MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

Chapter 274 Next Opponent

A cute coffee shop in a quiet part of Santa Monica was where they ended up.

Although it was cool outside, the warm glow of the lights inside made a nice contrast.

Leaving his bags in the trunk, Damon followed Victor inside as the doorbell softly rang.

They picked a table by the window that offered a view to the street outside through the big glass pane.

As Victor looked at Damon, he leaned back in his chair and put his hands over his stomach. "So, tell me about your trip," he said. "How was it?"

Damon nodded, resting his hands on the table. "It was actually pretty good," he said, his tone thoughtful. "But I didn't get to explore much of the place."

Victor raised an eyebrow, tilting his head slightly. "Why not? Bangkok's an amazing city."

Damon hesitated, scratching the back of his head. "I may have been... training. A lot."

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The quiet sigh that Victor let out showed amusement and defeat on his face.

He was about to say something but stopped.

He leaned forward instead and put his elbows on the table."I see," he said simply, his tone neutral.

Damon saw the pause and could guess what Victor was thinking, but he didn't ask. He tried to change the subject by reaching for the menu. "What's good here?" he asked casually, glancing over the list.

Victor chuckled, shaking his head. "You've been gone for months, and you're asking about coffee? Get whatever you want. It's on me."

Damon smirked, looking up. "I'll take the most expensive thing they've got, then."

Victor laughed, a genuine laugh. "Yeah, you do that, big spender. Let's see if you've got millionaire tastes yet."

Victor's expression turned serious. "Speaking of money, we have to talk about your contract in the UFA. You had your last fight a while ago, and they offered you the same old contract."

Damon nodded, already aware of this. "Yeah, you told me you returned it. For a 2-fight contract, right?"

"He's ranked 15 in the division. A fighter with a big reputation already, and you, you're building your own as the rising star with six consecutive wins. This fight is perfect for both of you in terms of exposure."

Victor leaned back in his chair, his tone shifting to emphasize the importance. "The fight will take place on the next pay-per-view event, just before the co-main event. It's the third-to-last fight on the card."

It made Damon raise an eyebrow. "Wait, the next pay-per-view? In December? That's not far off. Wasn't my fight supposed to be next year?"

Victor nodded. "It was. But after we sent back their initial contract and pushed for better terms, the UFA decided to slot you in earlier. They want to test your marketability on a bigger stage."

Damon smiled and leaned back in his chair. "UFA sure loves these short-notice fights, huh?"

Victor sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Well, this one might've been our fault, with all the back-and-forth on your contract. Let's just try not to get on their bad side anymore, alright?"

Damon chuckled, pocketing the flash drive. "Noted. Guess I'll start watching tapes tonight."

Victor nodded. "Good. Study him, understand him, and then break him down in the cage. You've got this, kid."

After that, he took some crisp bills out of his pocket and put them on the table. "Come on, let's leave. Your mother must be waiting for you."

While Damon was getting up from his seat, he stopped to think about something. "Oh wait. I need your help with something."

Victor stopped mid-motion, tilting his head slightly. "Mmh? What is it?"

Damon indicated that they should sit down again. Victor raised an eyebrow, but he complied and slid back into his chair.

Damon leaned forward a little and put his elbows on the table. "Remember when you said you'd help me with financial advice?"

Victor's eyes got a little narrower, and he had a look on his face that was both lighthearted and wary. "You didn't gamble away your earnings, right?"

Damon chuckled, shaking his head. "No, nothing like that. I just need help figuring out how to grow it."

Victor leaned back in his chair, relaxing a bit. "Go on."

"I know fighting pays well, especially with how things are going for me," Damon said, rubbing the back of his neck. "But it doesn't necessarily make you wealthy, not like you. I don't want to just rely on fight money. I want to poke my head into the business side, you know? Investments, real estate... stuff like that. And maybe later, when I know what I'm doing, I can start my own business."

Victor's face changed. He went from being playful to showing quiet acceptance. He smiled, but as he talked, his voice got more serious. "I see."