Team Whittier had a different day today.
The mood was much better, and there was a sense of relaxation in the air.
They broke their losing streak two days ago when Ivan made sure the other fighter couldn't stand up.
That victory had injected new life into the team, a much-needed boost after a series of defeats.
Now, the teams stood in front of their coaches once again.
Although the formalities were being observed, it wasn't really necessary.
Everyone knew who was going to fight next.
With only two fighters left who hadn't stepped into the cage, the next matchup was inevitable.
Damon stood quietly with his teammate. There was less tension than usual.
Ivan, fresh off his win, looked ready to support him.
The entire team seemed more relaxed, confident even.
On the other side, Team Chemasov was equally focused.
They had been dominant throughout the competition, but they knew that Team Whittier wouldn't give up easily now that their morale was high.
Balim Chemasov stood at the front, arms crossed, with his usual smirk of confidence.
He was ready to see if his next fighter could keep their momentum going.
Ronan Black, standing at the center, still played his role, officially announcing the fight like there was any mystery. "Alright, gentlemen. Let's make it official."
He looked from one side to the other before saying the obvious. "Damon Cross, Kevin Edward, your time has come."
Damon met Kevin's eyes from across the group.
There was no animosity, just a quiet understanding of what was about to go down.
Both fighters were experienced, both knew what it meant to step into that cage.
And both understood that despite whatever respect they might have for each other, only one of them was walking away with a win.
They stepped forward for the face-off, eyes locking in a silent but intense exchange.
When Damon and Kevin had first met, there had been mutual respect, maybe even a hint of camaraderie.
For now, though, his focus had to remain on the task at hand, his upcoming fight against Kevin.
Confidence was one thing, but Damon wasn't foolish enough to underestimate his opponent.
Every fighter had strengths, and in a fight, even the smallest mistake could be costly.
As the stare-down ended, Damon and Kevin broke eye contact, each turning to join their respective teams.
Though neither of them spoke, there was an enduring tension between them.
It wasn't like what he had with Brian or Kofi, but it was still there.
Ronan Black took a step forward and lightly clapped his hands to get everyone's attention back on him. He said, "Okay, that's enough of that," in a steady, reassuring tone.
"All right, you two. The winner moves on to the next round. I hope you both understand that you can't go back from here."
"Once you're out, you're out."
The fighters on both teams paid close attention to Ronan as he spoke, knowing how important the moment was.
Ronan's eyes scanned the group, landing on Damon and Kevin again. "Now, I wish you both good training. Use your time wisely. This fight is going to decide a lot."
With that, the formal announcement was done, and the fighters began to disperse, returning to their respective corners to strategize and prepare for what lay ahead.
Damon felt the shift in energy, the clock ticking down toward the most important fight of his life so far.
In fact every fight in thise competition was important.
This was going to be Damon's second fight in The Supreme Fighter, and he knew it carried more weight than the first.
If there was anyone in the media or among the fans still calling him a fluke, this was his chance to silence them.
The chatter would always there, doubts about whether his first win was just luck or if he really had what it took to go all the way, media was full of critics.
Damon felt the pressure, but he thrived on it.
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There would be no playing games anymore, no letting the fight drag out for the sake of learning or pacing himself.
He had to prove that he wasn't just a one-hit wonder.
He had to make a statement.
Kofi, Brian and Ivan had made their's.
The world was watching, and this fight wasn't just about advancing to the semifinals, it was about showing everyone that he belonged at the top.