"Succession belt?"
The room fell silent, each person absorbing the gravity of the words.
Wusman, eyebrows raised in disbelief, chimed in, "Isn't there anyone else with Khabib?"
Ali, with a cryptic smile, responded, "Ye Chen is bursting with potential. But let's not go jumping to conclusions about him taking the belt just yet. The focus should be on his growth. Remember, Khabib's cousin has just transferred from Bellator. He's destined to target the championship right out of the gate. If no one else seizes him, you can bet Ye Chen will be poised to step up."
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, admiration dawning as they realized Ali's foresight. It was a stroke of genius, and the man's reputation as a top-tier agent only solidified in their minds.
Maha had climbed through sheer grit to reach this moment, fighting tooth and nail to secure a place among the elite. Prior to Khabib's retirement, he had cracked the top ten—a mighty achievement in its own right. But the brutal nature of the sport meant that he was left scrambling against an array of newcomers, many below him in rank, all vying for the same coveted recognition.
With a ten-fight winning streak under his belt, Maha was finally able to conquer Hooker, another top-ten fighter, which catapulted him to a number four ranking in his weight class. His subsequent clash with Oliveira, the then-deposed champion, had sealed his fate with the gold belt.
But the journey had not been easy. With years spent in the UFC, Maha had faced longer odds than many would ever know—not due to a lack of talent, but rather, the unpredictable nature of the sport's matchmaking. Time was a luxury no fighter could afford, and every moment counted.
Ali, shrewd as always, had seen the potential in Ye Chen before anyone else. Yes, Khabib had brewed champions, but Ye Chen was still in the early stages of his transformation.
Beyond Ali, interest in Ye Chen was brewing among several other agents. Some training gyms had caught wind of his talent and were vying for a piece of him. The once-great Alpha boy band was now merely a shadow of its former self, struggling to maintain its allure. They needed new blood, fresh stars to invigorate their roster.
Even Cejudo had his eye on Ye Chen. His gym, although relatively new, had made waves over the past few years and boasted an impressive pedigree with two championship titles and an Olympic wrestling gold medal under his belt. Many sought his coaching to sharpen their skills, including Zhang Weili, who had trained with him before her rematch with Rose.
…
Ye Chen, in his latest display, had cemented his name once more, but this time the impact reached new heights on an international stage. The buzz surrounding him was palpable, drawing attention from fellow fighters who recognized him as a potential rival.
His Instagram followers surged past the 100,000 mark, a milestone that echoed his growing popularity. He finished chatting with his parents, took a refreshing shower, and, with a grin, checked his phone. "I'm really on this journey now," he thought, excitement bubbling within him.
If he kept up this momentum, he wasn't just aiming to become a fighting star; he was going to claim that championship belt.
His inbox was flooded with messages—congratulations mingled with criticisms. Ye Chen appreciated every celebratory note but had a playful approach to his detractors, sending out a cheeky "International Gesture" emoji to those who scolded him.
"Huh," he chuckled, spotting a profile picture labeled "Catwoman." An instant reaction: a finger tap on the screen sent an emoji back their way. "You really borrowed my line, huh?"
He swiftly followed up with a short but sharp comeback: "Fake Squid."
After tackling his messages, Ye Chen dove into the simulation arena. On four different mats, virtual versions of himself sparred with familiar opponents: Burns, Gazi, Lin Long, Li Zhengyong, and Jima. In the training room, some versions of him focused on cardio, while others concentrated on striking techniques.
The results were impressive—total domination over Lin Long, a decisive victory against Li Zhengyong, and a thoroughly convincing defeat of Gazi. Despite Gazi's endurance, Ye Chen's ground game was simply too powerful to overcome.
His ongoing match with Jima revealed the stark evolution of his skills. Starting off with a few losses, he gradually improved, turning the tables and winning nearly every encounter they had sparred over their 200 matches.
However, his battle with Burns was challenging. The score was skewed in Burns's favor, given his exceptional jiu-jitsu and striking prowess. Even the legendary Wusman tread lightly around Burns, wary of his ground skills.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed again, pulling him from his thoughts. It was a message from the mysterious Catwoman, now identifying herself as Haise Wei, accompanied by an angry emoji.
Ye Chen could only shake his head and respond with a simple "International Gesture" emoji, chuckling at the notion of a disgruntled gambler venting their frustration.
…
As dawn broke, Ye Chen, now worn out from a night of celebration with Burns, Gazi, and his coach, Doss, shuffled back to their hotel. He fell into bed, deeply exhausted. He wasn't much of a drinker, yet somehow, throughout the night, he found himself caught up in the camaraderie and lost track of his limits. Sleep quickly overtook him, dreams of championships dancing through his mind.