The fighters lined up in a straight row, shoulder to shoulder, their eyes scanning the room, waiting.
Each of them stood still, some adjusting their stances, others rolling their shoulders to ease the tension.
The sound of shuffling feet filled the space as a few fighters whispered among themselves, their voices low, barely audible.
Damon kept his gaze forward, his mind focused on what was coming next.
He could hear the occasional murmurs from the fighters next to him, but he stayed quiet.
There was no point in guessing now, they'd all find out soon enough.
The line of fighters was smaller now, only 16 of them left.
Those who didn't make it had already left the arena, their journey in The Supreme Fighter over.
But for those still standing, the next step was told, the coaches would soon come out and begin picking their teams.
Eight fighters on each side.
Damon shifted his weight slightly, feeling the firmness of the floor beneath his feet.
His breathing was steady, but his chest felt tight with the pressure of the moment.
He glanced to his left and saw one of the fighters clenching his fists, his knuckles white.
To his right, another fighter bounced lightly on his toes, his eyes darting around the room, full of energy.
For now, though, all they could do was wait.
But...
They didn't have to wait long.
Stephen stepped forward, his voice commanding the room. "Okay, let's introduce the first coach."
All eyes snapped to the entrance as tall man strode in.
His presence alone was enough to send a wave of tension through the fighters.
Towering and broad-shouldered, He had had a lean, wiry frame packed with coiled muscle.
His close-cropped dark hair framed a chiseled face, with a thick beard that accentuated his sharp jawline.
His piercing eyes, cold and calculating, scanned the fighters with the intensity of a man who knew only victory.
@FightFanatic24:
"Yo! BALIM CHEMASOV and DONALD WHITTIER as coaches?!? This season's gonna be INSANE! #TeamChemasov all the way!"
@MMAAddict69:
"Bro, Who let Ronen Black cook?! I'm screaming!!! #GOATVsGOAT"
@CasualFighter101:
"Donald Whittier's cool and all, but Chemasov is gonna eat this man for breakfast. Sorry, not sorry. ???? #TeamBalim"
@Aricthemanaric:
"Whittier looks like he just walked off a modeling shoot while Balim looks like he fought a bear and won. I know which team I'm picking. ???????? #TeamBalim"
@TheRealRonenBlack:
" If you put 100 fighters in a room only James Jonas is coming out #PFP #IloveJonas"
@WhittierNation:
"Are you kidding me with this disrespect? Whittier's gonna outclass Balim with that slick technique. Chemasov fans can cry later. #TeamDonald #RealSkill"
@JustHereForDrama:
"Balim Chemasov vs. Donald Whittier is basically a bear fighting a fridge. I don't know what's happening but I'm here for it. ???? vs. ???? #UFA"
@NotoriousSkeptic:
"Undefeated? Pfft, Chemasov's fought a bunch of nobodies. Whittier's gonna show him what a real fighter looks like. #Overrated"
@ChemasovCult:
"Donald Whittier is a good fighter. A GOOD fighter. But Balim Chemasov is a FREAKING FORCE OF NATURE. ???? #TeamBalim #NeverLost"
@ArmchairFighterExpert:
"Chemasov is just muscle and beard. Whittier's technique is on another level. Prepare for an upset, folks! #TeamWhittier"
@MemeLordMMA:
"Damn, everyone here acting as if they're going to fight here. You know Ronan Black won't allow himself to lose money from this fight. #MadnessIncoming"
The posts kept coming, a mix of hype, humor, and heat, as the fanbase went into full-blown meltdown over the announcement.
Everyone had an opinion, and the world was buzzing with anticipation.