MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

They walked out of the building.

Victor, ever the businessman, kept his expression neutral, but his mind was running a mile a minute. Something didn't add up.

Why the hell had Damon accepted that?

Victor had dealt with enough executives, managers, and bluffers in his time to recognize when someone had no real power. Those officials weren't forcing anything.

The fact that this meeting even took place meant they were bluffing from the start. If they really had the authority to punish Damon harshly, they would've done it outright.

This wasn't about discipline. It was about marketing.

They wanted to stretch the controversy for promotion, keep the media buzzing, ensure everyone tuned in for Damon's next fight. And what had Damon just done? Given them exactly what they wanted.

A high-profile star. A manufactured redemption arc. An apology from one of the sport's biggest rising names.

Victor glanced at Damon as they reached the car. "So what's your plan? Because I'm not dumb enough to believe you're actually gonna apologize."

Damon smirked, sliding into the passenger seat with the same ease he had in the cage. He let the question hang in the air for a second before finally answering.

"You know," he said, adjusting his cap, "I gotta say, McGyver… I see why I admired him a lot when I was starting out. That man never gave a damn. Did whatever he wanted. And because of his status, people let him."

Victor started the car, waiting for the real answer.

"And?"

Damon's smirk widened, his tone casual, almost amused. "I may say I want to be like that… but I don't want to be him. I want to be bigger than that. He was reckless. I'll be calculated."

Victor exhaled, shaking his head. "So you're not apologizing."

Damon looked out the window as they pulled onto the road, his voice low, almost laughing. "Nah. But they think I am. And that's what makes this fun."

Later that day, the media erupted once again.

An official statement had been released, headlining sports pages, MMA forums, and social media feeds alike:

"Damon Cross to Issue Public Apology After His Next Fight."

The phrasing was strategic. Not might. Not considering. But a full confirmation.

Victor couldn't help but smirk when he saw the headlines. They really ran with it.

If there had been any doubt before, this sealed it, this wasn't about sportsmanship or regulations. It was a promotional play. A calculated move to generate more views, more attention, more controversy.

And it worked.

People who didn't even care about the tournament now had a reason to tune in. The idea of a dominant, undefeated fighter being forced to humble himself? That was pure marketing gold.

The reactions on Chirper were immediate and divisive.

@MMAFairPlay: Good. Finally, some accountability in this sport. Fighters need to respect their opponents AND the fans. This isn't a circus.

@CombatTalkUK: You can be a great fighter and still have class. Cross is a phenomenal athlete, but he needs to learn humility. This is a step in the right direction.

@SportsCentral: BREAKING: Damon Cross will issue a formal apology after his next fight. What are your thoughts?

↪ @RealFightGuy: Absolutely deserved. Athletes need to set an example.

↪ @CrossEra4Life: What's he apologizing for? Winning too fast?

↪ @UFAInsider: Not gonna lie, I don't believe he's actually gonna do it lol.

The CrossEra Fans & MMA Hardcores:

@CrossNation: Damon Cross apologizing? Yeah, and pigs are gonna start flying.

@MMAThrone: If you think he's serious about this, you've never watched a Damon Cross fight before.

@KnockoutKing: The fact they think they can 'force' Damon to apologize is hilarious. If anything, he's about to make this even worse.

@BloodsportAnalyst: They just turned this into WWE-level drama, and I'm here for it.

The Trolls & Conspiracy Theorists:

@DamonCrossHater99: If Cross really had respect for the sport, he'd relinquish his tournament spot and go back to the UFA where he belongs.

@UFAConspiracy: Y'all really don't see the play here? This is just the org trying to milk views off him. Nothing about this is real.

@McGregorClone69: What if he walks out and apologizes… then knocks the next guy out in 5 seconds?

The discussion extended beyond just the usual MMA circles. Analysts debated the integrity of the sport. Former fighters weighed in on whether the punishment was fair.

Even mainstream media outlets picked up the story, capitalizing on the ongoing discourse about professionalism in combat sports.

And then, there was the CrossEra faithful, the die-hards who had no interest in seeing Damon apologize for anything.

But then there were others, ones who really didn't like the idea of Damon apologizing.

To them, it wasn't just a bad move, it was weakness.

Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire

The Hardcore Detractors:

@RealMMAFansOnly: So this is the guy y'all were hyping up? Man's folding because some suits told him to. Thought he was different.

@AlphaCombatMindset: Damon Cross was HIM until today. If you apologize to a crowd that booed you for winning, you're a damn coward.

@KnockoutOrNothing: I'd rather see him take the DQ than bend the knee. This is embarrassing.

@NoRespectClub: A real fighter doesn't beg for forgiveness. Guess he's not as cold as we thought.

Some even started making jokes, turning the whole thing into a meme.

@ChirperMMAEdits posted a photoshopped image of Damon in a suit with the caption: "I deeply regret my actions and will strive to be a better role model moving forward."

@JustBleedFan shared a clip of Damon's last fight with the caption: "Bro went from the Reaper to a customer service rep 💀."

It was clear, people wanted violence, not diplomacy.

And some fans genuinely felt betrayed.

They had backed Damon because he wasn't like the others.

While Damon hadn't been in any real controversy and wasn't a top-tier shit talker, he was a damn good and entertaining fighter, one of the best to watch.

So seeing him agree to an apology?

It felt like his first L.

But just as it stirred controversy, it also fueled anticipation.

People were ready for the event.

They wanted to see the fight.

And they wanted to see what would happen after the fight.