NOVEL NEXT Chapter 357: Closing Curtains
Finally, the event was over, leaving fans excited and ready to talk about it for hours.
The main event had delivered as promised, with Ismael Desayen securing a decisive victory, showcasing his relentless skill set and undeniable dominance.
Desayen's hand was raised in victory, his expression stoic yet proud.
The commentators talked about what might happen to him next, and rumors of a championship fight got stronger.
He would likely be next in line for a title shot if he went that route.
Despite his undeniable performance, fans across social media and MMA forums were vocal about their skepticism.
Many questioned if Desayen truly deserved the next title shot or if someone else had a stronger claim.
Posts flooded platforms like Chirper, FightTalk forums, and MMA streams, with fans divided:
@AlecBigKok: "Desayen looked good tonight, but COME ON. The Dog Bender doesn't deserve a title shot yet. Give it to someone legit, like Balim Chemasov!
@FukYu: "Not saying Desayen's trash, but let's be real, Balim Chemasov has been destroying everyone in his path. The title shot should go to him.
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Meanwhile, Balim Chemasov's name dominated the discourse, with fans clamoring for him to get the next title opportunity.
Chemasov's undefeated record, relentless fighting style, and fearsome reputation had created a cult following.
Fans argued that his performances were far more deserving of a title shot than Desayen's.
While Desayen's victory was impressive, it lacked the same aura of dominance that Chemasov brought to every fight.
And of course, most of these were unnecessary, unreasonable hate, and bandwagoning.
The main event wasn't the only fight dominating headlines.
The co-main event, Damon Cross vs. Landon Ellan, had sparked its own storm of controversy following the announcement of Landon's injury.
The UFA released a statement detailing the severity of Landon's condition.
The impact from Damon's knee had caused a skull fracture that required emergency surgery.
According to medical reports, there had been a 40% risk of failure during the procedure, but fortunately, it had been a success.
Doctors confirmed that while Landon would recover, his future in MMA remained uncertain.
The news sent shockwaves through the MMA community, reigniting debates about the brutality of the sport.
People who already hated MMA seized the opportunity to attack it further, labeling it barbaric and inhumane.
Anti-MMA voices grew louder:
@JackMeHoff: "Another life nearly ruined for what? Entertainment? How can we keep pretending MMA is anything more than legalized assault?
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@BenOverbish: "A man's life almost ended because someone wanted a paycheck. How is this okay?
However, the fiercest arguments erupted among fans. One viral post added fuel to the fire:
> @Barry_Mcaulkiner: "What kind of human being almost ends someone's career and doesn't feel bad? Damon Cross literally said it's just a job. Didn't even apologize. Disgusting."
The post split the community down the middle.
While some agreed and criticized Damon for his perceived lack of remorse, others rallied behind him, defending his actions as part of the sport.
Supporters hit back.
@Finn_Germyas: "What should he apologize for? Winning? This is MMA, not chess. Injuries happen. If you don't like it, don't watch."
@Dill_doe96: "Damon threw a legal strike in a fight. It's not his fault Landon got hurt. You people crying about this need to grow up."
@Hugh_Jass: "Y'all really want fighters to feel bad for doing their job? Damon handled that situation with more professionalism than most of you could ever manage. "
Others, however, sided with the criticism.
@MaxwellMax: "No one's saying he shouldn't fight, but the least he could do is show some humanity. Saying it's 'just a job' was cold, especially after what happened."
@Harry_Bullsax: "This isn't about winning, it's about respect. Damon should've at least acknowledged the severity of what happened to Landon."
Everyone had an opinion, and the discourse only heightened Damon's already rising profile.
Whether loved or hated, he was undeniably the center of attention.
It was clear that some people just wanted a reason to hate.
Fighters fight, that's the nature of the sport. Injuries, even severe ones, were a harsh reality everyone in the cage accepted.
At the end of the day, it was the responsibility of the fighters; they all knew the risks involved when they stepped into the octagon.
Damon hadn't intended to break Landon's skull. The knee was a calculated move, perfectly legal and well-timed.
The hate eventually began to pass, as these things often did. The online outrage, while loud, started to fade as new fights, controversies, and news cycles took over.
Damon, as always, stuck to his routine, unfazed by the noise. He had a fight to prepare for, a career to build, and friends to support.
Amid his training, Damon had been spending more time discussing plans with Svetlana about how to help Joey.
They had settled on giving Joey a real opportunity: managing Damon's media and promotion-related responsibilities.
It was a role Joey could excel at, given his background in media studies and his knack for organization.
Damon had even run the idea past Victor. The coach didn't just approve, he offered to teach Joey a few things about working in the business side of MMA, if Joey agreed.
That reassurance made Damon genuinely happy. He understood Joey's feelings of helplessness all too well.
Joey might have been in a different situation, but Damon recognized that same lost feeling, the suffocating uncertainty of not knowing what to do or how to move forward.
It was the same feeling Damon had known in his past, back when he and his mother struggled through homelessness.
The lack of a clear plan, the sense of being stuck, it was all too familiar.
But now, Damon had the means to do something about it for someone he cared about.
Knowing he could offer Joey a way out, a path forward, filled him with a rare kind of satisfaction.
The only thing left was to tell Joey the plan.
Damon couldn't wait to see his reaction.
But with that, Damon had another important matter on his mind, taking the next step in his relationship with Svetlana.
He had the question ready, and soon, he'd ask her.