in for a treat."
The bell rang, and the fight between Damon Cross and Edward Whittaker was about to start.