"Li Zhengyong is here!"
A sudden shout broke through the chatter, igniting a flurry of activity among the gathered reporters. Ye Chen found himself swept up in the commotion, craning his neck to catch a glimpse of the man making waves.
Li Zhengyong emerged, sunglasses shielding his eyes, flanked by a small entourage of seven or eight team members. At a glance, it was clear that Li was not only his equal in height, but he also had a solid frame that suggested strength—something Ye Chen couldn't help but acknowledge. After all, he stood a good seven or eight centimeters taller than Li, yet the other man felt undeniably formidable.
While Ye Chen tended to keep his weight in check due to the limited pool of high-level fighters in the country—fearing his added muscle might scare potential sparring partners—he knew that he could easily pack on another ten or twenty kilograms if he desired.
A reporter seized the moment, asking, "With Lin Long's retirement, you've got a new opponent in the lightweight category. Will this change affect your performance?"
Clearly, the reporter had done his homework; shifting weight classes could seriously impact an athlete's condition. Li's translator conveyed the question in Daxia dialect, prompting an immediate response from Li Zhengyong. "It'll have a slight effect, but it's nothing to worry about. The last two Daxia fighters I faced didn't last more than a minute."
He flashed a confident grin. "As for my new opponent? I've already gone through the UFC's intel. This fight? I'll break my KO record and send him to dreamland in under thirty seconds."
The room buzzed with disbelief. Whispers of disapproval rippled through the crowd. "You're delusional! If Lin Long hadn't backed out, you'd have been dust."
But Ye Chen wasn't fazed. Let Li think he could intimidate the competition—Ye Chen was focused on his own game.
A reporter pressed on, "What gives you such confidence? How would you have fared against Lin Long?"
Li Zhengyong smirked. "Lin Long's tough, but I'd still take him down. He's simply not on my level." His eyes sparkled with ambition. "And after I'm done here, I'll be calling out Song Yadong, the number one featherweight in Great Xia. I hope he doesn't duck me!"
Such audacity was nothing short of shocking. Here he was, about to make his UFC debut, unranked, and already throwing down the gauntlet to the ninth-ranked fighter! Yet, he knew that in the fighting world, a dash of craziness could spark interest—and that's what he needed.
Even the reporters were taken aback by Li's audacity. "If I triumph over Song Yadong, you'll see me break into the top five and claim Asia's first men's gold belt," Li proclaimed with reckless bravado.
For a brief moment, disbelief hung in the air...
After a while, it was time for Li Zhengyong to leave. Suddenly, he spotted Ye Chen in the crowd and a mischievous smile crossed his face. He pointed and exclaimed, "There's my new opponent! Had no idea he'd be here."
Eyes shifted to Ye Chen, now stepping forward from the throng. "The first Asian to win a men's world championship will be me. You're not even close," he declared, his tone unwavering and bold.
The crowd buzzed with excitement. Two contenders, each with fire in their veins, were ready to clash.
The reporters were left perplexed. Ye Chen might be a newcomer, having only subbed in for the UFC, but his confidence was unmistakable. Could he really challenge Li Zhengyong, who was already making waves?
"Ye Chen," a reporter asked, "do you feel confident going into this fight? The buzz online has been intense."
Just then, a voice echoed inside Ye Chen's head, signaling that his simulation program was on the brink of completion. Thrilled, he maintained his cool demeanor, replying, "Absolutely. I will end his winning streak decisively."
His words were translated for Li Zhengyong, prompting a palpable tension between the two athletes. The standoff was electric; Li stepped closer, determination etched on his face. Inches apart, they locked eyes, setting the stage for a classic stare-down that sent camera shutters clicking furiously.
"Ye Chen," a reporter called out, breaking the silence, "what strategies has your team devised for this match?"
Without missing a beat, Ye Chen responded, "I don't have a team. I'll forge my own strategy."
Gasps filled the room. It seemed too audacious to be true. "Is he serious?" someone murmured. "No team at all?"
Yet, in a sport where collaboration is everything, Ye Chen meant every word. He'd left the training center after realizing he was undervalued and wanted more. Now, with a reputation as a skilled sparring partner, he was here on his own merit, fully prepared to turn heads.
As he left the venue, excitement coursing through him, Ye Chen looked ahead. In just a day and a half, he'd be facing Li Zhengyong—a chance to prove he belonged on the big stage. No more hiding in the shadows; it was time to shine.