Stephen looked at the lined-up fighters, then turned his gaze toward the coaches. "Now that we have the coaches, Balim Chemasov and Donald Whittier, welcome," he greeted them with a nod of respect.
Both coaches gave a slight nod in return, their expressions calm.
He then shifted his attention back to the fighters. "With the coaches here, we move on to team selection. Here's how it will work: both coaches will take turns to select a fighter."
The fighters exchanged glances, some shifting nervously on their feet, others adjusting their stance, trying to appear calm.
Damon glanced down the line, seeing a few fighters with tense shoulders and clenched fists.
"Also," Stephen continued, "the coaches have been watching your matches closely, so your performance will have an impact on their decisions."
Damon stood still, his arms loose at his sides, his chest rising and falling steadily.
