MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat-Chapter 528: The Mark of a Champion

The arena erupted the moment the referee stepped in.

It was over.

Damon Cross had done it, again.

Not just a win. Not just a finish. A complete performance that left no doubt. He walked through a legend, and did it with calculated precision.

The crowd roared as his arm was raised. Fans on their feet, chanting his name. Flashes of camera phones lit up the cage like stars.

He didn't scream. He didn't jump on the cage. He just stood there, calm, composed, his chest rising and falling with steady breaths, as if the victory was something he already expected.

His team entered, clapping, patting his shoulders, proud smiles on all their faces.

Victor was the last to enter. No words. Just a firm nod and a hand on the back of Damon's neck.

In the commentary booth, the analysts were breaking it down.

Jon Goodman: "That second round was the turning point. Damon's invisible body shots changed everything, Desayen never fully recovered from those. You could see it in his posture."

Rich Alvarez: "And let's talk about that takedown. That fake release into the hook and immediate finish on the mat, that was slick. It looked like he let him go, but he baited Desayen right into it."

Marvin Duke: "That was a fight IQ masterclass. We've seen Damon dominate before, but this felt like something else. Like he's stepping into his prime and he knows it."

The replay flashed across the big screen, Damon's spinning elbow, the invisible punches, the 1–2 that dropped Desayen.

The fight was clean. Precise.

A performance that would be rewatched, broken down, and studied.

But for Damon, it wasn't about that right now.

He turned to the corner, locked eyes with Svetlana in the front row, and gave her a subtle nod and smile.

This one was for them.

As the cage door opened again, the crowd stirred with curiosity. A few fans near the front pointed, then the cameras caught it.

Svetlana stepped inside, escorted carefully by a staff member. She was glowing, more than usual. Wearing a sleek outfit that subtly hugged her growing bump, this was the first time the public would see she was pregnant. And when the realization set in…

The arena popped.

A new wave of cheers echoed, not just for Damon, but for the moment, the reveal, the surprise. Phones were already out. Fans were snapping pictures, recording video. The man who had just dominated one of the most respected veterans in the sport was now embracing something even more personal: family.

Damon smiled the second he saw her. His hands opened, and she walked right into him.

He wrapped his arms around her, careful but firm, placing a kiss on her cheek.

"You were amazing," she said close to his ear, just for him.

He chuckled lightly, brushing a bit of sweat from his brow before resting his forehead against hers for a brief second.

No words needed to be shared right now.

It was a celebration, but it was also real. Grounded. Everything was changing.

And the whole world was watching.

Desayen smiled faintly as he stepped toward Damon. Sweat ran down the side of his face, and his breathing was heavy, but there was no bitterness in his eyes, just respect. He extended a hand and Damon met it without hesitation. They pulled into a quick embrace, then stepped back.

Desayen rested his hand on Damon's head, nodding.

"You're that guy, man," he said, his voice calm but carrying emotion. "I knew when I signed the bout agreement, it was gonna take someone special to retire me. And you, yeah, you're special."

He gave a small laugh, glancing out at the crowd before locking eyes with Damon again.

"You've got that killer instinct, but you fight with poise. It's rare. Don't ever lose that. Keep evolving, keep pushing, carry this division higher than I ever did."

Damon didn't say much, he didn't have to. He gave a respectful nod, eyes steady, absorbing every word.

Desayen then turned to Svetlana, offering a warm smile as he extended a hand.

"Congrats to both of you," he said, shaking her hand gently. "Family, now that's the real belt."

Svetlana smiled warmly, touched by the gesture.

Desayen gave one last look around, took a breath, and walked back to his corner. His coaches met him with hugs as he leaned on the cage wall, waiting for the official announcement.

The arena, still buzzing, now held its breath. Everyone knew they'd just witnessed the end of one chapter, and the rise of another.

Jon Goodman's voice returned over the broadcast, his tone slightly lower, reflective.

"What a moment we're witnessing. Damon Cross, dominant in the cage, calm outside of it. And now? We get the full picture."

Rich Alvarez followed up, excitement in his voice.

"We knew he was rising. We knew he was a problem in this division. But tonight… it's not just the performance. It's the presence. The man walked through Desayen like he was built for this. And now he's standing there with his team, soon to be a father, man, that's legacy in motion."

Marvin Duke added, "And that's what people forget, Rich. The greats evolve beyond the cage. Damon's showing us what the next generation looks like. Not just in skill, but in composure, in vision. You can feel it. That belt, it's in his crosshairs."

Inside the cage, Victor leaned in slightly, his hand tapping Damon's shoulder.

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"You know what you're gonna say?"

Damon took a deep breath, still composed, eyes scanning the buzzing crowd beyond the lights. "Yeah. I'm calling both of them out, Balim and PDD. Whoever wins that title fight… they're next."

Victor grinned, proud but unsurprised. "Good. Say it like you mean it."

Damon didn't nod.

He didn't have to.

He was going to mean it.

Deuce Baffer stepped through the cage door, mic in hand, voice already projected even before he raised it fully. The crowd's noise began to swell again, anticipation building like thunder rolling in the rafters.