MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

Chapter 346 Finally!! (Happy new year!!)

"Come on, let's do it again," Damon urged, his voice firm yet encouraging. "You need to work on your takedown defense. Keep your base strong, lower your center of gravity, and don't overcommit to the sprawl."

Edward exhaled heavily, wiping the sweat from his brow. "I see, man, okay. But maybe I'm failing because it's you who's doing the takedowns."

Damon chuckled, patting Edward on the back. "Maybe," he admitted with a grin. "But you should still be able to stuff some of my takedowns. I might be good, but I'm not perfect."

And he wasn't lying. Damon's skills were polished, but they weren't untouchable.

What he didn't say aloud, however, was the part his system played in his abilities.

His Muay Thai was fully maxed out at five stars, and his wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu were both sitting at four stars, with his BJJ steadily climbing toward four and a half.

Damon knew that his grappling game, while formidable, wasn't on the level of some of the elite wrestlers in MMA just yet.

If he had to gauge himself, he believed he could hold his own against someone like Camuri Asmen, if Asmen was competing at middleweight instead of welterweight.

Simulations let Damon see how well he could match up with Asmen's ground game.

The fights were always close, like a chess game of strength, skill, and stamina.

They were equals on the mat, which showed how far Damon had come.

But he knew there was still room for improvement even in those made-up matches.

Then there was Balim Chemasov. The man was a different beast entirely.

Damon knew his current skill set wasn't enough to surpass someone like Chemasov in a grappling-heavy fight.

Close? Maybe. But to dominate, to excel, Damon felt he needed more refinement.

Once his wrestling reached four and a half stars, maybe even beyond, that's when he believed he could stand on equal footing with Chemasov.

For now, though, his focus remained on sharpening his tools.

"Alright," Damon said, clapping his hands together. "One more round. This time, anticipate my level change. React fast but don't overextend yourself."

Edward nodded, determination flickering in his eyes. "Alright, let's go. I'm stuffing this one, I promise."

Damon smiled as they reset.

Growth wasn't immediate, but with time and relentless effort, even the gaps between him and the elite could be bridged.

Recently, Damon had been immersed in his own training, pushing himself to new limits.

"Close, but not quite," Damon said, extending a hand to help Edward up. "You've got the sprawl down, but you've got to be ready for transitions. A good wrestler doesn't stop at the first attempt."

Edward shook his head, a grudging smile creeping onto his face. "You're a menace, man. It's like trying to stop a freight train."

Damon chuckled. "You're getting there. Just keep working at it. One day, you'll stuff even my takedowns."

Edward rolled his eyes. "Yeah, we'll see about that."

Despite the loss in the drill, Edward felt motivated.

As the sound of their feet moving across the mats and the steady rhythm of training filled the gym, a familiar voice broke through the noise.

"Alright, boys. Training going well?"

Both Damon and Edward turned toward the entrance, where Victor stood, with a grin on his face.

Edward wiped the sweat off his forehead and smirked. "What's up, boss? You've got that look, what's the news?"

Victor strolled over, holding a clipboard and a folder tucked under his arm.

He nodded toward Edward first. "Alright, Ed, I've got good news for you. You've got a match coming up."

Edward raised an eyebrow, intrigued. Victor handed him a folder. "Take a look, let me know if you want to go through with it. It's a decent opponent, they're still trying to gauge where you're at, but I'm confident you'll take this one."

Edward opened the folder and started flipping through the details, his expression thoughtful.

Victor then turned his attention to Damon, his grin widening. "And you," he said, his tone carrying more weight. "I know you've been itching for a real challenge. Something that'll put you closer to where you want to be."

Damon straightened up, his eyes lighting up with anticipation. "Yeah?"

Victor nodded, his grin now bordering on mischievous. "Seems like the MMA gods have smiled on you, kid. You've got a top-ranked opponent lined up. And the best part?"

He paused for effect, clearly enjoying Damon's excitement. "It's not on short notice. You've got time to prepare."

Damon's smile stretched wide, his face lighting up like a kid who'd just unwrapped the perfect Christmas present. "You're serious?"

Victor chuckled at Damon's reaction, patting him on the shoulder. "Dead serious. This is the opportunity you've been waiting for. Let's make it count."

Edward glanced up from his folder, smirking at Damon's excitement. "Looks like Christmas came early for you, huh?"

Damon grinned back at him. "Damn right. Let's go!"

Victor clapped his hands together. "Alright, finish up your session, then hit the showers. Damon, we'll go over the details afterward. Edward, let me know your decision by the end of the day."