Damon felt like he had been punched in the gut, the news hitting him harder than any blow he had taken in the fights.
He looked at Joey, his jaw dropped in shock, "What-what do you mean you're closing the fights?" he asked, needing a clear answer.
Joey looked down, avoiding eye contact with his friend. "I mean, I won't be hosting any fights," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Damon didn't respond, silence filling the air as he processed the information. He glanced at the cage, the familiar sight now feeling foreign.
He slowly got up and walked over to the door, sitting down on the floor beside it.
Damon's eyes were fixed on the ground, his mind racing with thoughts. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
Damon's gaze remained fixed on the ground, his thoughts consumed by the news.
He couldn't imagine a life without the fights, without the rush of adrenaline, the money? Where else would he find fights?.
Joey spoke up, "Damon, I'm-" but Damon cut him off, his voice firm, "Why are you closing the fights? I mean, I get your brother got the call from the UFA, but why close the fights?"
He looked at Joey, his eyes searching for answers. Joey sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly.
"Because I'm leaving Stockton, I'm going to LA." He moved closer to Damon, sitting down beside him on the grass.
Damon's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with questions. "What about the fights here? You're just going to leave?"
Joey nodded, "Yeah, I am. My brother's UFA opportunity is a big deal, and I need to be there to support him."
"Plus, LA has good opportunities for me too, so I can continue studying."
Damon nodded slowly, taking in the information. He looked at Joey, really looked at him, and saw the determination in his eyes.
He realized that they weren't the same, not anymore. While they shared similarities, they had different dreams, different aspirations.
Joey had a future planned out, a future that didn't involve the fights in Stockton. Damon, on the other hand, was still trying to make ends meet.
He clenched his fist, gripping the grass tightly, feeling a sense of urgency wash over him.
He didn't have time to feel sorry for himself; he needed to find another source of income, and fast.
Damon lessened his grip on the grass, feeling a mix of emotions. He admitted to himself that he was jealous of Joey's opportunities.
But he calmed down and said, "I'm glad you'll pursue your dreams, man." He smiled, trying to be genuine.
Joey shook his head, throwing a light punch on Damon's shoulder. "Come on, bro, I know you and your mom depend on the money you made from the fights. I wouldn't feel good if I just left and left you with no options."
Damon was startled, looking at Joey to see what he meant. Joey continued, "I talked to my brother, and he was part of a promotion. They have a show coming here to Stockton, and they'll recruit some talent. He talked to them and put in a word for you."
Damon's eyes widened, his smile growing. "Really?"
Joey nodded. "Yeah, but don't get too happy. It's not 100 percent. You still need to win the matches.
But you already have a spot, all you need to do is show up when the show is here and register. They'll also help with the fighting license."
Damon froze, his smile still plastered on his face. He thought about the opportunity, a chance to get his name out there, to fight more trained fighters, and most importantly, a chance to earn more money.
He turned to Joey, a wide smile spreading across his face. "Thanks, man, haha, my mother will be happy." He grinned from ear to ear, feeling a sense of relief wash over him.
Joey's face turned serious, his eyes narrowing slightly. "But Damon, don't take this lightly," he said, his voice firm. "My brother says the fighters there, although amateurs, are beasts. They're hungry, all of them have the same goal: beat their opponents and join the UFA."
Damon nodded, his smile fading. He knew it was true. He wasn't going to fight against drunk people or people who didn't know how to fight.
His opponents probably had gyms and training camps, things he didn't have. So he had to make sure he was at his best.
He thought about his own training, his runs through the streets, his workouts in the parking lot. He thought about his diet, his sleep schedule.
He knew he had to step up his game if he wanted to compete with these fighters.
Joey's serious expression lingered, his eyes locked on Damon's. "You need to be prepared, Damon. This is a big opportunity, but it's also a big risk. You need to be ready."
Damon nodded again, his mind racing with thoughts of training and preparation. He knew Joey was right. He had to be ready.
"Also, I got this for you," Joey said, pulling out a small, worn cellphone from his pocket. "It's not new, but you'll need it to stay in touch with them." The phone's cracked screen and outdated design made it clear it had seen better days, but Joey assured him it still worked reliably.
Damon took the phone, feeling a mix of gratitude and embarrassment. "Man, now I'm feeling like a charity case, with all these things you're giving me," he said, smiling wryly.
Joey laughed, standing up from the grass. "Don't get too cocky, Damon. The phone is just an old one my brother used to use. It's been replaced, so I figured you could put it to good use."
Damon chuckled, standing up as well. "Thanks, man. I really appreciate it." He looked at the phone, feeling grateful for Joey's kindness and generosity.
"Well, I should go tell my mom about this," Damon said, putting the phone in his pocket. "I was planning to take her shopping for some new clothes for us. We could both use an update."
Joey nodded, smiling. "Yeah, go tell her. She'll be thrilled to hear the news. And don't forget to call me when you get a chance, so we can catch up."
Damon nodded, already walking away. "Will do, man. Thanks again for everything." He waved goodbye, feeling a sense of hope and excitement for the future.