MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

It was morning, and the warm sun was shining through the window.

It made soft designs on the walls.

Damon moved a little, feeling the weight on his chest and a light tickle on his face.

He slowly opened his eyes to adjust to the light.

Blond strands of hair brushed against his cheek, and he smiled faintly as the realization settled in.

And Svetlana was curled up next to him, her head laying on his chest.

She was breathing slowly and steadily.

His mind was on not disturbing her as he carefully moved the strands away from his face.

But as he shifted, Svetlana stirred, her head tilting slightly as her eyes blinked open.

For a moment, she seemed disoriented, then her gaze met his, and a small, sleepy smile spread across her face.

"Morning," she mumbled, her voice soft and warm.

"Morning," Damon replied, his voice low, a mix of contentment and calm.

Svetlana shifted slightly, resting her chin on his chest as she studied his face. "You're always up early. Didn't expect you to still be here."

He chuckled softly, his hand brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Figured I'd let myself have a slow start for once."

She smiled, closing her eyes briefly before opening them again. "Not bad, right? Taking it easy."

"Not bad at all," Damon said, his voice steady.

Svetlana propped herself up slightly, her hand resting on his shoulder as she looked down at him. "You know, you're not as scary as people think. You've got this soft side, Cross."

He raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Don't let that get out. Gotta maintain my image."

She laughed lightly, leaning down to kiss him on the cheek. "Your secret's safe with me."

They took a moment to enjoy the moment. The morning's peace and quiet were like a blanket around them.

For the past six months, Damon's life had been amazing in ways he couldn't fully put into words.

It was like a door had opened to a side of life he had never truly let himself experience before.

It felt so much like life now, even without fighting being at the center of it.

At one point, Damon had thought that fighting was the only thing capable of making him feel certain emotions, the rush, the drive, the purpose.

But, as it turned out, he had been so wrong. Fighting wasn't everything.

He wouldn't go too deep into the why or how of it right now, but the thought lingered in his mind.

His relationship with the woman lying beside him, this incredible and beautiful woman, Svetlana, had been flourishing in ways he didn't know were possible.

Moving in together had been the best decision he could've made, and every day since had felt like it was meant to be.

But it wasn't just his relationship that had been going well.

There were other parts of his life, the lives of those closest to him, that made him feel like he was on the right path.

Joey and Ashley, for instance.

Ashley had gone into labor just a few months ago and delivered a beautiful baby boy.

The birth had been a moment of celebration for everyone in their friend group, a moment that brought them all even closer.

The name? Well, that had been decided quickly, but what came after was a bit of a surprise.

Joey and Ashley had declared everyone in the group as the baby's godparents. Damon couldn't help but chuckle when he thought about it.

Was that even possible.

But for more.

Damon's popularity in the UFA wasn't just skyrocketing because of his relentless winning streak or the way he fought like an unstoppable force in the cage.

A huge part of it came down to the behind-the-scenes work Joey was putting in.

Joey had turned out to be a natural at public relations.

One of his first moves? Fixing Damon's almost nonexistent media presence.

Before, Damon didn't have any public social media accounts.

He had always seen them as unnecessary distractions.

But Joey had convinced him otherwise, helping set up a public account and curating it with a perfect mix of fight highlights, training clips, and moments from Damon's personal life.

The difference it made was massive.

Damon's fan base grew exponentially.

The posts Joey handled made him seem more accessible, more human, while still showcasing the beastly, disciplined fighter that fans loved to watch.

Suddenly, he wasn't just "Damon Cross, the fighter." He was "Damon Cross, the phenomenon."

And with that growing fame came sponsors. Lots of them.

Companies were reaching out left and right, hoping to attach their brand to his meteoric rise.

It was a far cry from where Damon had started.

Now, he was fielding offers that came with more zeroes than he'd ever seen.

Of course, UFA fighters couldn't wear other apparel during fights, as per the organization's strict sponsorship deals.

But outside the cage? Personal sponsors were fair game.

And Damon's social media presence, coupled with his undefeated record, made him a marketer's dream.
Enjoy new adventures from empire

Joey wasn't just handling the promotional side either, he was organizing Damon's appearances on podcasts, interviews, and even commercials.

These weren't things Damon would have naturally gravitated toward on his own, but Joey had a knack for convincing him to step out of his comfort zone.

Podcasts and interviews were becoming a regular part of Damon's schedule.

He'd gone from being a reserved, no-nonsense fighter to someone fans could relate to on a personal level.

Damon's authenticity and grounded personality shone through in every interaction, and fans loved him for it.

Then there were the commercials, something Damon never thought he'd find himself doing.

It started with a small deal, promoting fitness gear, and snowballed into bigger opportunities.

Joey handled it all, making sure every deal was legitimate and aligned with Damon's image.

The money flowing in from those sponsors wasn't just good, it was life-changing.

Damon was starting to realize just how much potential he had not only as a fighter but as a brand.

And he had Joey to thank for helping him tap into that.

Working with his best friend, Joey, was a breath of fresh air.

Their dynamic made the grind not only manageable but genuinely fun.

Joey's enthusiasm and creativity brought a new energy to everything they did, and most importantly, there was no unnecessary drama, just two people who trusted each other and worked toward a shared goal.