MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

"You're fighting again? So soon? Are they forcing you?"

"No, Mom," Damon said, his voice calm but firm. "I agreed to fight."

He sat across from his mother with his hands together, watching to see how she would react.

The living room felt heavier than normal, and her sadness was clear on her face.

Damon sighed, leaning back against the couch. He had wrestled with the decision to tell her, knowing how she'd react, but hiding it wasn't an option.

Damon never liked keeping things from her, especially when he knew she'd find out eventually.

So, he'd gathered his courage and told her about the short-notice fight.

And just as he had expected, she didn't take it well.

"You just fought, Damon," Aoife said, her tone soft but filled with concern. "Your body needs time to recover. You can't keep pushing yourself like this."

"I know, but this is an opportunity I couldn't pass up."

"An opportunity for what? To get hurt?" She shook her head, frustration evident. "You've already proven yourself, haven't you? Why not take a break?"

Damon sighed again, rubbing the back of his neck. "Mom, I hear you. I really do. But this is how the game works. If I want to climb the ranks, I have to keep fighting, keep showing up when others can't."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Aoife stared at him for a long moment, her lips pressing into a thin line. "You don't have to prove anything to anyone, Damon."

"It's not about that," he said, meeting her gaze. "This is about building my career, about getting to the top. The faster I rise, the better opportunities I'll have. It's not just about this fight, it's about what comes after."

Even though her fear didn't go away, his mother's shoulders relaxed a little.

"And what about your health? You've been through enough, Damon. I just don't want you to push yourself too far."

He smiled faintly, reaching across the table to take her hand. "I'm taking care of myself, I promise. I wouldn't take this fight if I didn't think I could handle it."

Aoife let out a deep breath, squeezing his hand. "I just don't want to see you hurt, Damon. You've come so far."

"I'll be fine," he reassured her. "I've got Victor, the team, and… I've got you. I'm not doing this alone."

Though reluctant, Aoife nodded. "Alright, but you better come back in one piece."

Damon chuckled softly, the tension in the room easing. "Always."

Despite her concern, Aoife knew Damon's resolve was unshakable. All she could do now was trust him.

Damon took a deep breath. That was easier than he had expected.

He had braced himself for a more heated disagreement, but it seemed his mother's trust in Victor played a bigger role than he anticipated.

If Victor allowed it, then it had to be safe, or so she believed.

For a moment, Damon considered mentioning his plans to move out, but he quickly discarded the thought.

He didn't want to ruin the relatively calm mood or bring any unnecessary tension to the conversation.

Besides, he wasn't even sure if he was ready to leave yet.

Right now, the thought of abandoning his mother didn't sit well with him.

Stretching out on the sofa, Damon casually shifted the topic. "Mom, I'm thinking of buying a car. You know, for travel and stuff."

Aoife's face lit up instantly. "Oh, you should! It's about time you had your own. I'm sure Lana would appreciate being picked up by you on your dates."

Damon cleared his throat, feeling a slight heat rise to his face. "So… uh, what are we watching?"

Aoife smirked knowingly, but she didn't push further. "A crime drama. But I'll warn you, it's a bit slow at first."

Damon smiled and nodded, glad that the topic had changed. When they got comfortable to watch the show, he felt better being here with his mom.

.

.

The days seemed to blur together, passing quicker than Damon expected.

His schedule was simple but consistent: he trained all day, spent the nights with his mother, and then went to sleep. Rinse and repeat.

Most of his friends were occupied with their own lives.

Ashley and Joey, while still dealing with their situation, seemed to be doing better based on the occasional calls Damon had with Joey.

From what he heard, they were planning to start coming back to the gym soon.

Ty, on the other hand, had been absent since he left for the wrestling gym.

Damon hadn't seen him in weeks, and without their usual group gatherings, it was hard to connect.

Ash was in a different predicament. "My parents are trying to groom me," he had said during a brief phone call. "They want me to follow their footsteps. plicated."

The situation left Ash unable to show up at the gym, leaving Damon without much of his old circle around.

Then there was Svetlana. While they still talked at night, they hadn't met in person for a while.

She mentioned spending more time with her mother and considering entering the family business.

It was a big decision for her, one Damon respected, even if it meant they had less time together.

That left the gym as the only constant in Damon's life.

His only regular companion there was Edward, who was gearing up for his own UFA debut on the same card as Damon.

Despite the lack of friends around, Damon threw himself into his training.

With his fight against Jake Armansson looming closer, he focused on every detail, ensuring he was as prepared as possible.

But in the back of his mind, he couldn't shake the growing sense of isolation, even as he pushed forward.

He hoped things would calm down soon, that they could all come together like they used to, those carefree days where they'd chill and laugh without a care in the world.

But, honestly, Damon knew everyone had their own lives to figure out now.

Joey and Ashley were about to step into a whole new chapter.

They had to navigate becoming parents, building a home if that was what they truly wanted.

Damon couldn't imagine the kind of pressure they must be feeling, but he hoped they'd find their way.

Ty was laser-focused on his wrestling career, pushing himself to compete at the highest levels.

Damon was proud of him for finding something to dedicate himself to, something he could truly own.

Ash and Svetlana were in similar situations. Both had trained extensively in the gym, but neither had ever expressed a desire to fight competitively.

Following in their families' footsteps seemed like the logical path for them, and Damon couldn't fault them for it.

Everyone was growing up, finding their own lanes.

And as much as Damon tried to focus on his own path, he couldn't shake the feeling that the group was slowly drifting apart.

Life was moving them in different directions, and while he understood it, it didn't make it any easier to accept.