MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat - Chapter 452

Chapter 452: Chapter 452: Time Before Battle Chapter 452: Chapter 452: Time Before Battle It was once again fight night.

There was never a break in this event; there was always a fight going on.

Damon didn’t mind that it was war time.

Back in the locker room, Svetlana was carefully wrapping his hands, insisting on doing it herself despite there being plenty of others who could.

She had taken her time, making sure it was perfect, as if this was something sacred to her.

Damon watched her, amused by her focus.

Then, just to mess with her, he winced dramatically.

“Ouch.” Svetlana’s eyes snapped up, concern flashing across her face.

“Did I-?” But when she saw his smirk, she instantly realized he was messing with her.

With an exasperated huff, she smacked his chest.

The moment she did, the wrap unraveled slightly.

She glanced at it, sighed, and shook her head.

“Look what you made me do.” Damon chuckled.

“It’s fine.

But are you?” Svetlana began rewrapping his hands, her expression unreadable.

“What do you mean?” “You’re going out of your way for this.

Why?” She didn’t look at him immediately, focused on her work.

“What, I can’t help my boyfriend?” “You can,” he admitted, then hesitated.

“Just… why this?

You know anyone else could do it.” This time, she sighed.

Paused.

Then finally met his gaze.

“I just want to spend time with you.” Damon didn’t say anything at first.

He understood what she meant, even if she didn’t say it outright.

Between training, media obligations, and the pressure of the tournament, he’d been distant.

Not intentionally, but the fight had swallowed him whole.

And she felt it.

Instead of pushing the conversation further, he simply let the moment settle.

She continued wrapping his hands, slower this time, as if savoring every second.

Damon reached out, gently stopping her hands.

“How about this, tomorrow, we spend the whole day together?” Svetlana blinked, surprised.

“But I heard my dad say you have a meeting with the team.” Damon smirked.

“Yeah, but it’s not like it’s more important than you.

You’re here for me, so tomorrow, it’s your day.” Her expression softened, a genuine smile breaking through.

She didn’t try to hide how happy that made her.

“Okay,” she said, nodding.

“But let me finish this, or else we’ll be here all night.” “I wouldn’t mind that.” She got back to wrapping, this time with an extra bit of care, as if sealing a promise between them.

Joey stood in the kitchen, rummaging through the cabinets for snacks.

He had made it a habit to watch Damon’s fights with something to munch on, even here.

He grabbed a bag of chips, a pack of cookies, and a couple of sodas, setting everything down on the small table near the couch.

The hospital room wasn’t exactly home, but he had made it as comfortable as possible.

With the snacks ready, Joey sat down, flipping through the channels until he found the event.

The fights had already started, but Damon’s match hadn’t come up yet.

Good.

He had time.

Just as he cracked open his soda, Ashley walked in from their room, sighing heavily as she ran a hand through her hair.

“Finally asleep,” she said, dropping onto the couch beside him.

“He was up all day, I’m just glad he can sleep now.” Joey smirked.

“That baby’s got energy.

You sure he’s ours?” Ashley chuckled, resting her head on his shoulder.

“I swear, sometimes I think he’s secretly training for something.

The way he kicks, it’s like he’s already shadowboxing in his sleep.” Joey laughed.

“Maybe he’ll be the next champ after Damon.

Start ’em young.” She playfully elbowed him.

“Let’s get him through his first year before you start signing him up for training.” Joey gestured to the table.

“You want something?

I got chips, cookies, and soda.

Kept it classy.” Ashley smiled, glancing at the screen.

“It hasn’t started yet, right?” Joey shook his head.

“Nah, only two fights in.

Damon hasn’t walked out yet.

You got here just in time.” Ashley sighed in relief and grabbed a bag of chips before cuddling up to Joey.

“Good.

Wouldn’t want to miss him making another guy question his career choices.” Joey chuckled as he took a sip of his soda.

“Yeah, man’s been making these things look easy.

I swear, one of these days, we’re gonna watch a fight where he actually has to struggle.” Ashley smirked.

“You really think that’s gonna happen?” Joey shrugged.

“Probably not.” They both chuckled as the screen shifted to the next segment, their attention locked in.

Tonight, they’d watch their friend do what he did best.

Just as Joey and Ashley were getting comfortable, Joey’s phone buzzed on the table, the vibration cutting through their moment.

He glanced at the screen and immediately straightened up.

It was the hospital.

The one his brother was in.

His stomach tightened.

Calls like this were never casual.

Without hesitation, he grabbed the phone and answered.

“Hello?” His voice was steady, but there was an edge of urgency.

“Mr.

Morales?

This is Dr.

Reynolds from the hospital.” “Yeah, yeah, I’m here.

What’s going on?” There was a pause, just long enough to make his pulse spike.

Then the doctor spoke, and what he said was the last thing Joey expected.

“I wanted to inform you that your brother’s recovery has progressed significantly.

More than we initially thought possible.” Joey’s heart pounded.

He had already accepted that Jake would walk again, it was still a miracle in itself.

But something about the way the doctor was speaking made him feel like there was more.

“How do you mean?” Joey asked, gripping the phone tighter.

Dr.

Reynolds took a breath.

“His mobility has improved beyond our initial expectations.

We believed he would regain enough function to walk, maybe even jog.

But with the way his muscles and joints are responding to physical therapy… there’s a strong possibility that he could return to full athletic capacity.” Joey blinked, as if trying to process what was just said.

“Wait, hold on.

You’re saying he might be able to fight again?” There was another pause, but this time it was deliberate.

“It’s not a guarantee, but at this rate, if he continues to recover and rehabilitate properly, yes.

It’s possible he could compete again.” Joey’s breath caught in his throat.

For days/weeks, they had accepted the reality that Jake’s fighting career was over.

That was what the doctors had told them.

It was something they had made peace with, even if it hurt.

But now?

Now they were saying there was a chance?

“Doc, you-you’re serious about this?” Joey finally managed to say.

Dr.

Reynolds’ voice remained measured but certain.

“I wouldn’t say it if I wasn’t.

He’s still got a long road ahead, but the progress he’s making is remarkable.

We’ll need to keep monitoring him, and he’ll have to commit to strict therapy, but if things continue like this… he might just step back into that cage one day.” Joey exhaled, running a hand through his hair.

His chest felt tight, not with worry, but with something else.

Relief.

Hope.

“Thank you, Doc.

Seriously.” His voice was rough with emotion.

“You’re welcome, Joey.

We’ll keep you updated.

For now, enjoy your night.” Joey hung up, still gripping the phone in his hand as he stared at the screen.

His mind raced, trying to grasp the reality of what he had just heard.

Ashley, who had been listening closely, touched his arm.

“Joey?

What happened?” He turned to her, a slow grin forming on his face.

“Jake… He might fight again.” Ashley’s eyes widened.

“Wait€“what?” Joey nodded, exhaling sharply, as if saying it out loud made it more real.

“They said his recovery’s going so well, he might actually get back in the cage again.” For a moment, Ashley just stared at him, processing.

Then, she broke into a wide smile and hugged him tightly.

“Joey, that’s amazing.” Joey let out a breathy chuckle, shaking his head.

“Yeah… yeah, it really is.” The fight was about to start, but for Joey, nothing that happened in that cage tonight could top this.