MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

Once Damon finished reading the post, he furrowed his brows and looked at Victor, confusion written all over his face. "Who posted this?"

Victor leaned back, arms crossed, gesturing toward the top of the post. "Look at the name."

Damon shifted his gaze back to the screen and read the name aloud. "Ismael Desayen... Wait." His eyes narrowed as he processed the rest. "He's retiring?"

Victor nodded, his expression unreadable. "Seems like it."

Damon sat back in his chair, shaking his head slightly. "Man, Ismael Desayen.. retiring? And he wants me?"

Victor chuckled lightly. "Not just wants you, he's making you his swan song. That's a big deal, kid."

"But why?" Damon asked, frowning as he set the phone down. "I mean, he's still a contender. If he beats one of the guys up there, he's back in the title picture."

Victor shook his head, taking a sip of his coffee before leaning forward. "While I don't know his reasons, I think retiring can sometimes be the right move. Some fighters never know when to leave the octagon, and it ends up hurting them—their record, their legacy. They stick around too long and become stepping stones for others. That's not the way you want to go out."

Damon mulled over Victor's words, nodding slightly. "Yeah, I get that. But still... me? Why would he pick me?"

Victor smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Because you're making noise, Damon. You've got something he respects. Maybe he wants to test himself against that before he steps away for good."

Victor placed his coffee cup on the table.

His voice dropped slightly, as if he was sharing something Damon needed to understand. "Look at it this way, kid. Would you want to go out fighting the best, or the worst? Even worse, someone average? Think about it. If he beats you, he propels his legacy even further, even when he's done. People will always talk about how he beat the future champion before retiring. It cements him as one of the greats."

Damon raised an eyebrow but didn't interrupt. Victor wasn't done yet.

"And if you win," Victor continued, his tone sharpening, "there's no shame in that loss for him. You're already making waves. People know you're on the path to becoming something great. It's a win-win for him. Either he gets remembered for stopping the next big thing on his way out, or he loses to a fighter everyone knows is destined for greatness."

Damon exhaled, leaning back in his chair, letting the words settle. "So, no matter what, it's about legacy for him."

Victor nodded. "Exactly. This isn't just a fight for him, it's his story's final chapter. And he's picked you because he thinks you're worthy of being in it."

Victor leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on Damon. "And in my opinion," he said, his tone deliberate, "I think he'll be a good test for you. Desayen is one of the best, if not the greatest striker and fighter in the middleweight division and the UFA overall."

Damon looked down at his coffee, letting the words sink in, but Victor wasn't finished.

"You have great and amazing striking, hell, maybe even better than his, but what you lack the most is experience. And that's what he has in spades. Your last fight against Jon? That was a lesson in exactly that."

Damon raised an eyebrow, not entirely sure where Victor was going.

"You were better everywhere," Victor continued, "faster, sharper, more technical. But Jon still gave you trouble. Why? Because he's been in those wars. He's seen things you haven't yet. Experience levels the playing field."

Victor looked at him, his gaze unwavering. "And that's why I think this fight is good for you. It's not just about proving yourself, it's about learning. If you take this fight, after the fight, you'll walk away a better fighter."

Victor smiled faintly, leaning back in his chair again. "And to add some plus, when you come back to fight, you're in line for the title. Beating Desayen will cement it. No one, not even the critics, will be able to say otherwise."

Damon nodded slowly, swirling the remaining coffee in his cup. "So… it's not just a fight, it's an opportunity."

"Exactly," Victor said. "Think about it, but don't overthink it. The right answer will come to you when you're ready."

The two sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the conversation settling between them.

Damon finished the last of his coffee and set the cup down. He looked out the window, watching as a few cars rolled by the hotel.

"Victor," Damon began, his tone quieter now, almost hesitant. "There's something else I've been meaning to talk about." Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire

Victor straightened up slightly, his expression curious but patient. "Go on."

Damon sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's about my father."

Victor's brows furrowed, and he nodded for Damon to continue.

"He passed," Damon said bluntly, though there was no emotion in his voice. "I got the news a while back, but… I didn't feel anything. I mean, nothing good, nothing bad. Just… nothing."

Victor stayed silent, letting Damon find his words.

"But the thing is," Damon continued, "I don't know how my mom's going to take it. They didn't have the best relationship. Hell, it was downright toxic. But even with all that, I don't know if she's going to feel relief or sadness. And I guess…" He trailed off, struggling to articulate the thought.

"You don't know how to handle her reaction," Victor said, finishing the thought for him.

"Yeah," Damon admitted. "I feel like I should be there for her, no matter how she feels. But at the same time… it's hard to reconcile all the shit he did. How do I comfort someone when I'm not even sure I can forgive the guy myself?"

Victor leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Damon, this is one of those moments where there's no right or wrong answer. Your mom? She's going to feel what she feels. And you… you're going to feel what you feel. It doesn't have to make sense. You don't have to have it all figured out."

Damon stared at the table, his jaw tightening. "But I want to. I want to be there for her, but I don't know how."

"You'll find a way," Victor said gently. "And if you don't have the words, just being there will mean more than you think. You don't have to fix it, Damon. Sometimes, just showing up is enough."

Damon let out a deep breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "Yeah… maybe you're right."

Victor smiled faintly. "I usually am."

Victor leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. He added, "She might not even feel the same way you're expecting. People are complicated, Damon. Your mom might surprise you. She might feel relief, or sadness, or nothing at all. But you'll never know until you tell her. Just let her know, and see how she feels."

Damon nodded slowly, processing Victor's words. "Yeah… I guess that's the only way to handle it. Just rip the band-aid off and go from there."

Victor gave him a reassuring smile. "Exactly. You don't have to overthink it. She's your mom, Damon. Whatever she feels, you'll work through it together. That's what matters."