These days, alongside his essential daily workouts, Ye Chen finds himself immersed in an array of promotional activities with the UFC. As a key player in the main event, this is part of the job description. It's worth noting that even fighters at the highest levels must engage in publicity efforts. In fact, failing to do so could lead to delays or even cancellations of fights. The pressure of keeping the spotlight shining bright often drives fighters to bring out their wild sides, with outrageous stunts and outlandish statements — all part of ramping up the excitement for their upcoming bouts.
But, let's face it: more effort means more reward.
This time around, Ye Chen is set to take the co-main event slot in a highly anticipated digital competition. With his growing fan base, it's clear that the previously agreed appearance fee was woefully inadequate. Just a short while ago, he finalized a new contract that saw his appearance fee shoot up to an impressive 220,000 yuan — a substantial increase compared to the past. Meanwhile, his opponent, Gage, inked a deal netting him a whopping $360,000.
Ye Chen barely contained his surprise at this sudden surge. He recently discovered that in addition to the baseline appearance fee, fighters also receive a pre-game incentive that adjusts their pay based on their opponent's stature. For instance, Gage had faced the "Sanda Czar" and likely walked away with a mere baseline fee plus some extras. Yet, as he gears up to face the "Night Demon" and with the stakes elevated, Gage's compensation has risen accordingly.
Unfortunately, Gage's last bout against Chan led to a PR disaster that included the interference of several parties: Wolf, Xiaoma, and the UFC. Ye Chen recalled how, during his previous clash with Chandler, Dana White had pulled the wool over Chun Chun's eyes — yet another battle specifically crafted for him. The matchup turned into a major event, and since it was a free fight night, there was no adjustment in Ye Chen's pay, which was somewhat understandable. After all, not every competitor gets the opportunity to clash with a name like Chandler.
This time, however, Ye Chen felt things were different. Given his current fanbase that has surpassed even that of Gage and Chandler, the 220,000 yuan fee just didn't seem commensurate with his popularity. This was an eye-opener for him; he realized that while his following has grown, he had yet to prove his ticket-selling prowess on such a grand scale.
Despite this, the envy radiating from Gage was palpable. The former didn't hesitate to point out that his previous fights hadn't come close to raking in this kind of cash. Ye Chen began to crunch the numbers in his mind. If he emerged victorious, accumulating bonuses, sponsorship commissions, and individual deals with "Devil's Claw," he could potentially walk away with over $300,000. Not a bad haul for a trial against opponents who often leave it all in the ring.
…
"Ahh...," Ye Chen sighed as he pounded away on the treadmill, focusing on his breathing patterns. Thanks to the rigorous training plans from Lao Qian, the past couple of months had resulted in noticeable increases in his strength and explosive power. Yet, he was careful not to follow the routines to the letter. He didn't aspire to become just another fighter with a single offensive style; he sought balance—between explosiveness, raw power, and endurance.
As he ran, one of the staff members approached him with some juicy gossip. "Gage just arrived in Odalia! He held an interview claiming he's been training with Coach Whitman to develop tactics specifically to counter you. He predicts that the two of you will settle this match within two rounds, and he anticipates getting a knockout in the second round. What are your thoughts?"
Ye Chen stole a glance at the UFC promoter hovering beside him. They needed to capture some riveting material to cut a promotional video, and as expected, it required some back-and-forth banter. Without skipping a beat, he replied, "Gage is a fighter I respect immensely. He's thrilled audiences with many electrifying bouts, and I'm among those who admire his style. However, we all know he's had two chances at the championship belt and has come up short. It's tough for a fighter who's faced that fate to catch another break; his time might have passed. I stand for the future, the new landscape of the lightweight category. And I assure you, this fight will shake the world to its core."
Behind the camera, the staff gave him an approving nod. "Have you been in touch with Khabib? He mentioned that Makhachev thinks the emperor is overrated and sees himself clinching the top spot in P4P rankings this time around. Khabib even commented on your style; he watched your fight and believes you can take down Gage — on the ground. Standing toe-to-toe, he thinks you'll find yourself in murky waters."
Ye Chen mused to himself, "This crew really knows how to stir the pot." He had seen the footage of Gage's initial interview from Odalia and had also caught the insights shared by Makhachev and Khabib. Naturally, these fighters were on his radar as potential future adversaries.
Xiaoying did mention that their team was closely monitoring Ye Chen since his triumphant win against Salujian. Khabib's original words were telling: "If Ye Chen sticks to his guns and engages Gage in a stand-up fight, he may face an uphill battle. Gage isn't Chandler; his fighting style is relentless, and under Whitman's guidance, Gage has been honing his strategies."
In general, Xiaoying seemed optimistic about Ye Chen's chances going into this match.
**P.S.**: I understand the eagerness of some fans for rapid matchups, but rushing into fights without the necessary buildup or suspense can lead to fatigue. Let's enjoy the thrill of the anticipation just as much as the fight itself!