The days passed smoothly, with an unusual calm settling over the house.
There was no drama, no heated words or confrontations.
Kofi and Brian, who had been key players in Team Chemasov's dominance, barely spoke to each other.
It was strange, but Damon didn't dwell on it too much.
At this point in the competition, teamwork meant little.
It had been crucial in the early stages, but now everyone was a competitor, even your own teammate.
Damon kept his focus sharp, knowing that the matchups could be revealed at any moment.
All that mattered was who brought their best into the cage, just like Whittier said.
Today was the day.
The semifinals matchups would finally be revealed.
The fans were just as excited as the fighters; they couldn't stop talking about who would face who and who would make it to the final.
Together, Damon and Ivan arrived at the training facility, their concentration laser-like.
Team Chemasov followed closely behind, their presence as commanding as ever as they made their way inside the building.
As soon as they got into the fight room, they stood still by the cage and waited.
There was no denying the tension. .
They weren't just waiting for their coaches, everyone knew the real decision-maker was Ronan Black.
The CEO's presence today would signal the official start of the semifinal stage, and the fighters braced themselves for what was about to come.
The silence in the room was broken by Kofi's loud, mocking voice as they waited. "It's time now, kids. Hehe, no more sparing, no more senseless crying. All that is over. I really hope I get locked in with one of you."
Brian and Ivan stepped forward, their faces inches apart, neither saying a word.
You could feel the tension between them, but they didn't need to say anything at this point. Both of them knew what was at risk.
As they squared off, Damon couldn't help but glare at Kofi.
He didn't need an official announcement to know what was coming next.
Kofi met his gaze with a smirk, his eyes full of confidence, as if he had been waiting for this moment all along.
When Brian and Ivan stepped back into line, Ronan broke the silence with a grin. "Alright, and for the next fight, we have... Damon Cross versus Kofi Clarke!"
The air felt heavier as Ronan spoke, but Damon didn't blink, his eyes still locked with Kofi's.
This was it.
As Damon and Kofi stepped forward for the face-off.
They pushed their foreheads together, neither willing to back down.
Damon's eyes burned with intensity as he spoke through clenched teeth, "I'll show you what Leprechauns and Chopsticks are."
Kofi chuckled darkly, the smirk never leaving his face. "Oh, I hope you do... because I'll destroy you in the process."
No more words were needed. The two fighters locked eyes, neither blinking, their silent challenge vibrating through the air.
The guy stepping between them, trying to keep the intensity from spilling over, glanced at the camera with a grin. "Don't miss the two semifinal matches: Ivan Novak versus Brian Walker, and Damon Cross versus Kofi Clarke."
And the stage was set.
Whether the fans liked the matchups or not, it didn't matter.
The fighters were ready, and the battles that lay ahead would define their futures.
There was no turning back now, only the cage, their skills, and the will to win.