MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat-Chapter 854: First Night ((1))

The event finally began, and the arena carried the kind of energy that only history-making cards had.

Both UNO and UFA had built this up for months, and now every seat was filled. Cameras hovered above the cage, commentators talked nonstop, and fans from every region tuned in.

The schedule had changed more than once, but the final structure was set.

Originally, Night 1 was supposed to hold the Flyweight, Bantamweight, Featherweight, and Lightweight title matches. Night 2 was meant for Welterweight, Middleweight, Light Heavyweight, and Heavyweight.

But Damon's situation forced the promotions to adjust.

Since he had to fight twice, they swapped Lightweight and Middleweight, placing Damon's first bout on Night 1 instead of Night 2. It put him in a situation no other champion was dealing with, but the companies believed the change made the event stronger.

The night opened with several crossover matches, high-level fighters from UNO and UFA facing off without belts on the line. Even without titles, the skill on display was obvious.

UNO strikers showed their sharp technique and fast kicks.

UFA wrestlers brought pressure and cage control.

Submission specialists from both sides traded positions in scrambles that made the crowd scream.

Each matchup had a different style clash, but all of them had the same goal: prove their organization produced the better fighters.

These early fights set the tone.

The first championship match sent the crowd into a frenzy. The opening round was slow, with both champions feeling each other out and testing reactions.

But the pace shifted in the second. The UFA champion kept taking the UNO champion down again and again. Every time UNO tried to adjust, UFA found another angle, another entry. On the feet they were almost even, but the wrestling edge was clear.

When the fight ended, the judges gave it to UFA.

The Bantamweight title match followed the same pattern. It went to another decision, but it was far more chaotic. The UFA champion, a fighter known for endless stamina, kept pushing forward and forced a pace the UNO champion struggled to match.

Even so, UNO came close more than once. There were moments where the UFA champ was rocked, where a single step back could have ended the fight. The crowd gasped every time UNO threw a clean counter or landed a heavy combination.

But by the final horn, UFA had pulled ahead again.

Two title fights down.

Two wins for UFA.

That left two matches for the night, and the energy in the arena kept rising.

The Featherweight fight had a massive spotlight on it. Both organizations were sending in young champions, and both had built reputations as rising monsters in their divisions. Fans debated for weeks about who would win, and now the moment had finally come.

The fight started slow, much like the others, but it didn't stay that way. The pace exploded by the end of the first round.

Both champions stood their ground and traded. Every strike echoed in the arena. The exchanges grew sharper with each minute, and neither of them backed down.

The crowd got louder with every clean shot.

Then it happened.

The UNO champion timed a perfect step-in and snapped a vicious head kick across UFA's jaw. The young UFA star dropped instantly, out the moment he hit the mat. The Asian fans erupted in a wave of noise that shook the entire venue.

UNO finally got their first win of the night.

And now, with Damon's division next on the schedule, the tension reached another level.

The score was now 2–1 for UFA.

Most fans believed it would soon become 3–1. Many of them expected Damon to secure another win for his side without struggle.

Shenil Ardigon made his entrance first. He walked out looking confident, composed, and in great shape. His warm-ups were fast, and the way he moved showed he had prepared seriously. He stepped into the cage and paced slowly, eyes fixed on the tunnel. The crowd gave him a respectful cheer, but the energy felt calm.

That calm shattered the moment the lights changed again.

Damon's walkout music hit, a heavy hip-hop track performed by the infamous rapper Smoke Dog. The bass shook the arena instantly, and the crowd erupted in a roar. People stood. Some jumped. Others held their phones up as if they were capturing history.

The noise swallowed everything else.

"And there he is, folks," the English commentator said as Damon stepped into the tunnel.

"I mean, look at this place! Despite how important this entire event is, he's still the spotlight."

"How could he not be?" the second commentator added. "He's fighting twice in this event. That alone is insane. Modern-day gladiator right there."

"The two-time World Cup MMA Champion… Damon Cross."

Damon walked forward with his usual calm posture, gloves on, head slightly lowered, shoulders loose. The crowd pushed their cheers even higher as he reached the ramp. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

He stepped out fully and the cameras caught every detail, the focus in his eyes, the relaxed stride, the way he carried himself like someone who had done this a thousand times before.

Svetlana watched from her seat with her hands clasped together. Victor and Joey stood behind the barrier near the tunnel, following every step. Fans on both sides of the world were screaming, chanting his name.

"This man is a superstar," the commentator continued as Damon walked towards the cage. "He has transcended the star power of Collin NcGyver. And in terms of legacy, he's already surpassed names like James Jonas, the Eagle, and many others."

The co-host let out a short laugh. "Nick, you might as well be a poet with those words."

Nick didn't back down. "I'm serious. To watch him is an honor. Fighters like him don't come around often. Two-division champion, two-time World Cup winner, and now he's stepping into a two-fight event. That's not normal. That's special."

The crowd kept roaring as Damon approached the cage door. Flashlights popped from every direction. Some fans reached out their hands, trying to touch him for even a second.

He entered the cage, shook out his arms once, and looked across at Shenil.

The entire arena felt like it was waiting to explode again.