MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

"This is an interesting one to start with," the commentator's(rick) voice echoed in the quiet atmosphere of the UFA Extreme venue. Explore stories on empire

The small arena didn't have the loud crowds that are common at bigger UFA matches.

Instead, it had a personal feel, with staff, team members, and a few invited guests spread out.

The muted hum of conversation filled the air as the first fight of the night prepared to begin.

"We kick off the night with a fighter debuting from the Ronen Black Contender Series, Edward Whittaker," Rick continued.

"Edward has made a name for himself as a clinical knockout specialist," his co-commentator, Michael added, "and there's another layer to tonight's story, he's been a key figure in Damon Cross's corner, and now we see the roles reversed. Damon Cross, the man headlining tonight's main card, is in Edward's corner for this one."

"That's an interesting dynamic," Rick noted. "And speaking of Damon Cross, he's received quite a bit of criticism for stepping into this fight on short notice. What do you make of it?"

"Wreckless," Michael bluntly. "Stupid, even. But most of all? Hungry. And we all know what fighters can do when they're hungry. We've seen it before. from legends like Collin McGyver and others. Hunger makes you dangerous. It's a risk, sure, but it's also an opportunity to make a statement."

The camera cut to Edward Whittaker as he was warming up. His quick moves and focused face showed how hard he had worked to get here.

Behind him, Damon stood with his arms crossed and a calm expression on his face.

He watched Edward and would sometimes whisper a word of advice.

The atmosphere was different from the usual high-energy UFA events, but the stakes felt just as high.

For Edward, this was the beginning of his journey.

For Damon, while the stakes were the same, they didn't hit as hard.

Nothing could match the thrill and anxiety of your first fight, so he understood exactly how much this moment meant to Edward.

Being signed to the UFA was life-changing. The first paycheck would help Edward support his family and lighten the load on his father's shoulders.

Damon could see the determination in Edward's eyes, the same fire he once had.

But now wasn't the time for sentimentality, it was time to focus.

Damon placed a steady hand on Edward's shoulder. "You know the plan."

Edward nodded, his jaw tight with concentration.

"Keep your distance," Damon began, his tone calm but firm. "Use your range, work the jab, and set up those low kicks. Don't overcommit early, make him reach for you."

Edward listened intently, nodding as Damon continued.

"If he shoots, sprawl hard and circle out. Don't let him pin you against the cage. Keep moving, keep striking, and punish him every time he misses."

Victor, standing a few feet away, was busy on the phone, likely handling somethings.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how you looked at it, both Damon and Edward had drawn grapplers as opponents tonight.

While Damon had committed to testing himself in his opponent's realm, Edward's strategy was clear: keep the fight standing at all costs.

Edward was a pure kickboxer with excellent defensive instincts.

His striking was his strongest weapon, and Damon had drilled him on how to maintain control of the fight.

The goal was simple, frustrate the grappler by denying takedowns and capitalize on mistakes with fast counters.

"You've got this," Damon said, meeting Edward's gaze. "Fight smart, stay patient, and make him fight your fight."

As Edward let out a big breath, his nerves calmed as the plan became clearer in his mind.

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With his microphone in hand, Deuce Baffer stood tall in the middle of the cage as the lights went out and a bright light shone on him.

His loud voice filled the small room and got everyone's attention.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are LIVE from the UFA Extreme Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada! This is the opening bout of the evening, and it's brought to you by the United Fighting Alliance!"

The small crowd of staff and invited guests clapped and cheered, adding to the atmosphere.

"Introducing first, fighting out of the blue corner! This man is a mixed martial artist making his UFA debut. standing 5 feet, 11 inches tall, weighing in at 155 pounds, with a professional record of 5 wins and 1 loss, fighting out of Stockton, California , Edward Whittaker!"

As Edward raised his hand and nodded, there was quiet applause from both the crowd and his corner.

The moment felt both personal and important.

"And his opponent, fighting out of the red corner! This man is a mixed martial artist with a professional record of 8 wins, 3 losses, standing 5 feet, 9 inches tall, weighing in at 155 pounds, fighting out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Luis 'El Raptor' Ortega!"

Luis stepped forward, bouncing on his feet, eyes locked on Edward as Deuce continued.

"When the action begins, your referee in charge: Hank Binn!"

Deuce lowered his mic and stepped back, signaling for the referee to take over.

The fighters moved forward to the center of the cage, ready for Hank's final instructions.

The energy in the room shifted, it was time to fight.

Hank Binn, the referee, walked to the middle of the cage and looked between the two fighters.

Deuce Baffer then carefully slid his arm under Hank's to hold the microphone in place.

"Alright, gentlemen," Hank began, his voice authoritative, "we've been over the rules in the back. Protect yourselves at all times. Obey my commands at all times. This is a clean fight, no strikes to the back of the head, no knees to a grounded opponent. If I say stop, you stop. Understood?"

Both fighters nodded, their eyes locked on each other, the intensity rising.

"Touch gloves if you want to," Hank added, stepping back slightly to give them space.

Edward extended his gloves forward confidently, and after a short pause, Luis tapped them lightly. There was a short but real sense of respect.

"Alright, back to your corners. Let's get it on!" Hank barked, signaling the fighters to prepare.

As usual, Deuce took a step back and walked out of the cage just as everyone was getting ready. The fight was about to start.