MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

The room was small, but it was well lit and had a relaxed, comfortable feel to it.

Behind the host's desk, a big neon sign that said "Fight Talk Weekly" lit up.

There were pictures of famous fights and MMA memorabilia on a shelf next to it.

A few cameras were set up so that they could see the host, who was sitting behind a sleek black desk with a microphone pointing at him.

His name was Daniel Blake, a former fighter turned media personality with a reputation for being approachable but not afraid to ask tough questions.

Daniel adjusted his headset and tapped his microphone to test the audio. "Alright, we're live in five, four…" The countdown ended silently as the red recording light blinked on.

He leaned forward, flashing a charismatic smile into the main camera. "What's up, Fight Fans! Welcome back to Fight Talk Weekly, your go-to podcast for everything MMA, from the hottest matchups to behind-the-scenes stories you won't hear anywhere else."

He gestured toward the neon sign behind him. "Today, we've got a special guest. You've seen him dominate in the octagon, climbing the ranks with some of the most electrifying performances in recent memory. But before we bring him on, let me just drop a quick reminder, our new Fight Talk Weekly merch drops next week. Hoodies, tees, caps, you name it, we've got it. So stay tuned, because you're gonna want to cop this gear."

Daniel leaned back, his grin widening. "But enough about me. Let's get to it. Without further ado, please welcome our guest today, a fighter who's undefeated, 9-0, and quickly becoming one of the most talked-about names in MMA… Damon Cross!"

It cut to the doorway as the sound of footsteps echoed.

Damon showed up in pants and a black shirt that fit him well.

He looked casual but put together.

Daniel stood up to meet him when he put out his hand.

"Damon, welcome to Fight Talk Weekly! Thanks for coming on," Daniel said, shaking his hand firmly.

"Thanks for having me," Damon replied, taking a seat opposite the host.

As the cameras zoomed in, the mood in the room changed a little, and the conversation started.

Daniel leaned forward, smiling warmly at Damon. "So, Damon, how are you feeling today?"

Damon adjusted slightly in his chair, glancing around the room. "I'm feeling good, you know. This is all pretty new to me, though."

Daniel raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "New as in… this is your first podcast?"

Damon nodded. "Yeah, first one ever. I've never really done this kind of thing before."

Daniel chuckled. "Well, we'll try to make it a good experience for you. No tough questions… yet." He grinned, clearly teasing. "But really, this is just a casual chat. I promise we'll treat you well."

Damon smirked. "Alright, sounds good." He relaxed a bit, leaning back in his chair as the conversation officially began.

"To start things off," Daniel said, leaning in slightly, "I have a question I think everyone wants to know. I mean, you rose up pretty fast in the UFA. Came through the rebooted Supreme Fighter, won the whole thing, then climbed the rankings like a rocket and now sit at number eleven. To sum it up, we want to know, who is Damon Cross, in and out of the cage?"

Damon chuckled softly, scratching the back of his head. "Who I am? That's a big question to kick things off with."

Daniel grinned. "We like to start strong."

Damon nodded, his smile fading into a more thoughtful expression. "In the cage, I guess I'm just a fighter. Focused, disciplined, always looking for ways to evolve. I'm not really about the trash talk or theatrics. For me, it's all about the competition, about testing myself against the best and seeing where I stand."

He paused for a moment, then added, "Outside the cage, though… I'm just a guy trying to figure things out like everyone else. "

Daniel leaned forward and clasped his hands together with a smile. "That's great to hear, Damon. But let me steer this in a slightly different direction, relationships."

Damon raised an eyebrow, his grin faintly amused. "Alright, go on."

Daniel chuckled. "So, during your fight against Calvin Oland, there was a moment caught on camera. Right before you walked out, there was this girl standing near the tunnel. She looked pretty invested. Fans have been asking… was that someone special? Or am I stirring the pot here?"

Damon leaned back slightly, his expression thoughtful as he rubbed his chin. "Ah, I know what you're talking about.."

"mmh?" Daniel repeated, his tone curious. "Care to elaborate? A friend? A… special friend?"

Damon smiled faintly, his tone steady and respectful. "She's someone very important to me. We've been through a lot together. She's… family. Victor, my coach, is her father, so we've all been close for a long time."

Daniel nodded, leaning in a little. "Gotcha, gotcha. So, no drama or headlines for the fans to run with here?"

Damon chuckled, shaking his head. "No drama. She's just someone I care about a lot. And I'm lucky to have her support."

Daniel leaned back in his chair, clasping his hands casually as he began to speak. "Okay, enough of the scoops and all that. Let's get into fighting, right?"

Damon nodded, leaning slightly forward, intrigued by the shift in tone.

"If you don't know," Daniel continued, "I was actually an MMA fighter myself."

Damon raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. "UFA?"

Daniel chuckled, shaking his head. "No, no. Unfortunately, I never got there. Before I could even try, I had to retire. Life happens, you know? But honestly, it was the best decision I ever made. I've got a baby boy at home now, so… yeah. No regrets."

A brief moment of quiet passed between them, Damon offering a faint smile in understanding.
Your adventure continues at empire

"But back to what I was saying," Daniel said, steering the conversation. "I'm curious, what got you into fighting? What made you start training? How did it all begin?"

Damon paused for a moment, his expression softening. "That's a loaded question," he said with a small laugh. "But I guess, for me, it started as survival."

Daniel's smile faded slightly, his tone more serious. "Survival?"

Damon nodded. "Yeah. Growing up wasn't exactly easy. My mom and I… we went through a lot. Fighting was never about glory or fame at first. It was just something I needed to do. At first, it was literally just about making it through the day."

He took a deep breath, leaning back in his chair. "But then, as I got older, it became more than that. It turned into a way to protect myself, to take control of something when everything else felt out of control. And eventually, it grew into something I loved, something I could focus on and build toward."

Daniel nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "That's heavy, man. But also inspiring. Turning something out of necessity into a passion, it's not something everyone can do."

Damon shrugged. "I just kept moving forward. There wasn't another option, really."

For a moment, the room was filled with quiet respect as Damon's words hung over the talk.

Daniel broke the silence, his tone lighter. "Well, I'd say it worked out for you. Number eleven in the world? That's not too shabby for someone who started with survival in mind."

Damon smiled, a hint of gratitude flashing in his eyes. "Yeah, I'd say so."