After training for 7 years in Cyborg MMA and being ranked the best amateur fighter at 155; Michael was ready for his pro debut after turning 18.
He was set to fight as the co-main event at Ultimate Caged Champion "UCC" event called Fight Land.
Ultimate Caged Champion was the greatest MMA organization and promotion. They had all the top fighters in the world.
Fight Land was an event to showcase the up-and-coming fighters of the promotion, there the new faces can build up a brand or name before getting thrown into the wolf den and having to face the veterans of UCC.
The fight was drawing closer and was now one day away. To qualify or guarantee the fight fighters must weigh in the correct weight before the fight, before weighing in Michael was told to do a pre-fight interview.
"So this is your pro debut to all the fans watching who don't know who you are can you give us a quick introduction?" asked the interviewer as he points his mic towards Michael.
"My name is Michael Chan Johnson and I'm a fighter out of Cyborg MMA gym and also the top-ranked amateur at 155," answered Michael.
"As you said you are the top-ranked amateur, how did you do it? Like what is your style of winning, are you a striker or grappler?"
"I'll say I'm both a striker and a grappler, I just do what's needed to win."
"Saying that do you like winning by knockout or submission?"
"If I had to choose I'll choose to knock someone out because of how cool it looks," smiled Michael.
"So what can fans expect to see from your debut on Fight Land?"
"Fans are going to see someone exciting and dangerous, that's all I'm going to say as I don't like predicting fights."
"Alright, you heard from Michael Chan Johnson, get ready to see something exciting because I don't know about yall but I can't wait to see what will happen tomorrow. You don't want to miss the debut of someone who could challenge for the belt in a couple of years."
"Cut!" shouted a man in the back.
The interviewing process was now over and Michael was now ready to take the stage to weigh in and do a face-off with his opponent.
"Taking the stage we have Chris "Brick Hands" Moe!" said the emcee onto his mic
Michael's opponent walks onto the stage and steps onto the scale, the emcee reads out the number from the scale, "155 ladies and gentlemen!".
"Next, his opponent Michael Chan "The Warrior" Johnson!" said the emcee
Michael walks up and takes his clothes off all but his compression shorts and steps onto the scale.
"Also 155!"
He got off the scale and walked toward his opponents to do the face-off for the cameras at the weigh-ins.
Michael's opponent got in his fighting stance while Michael kept his hands down staring deep into his opponent's eyes.
"That's good enough," the promoters stepped in to end the face-off.
Michael and his entourage when back to their hotel rooms to sleep because it was already late as the weigh-ins happen later in the day.
After taking a shower he lay on his bed realizing he was now one step closer to achieving his dream of being a world champion.
( Ding! )
A text had come from Luna, Michael's girlfriend for 4 years. They met each other when she first came to the gym to learn BJJ about 4 years ago; they hit it off during her first class and had been dating since.
The text read, "I want to call you but you'll probably find that annoying. So good luck and don't lose your first fight lol."
Michael laughed and replied, "If I lose it's because of your bad juju lol jk, I'll show the world why I deserve to be champ!"
He turn off his phone and went to sleep.
The day of the fight was now here. After doing his usual morning routine he stayed in his hotel eating and hanging out with his entourage until two hours before his fight. The event starts at 5 pm and his fight is at 8:30 pm. There were a lot of fighters on the card. All of the fights were three: three-minute rounds.
5:30 hit so Michael and his whole entourage made their way to the locker room where Michael was given.
They sat around having fun, waiting for the fights to end and waiting until it was almost time for Michael.
There were 10 fights before his so he was told to get his hand wrapped.
Then there were now 6 fights left until Michael's fight so Leon told Michael to warm up, "Do some jump ropes, then mitts with Ridder, then finish with some single and double leg takedowns with Matt."
After doing 5 minutes of jump roping Michael noticed the change in energy of the room, the laughter and play were now gone as it was time to get serious and prepare to fight.
Coach Ridder turned up the music that was playing and look at Michael and said, "Let's go! Time to work now 1,2, left low!"
( Pop! Pop! Thumph! )
Michael threw a left jab and then a right straight with a left low kick.
"Good! 3,6, pivot right mid."
( Pop! Pop! – Thumph! )
He threw a left hook and then a right uppercut before pivoting off his left leg to create space for his right kick to the body.
After finishing the warmup it was now time for his fight.
His opponent already walked onto the cage now it was his turn.
Michael walked through the halls of the arena seeing the fighters before look beaten and battered. The closer he got to the walkway the more pumped he felt and he could hear the crowd get louder with each step he took.
"Ahhhhhhhhhh" "Michael! Michael! Michael!" The crowd was now louder than his intro music.
He walked by the octagon took a step inside and knew he was born for moments like this, the crowd still cheering loudly went silent for him.
Michael stood across from his opponent waiting to crush him when the fight starts.
"Look at me!" said Leon trying to get Michael's attention.
Michael looked right into his eyes.
"Calm down and stay compose remember all the training, take your time and be patient and pick your shots instead of running in, you head me?" Leon asked to see if Michael is truly focused.
"Yes sir, I'm just gonna be me and I'm f*cking great!" replied Michael.
Leon smiled as he put in Micheal's mouthguard. Leon thought to himself, "I don't need to be worried about the kid, he knows better than me sometimes."
The emcee got into the middle cage and the lights dimmed down leaving only the lights pointed at the cage extremely lit up. The emcee hyped up the crowd, "Are you ready for the co-main event?"
The crowd lit up "Yeaaaa!" "Twist!" "Wooooooo" "Ahhhhhhhhh!".
The emcee was now introducing the fighters, "Out of the blue corner we have Chirs – Brick Hands — Moe!. And fighting out of the red corner Michael Chan – The Warrior — Johnson! Now let's put on a shoooow!"
The crowd goes berserk, "Yeaaaaaa!". The crowd noises were deafening.
The emcee got out of the cage and the ref was asking the fighters, "Are you ready? Are you ready?" both fighters nodded their heads. "Fight!".
Everything went silent for Michael all he can hear was now his opponent's breathing and footsteps.
Michael got in an orthodox stance, while his opponent was in southpaw both slowly walked up to get in punching range.
His opponent threw a right-hand jab.
Michael saw it and took a step back, before he was able to plant his feet his opponent shot for a double leg takedown.
He planted his feet just in time to throw a right straight right down the pipe.
( Crack! )
Michael was able to land a hit on his opponent on the chin before he was able to get close to his lower body.
The guy's body shut down and he faceplanted onto canvas.
( Thumph! )
Michael knowing how a knockout felt turned around and raised his right arm in the air instead of pummelling an opponent on the ground.
The crowd now realizing what happened erupted, "Ohhhhhhh".
The ref went to check on the guy before waving the fight over and calling over the medical team to hurry up and get inside the cage.
"I f*cking love you kid!" said Leon as he and the others went to hug Michael.
The celebration was cut short as Chris woke up from being unconscious.
Michael stood in the middle with the ref holding each of the participants' arms before the emcee announced the result of the fight, "And the winner by knock out at 11 seconds of the first round, Michael Chan – The Warrior — Johnson!" the ref raised Michael arm as the crowd was cheering.
The two fighters hugged and wish good luck to each other.
"Michael, Michael," said one of the fighting commentators.
The commentator was walking up asking him about the fight, "Michael, How is it to win your first fight?"
"Feels good can't wait to get back home and celebrate then get back to work and get ready for my next fight," answered Michael.
"Well if your fights keep looking like this you'll get to fight again soon." said the commentator
"Yea If I'm able to fight I'll fight I don't care who and where as long as it gets me closer to that belt," replied Michael.
"Let's have a look at the replay." both the commentator and Michael looked up at the jumbotron. "Can you tell what is going on in your head?" asked the commentator.
"I dodge the jab and saw him come in and I knew If I throw a punch, knowing my hand speed, I can get to him before he gets to me."
The crowd reacts to seeing the knockout again but this time in slow-mo, "Ohhhhh".
"I speaking to you, but I think I'm also speaking for the crowd when I say that I want to see another fight from you. Thank you for your time." said the commentator.
"Thank you," replied Michael as he walked out of the cage.